Community radio music directors often have an encyclopedic knowledge of local music and an insatiable thirst to keep their ears ahead of the curve. So in this Tone Deaf series, the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (Amrap) invites music directors to highlight the best new Australian bands that you might have missed.
In this edition, Aeron Clark from Edge Radio in Hobart contributes with a selection of tracks currently making their way to community radio through
Amrap’s music distribution service ‘AirIt’. Check out Aeron’s selections below, and if you’re a musician you can apply here to have your music distributed for free to community radio on Amrap’s AirIt.
This week’s 8 best Australian bands
Two Steps On The Water – ‘Hold Me’
Two Steps On The Water’s music is so raw and honest that sometimes the emotional content is difficult to process.
On this track, taken from their second album ‘Sword Songs’, the tortured longing in June Jones’ vocal delivery is beautifully highlighted by the uncluttered warmth of the organ and violin beneath.
Horace Bones – ‘The Rats’
Live, gothic punks Horace Bones are vitally intense, and frontman Oisin Kelly is so wholly committed to each performance that he is almost impossible to look away from.
The band’s live energy is captured well on this new single, driven by fuzzed bass and sharp percussion, with squealing guitars and frenzied vocals that periodically expand to fill any and all available space.
BĀLTIMÖRE – ‘Skin Scenes’
The first release from Hobart experimental pop newcomer BĀLTIMÖRE (Sarah Charlotte) is remarkable for the degree of nuance in the production.
The subtle, restrained layers shimmer with gentle swells and tweaks, and BĀLTIMÖRE has proven herself one to watch in the near future.
No Mono – ‘Butterflies’
No Mono sees the ever-prolific Tom Iansek teaming up once again with past collaborator Tom Snowden. Their first single under this moniker features Snowden’s trademark ethereal vocals and forward thinking, off-kilter production from Iansek that is at once, both comforting and ever so slightly unsettling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdQ_DyMUHz0
The Sleepyheads – ‘Never Forget You’re Here For Them’
The Sleepyheads’ frontman Pat Broxton has always been a very frank lyricist, and in this new single, he writes openly about confusion, loss and frustration.
Guest vocals from Luca Brasi’s Tyler Richardson add extra depth to this deftly constructed piece, which exhibits a perfectly controlled build in energy from start to finish by the Launceston band.
Bus Vipers – ‘Fluid’
Daniel Ahern has just released his first EP, ‘Federal Highway’, and it’s bursting at the seams with cleverly layered drums, distorted guitar licks and psychedelia. Ahern’s skilfully executed brand of garage-pop is a heady experience and this song in particular is strikingly euphoric.
Peter Bibby – ‘Medicine’
Bibby’s dry sense of humour takes centre stage in this new single, a prime example of his knack for playful storytelling. His wry lyricism shines in this desperate plea for relief, as he rattles off a dangerously catchy list of desired medications, while never once losing his shambolic charm.
Hachiku – ‘Moonface’
Anika Ostendorf has created beguiling dream pop from an ever-changing string of bedrooms across the world, and after stints in the US and UK, has now settled permanently in Melbourne.
Featured as part of the Split Singles Club project earlier this year, this song is a standout track from her gorgeous self-titled EP, available through Milk! Records.
