NSW songwriter, singer and guitarist CJ Stranger has worked as a musician in musical theatre and played live with William Crighton and others but it’s his particular brand of cosmic Americana at the junction of psych rock, folk and country where he most impresses. CJ shares that rarefied air with the likes of The War … Continue reading
Yesterday we published our favourite albums from this part of the world (Australian and NZ) and today we reveal the records from the rest of the world that we enjoyed the most in 2023. From firm favourites such as Lucero, Rose City Band, Wilco and Bonnie “Prince’ Billy, to a plethora of relative newcomers, listening … Continue reading
As per usual, this is the time of year I crunch the numbers, analyse the statistics and cast my eyes and ears over the year’s albums, to get an overview of my favourite releases. Below you’ll find the Australian (and two NZ) albums that resonated with me the most over the last 12 months. This … Continue reading
It doesn’t seem that long ago that Sydney’s Caitlin Harnett released her first band album with The Pony Boys, but in fact three years have passed. In the meantime, through a pandemic, Harnett’s career has gone from strength to strength, becoming an in demand live act across the country and scoring some impressive international supports … Continue reading
The acoustic guitar has been a mainstay of popular music through a myriad of genres over the last 150+ years. Through folk, country, blues, jazz and classical music it’s persisted and provided the soundtrack for generations of players, from the back porch to concert halls, juke joints to folk clubs. One particular strand that … Continue reading
‘Last Night In Redfern Park’ sets the scene perfectly as the opening track tumbles out of the speakers. With the urgency of life in the inner city and both the bruises and exultant times that comes with that lifestyle, Keyes sets a lofty standard out of the gate and not unexpectedly he more than matches … Continue reading
I was super impressed with Jack Davies‘ solo set at Dashville Skyline a few months back and I’m loving this new single ‘Clothes Peg‘, out today. There’s a sensitive and baroque folk rock quality to the song, with jazz/art-pop leanings that create the dreamy loose knit, inquisitive and rambling feel to the song. Kinda like … Continue reading
The Melbourne songwriter Dan Brodie is something of an enigma on the Australian music scene, having forged his way in the pub rock scene, straddling both rock in the traditional sense and countrified twang and rockabilly. His last few releases though have explored a more noir aesthetic, adding to the mystery of Cowboy Dan. On … Continue reading
The Wicked Messenger have a brand new album coming out in 2024 and they’ve just released the first single from it, ‘Ten Years Older‘. It’s a song that signals a shift into more of a melodic Americana meets power pop sound in the vein of Wilco and Teenage Fanclub, complete with handclaps and harmonica. The … Continue reading
Ryan Martin John released the quite sublime album Goodness Gracious Graceless earlier this year and it was one of those albums that completely hit the spot for me on first listen. In my REVIEW of the album I said “This is sophisticated music, yet wholly accessible and overflowing with both melancholy and melodies that will … Continue reading
The acoustic guitar has been a mainstay of popular music through a myriad of genres over the last 150+ years. Through folk, country, blues, jazz and classical music it’s persisted and provided the soundtrack for generations of players, from the back porch to concert halls, juke joints to folk clubs. One particular strand that … Continue reading
Folk-rock and blues songwriter Peter Campbell will release Parley, his second EP, this Friday and I’m very pleased to be able to premiere the new single ‘Away‘, out tomorrow in celebration of the new release. Parley contains five original songs by Campbell, a prolific solo performer around Sydney, including the beautifully swaying acoustic guitar and … Continue reading
Sunshine Coast songwriter Emma Bosworth and her band The Meeting Seasons are releasing her new EP Placement tomorrow (November 24, 2023) and I’m very pleased to be able to premiere the EP’s focus track ‘Spooko‘ on PTW today. ‘Spooko’ is all dreamy, drifting cosmic country. There’s the ethereal echo of Mazzy Star drifting down the … Continue reading
I’m super pleased to be able to premiere the video for Claire Anne Taylor‘s new single ‘Keep On Truckin” today. The single comes from her forthcoming third album Giving It Away, recorded at MONA’s Frying Pan Studios in Tasmania and set for released in February 2024. Possessing one of the finest voices in Australian roots … Continue reading
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
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