On Australian Dream, Concrete Sea take a swing at navigating and chronicling the suburban experience of living on this great continent in the 21st century and they do so impressively, via a baroque rock feel with a vivid poetic quality. Channeling the evocative storytelling of some of our masters – Paul Kelly, David McComb, Steve … Continue reading
Wollongong NSW band MFV have been releasing a run of singles of late and the latest to drop is the activating sound of ‘Delacroix‘. The song starts on a rough and ready acoustic strum, the rest of the band gently entering the fray before the song truly swings into view, melodies pealing off onto each … Continue reading
Ryan Martin John’s Goodness Gracious Graceless (Independent) emerged blinking into the world in April and right from the opening track ‘Bourbon St’ it caught my ear and drew me in via the lush and spacious palette of sounds with shimmering guitars and John’s exquisite soulful folk voice. His falsetto and pure, wavering tone constantly thrills … Continue reading
Babitha’s debut album Brighter Side of Blue (Spunk), released earlier this year, is a superb album that weaves an intoxicating spell. Songwriter/singer/guitarist Imogen Grist stretches the form of folk music, taking it deeper into a full band, folk-rock cul-de-sac that feels decidedly metropolitan – a pastoral trip through suburban streets. Seemingly arriving fully formed, Babitha weaves … Continue reading
Ballarat VIC singer-songwriter Jeremy Beggs has a new single coming out tomorrow, his second songwriting and recording collaboration with Matt Joe Gow. ‘Signal Me In‘, a heartfelt song about seeking guidance and strength in life, expresses “a longing for a supportive partner to be a beacon of hope, even in challenging times,” explains Beggs. “Ultimately, … Continue reading
Last month I took a look at Gillian Welch’s seminal 2001 album Time (The Revelator), a record steeped in folk authenticity and traditional form. That same year a band from Chicago took their suburban country rock and alt-country and blew it apart into a thousand musical fragments before reconstructing their songs into glorious and inventive … Continue reading
The Stuart Highway runs from Darwin, in the Northern Territory, via Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, to Port Augusta in South Australia and its northern starting point is the home of songwriter David Garnham, who has penned this concept album of sorts. The songs take in the geography, lifestyle and characters that populate and travel … Continue reading
Sydney indie and alternative folk artist Hedy Blaazer is about to release her brand new single ‘2for1 Meal Deal‘ and we’re very pleased to be able to premiere it on PTW, ahead of its release across streaming services tomorrow. Earlier in 2023, Sydney-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Hedy Blaazer released her single ‘Video Ezy’, a stirring and emotive … Continue reading
JUSTIN AND THE COSMICS COOL DEAD LOVE POLICE RECORDS + TAPES I’d actually forgotten I saw Justin & The Cosmics back in 2018, opening for Deer Tick at the Lansdowne Hotel here in Sydney. Once my pre-pandemic memory recall kicked back into gear I remembered how impressive they were that night. Attitude backed up with … Continue reading
Liam Gale, who released the fine album The Lonely Throne with his band the Ponytails in 2015, has a new double single release – ‘Jezebel Blues‘/’Madness & Bravery‘. Taking influence from Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Julie London, David Lynch, Timber Timbre, Laura Marling and Bohren & the Club of Gore, Gale dials into a dark … Continue reading
MARK LUCAS & THE DEAD SETTERS ONWARD INTO THE FOG INDEPENDENT Mark Lucas and his band of Dead Setters have been a fixture on the Sydney alt-country/roots music scene for the last two decades, playing the bars, clubs and bowlos, and every couple of years casting a new CD of songs out into the world. … Continue reading
Minor Gold Minor Gold Independent Both members of Minor Gold have already individually carved out successful careers – Tracy McNeil with her band The GoodLife and Dan Parsons with his three solo albums. Partners in music and life, McNeil and Parsons have seamlessly combined their skills as songwriters and singers to produce a symbiotic and … Continue reading
PHIL SMITH INTO THE NIGHT INDEPENDENT Tasmanian songwriter Phil Smith’s new album is one of those records that’s full of effortless sounding songs, where every note caresses and complements the next. There’s a specific kind of Australian Americana at play across the nine songs – part heartland rock, part jangly melodic rock. Overall though, it’s … Continue reading
If you’re a fan of Kurt Vile, Steve Gunn, Kevin Morby and cosmic country and folk sounds in general then this new single from Melbourne artist Sunset Stranger will appeal. There’s a dreamy drift and pastoral psychedelia to this ‘Shades Of Time‘, the second single from the new album Double Dream, due out in 2023. … Continue reading
PTW is very pleased to have guest reviewer Heath Forsyth write this wonderful review of Adam McGrath’s Dear Companions, released late in 2022. Adam McGrath Dear Companions Independent What do you get for $10 these days? Schooner of Toohey’s New? Half a haircut? 500mb of phone data? How about a single iceberg lettuce to go with your cans of … Continue reading
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