With a mix a hip hop, punk rock, dream pop and blues rock this week there is something in mixtape #70 that should please all music lovers. Drapht is back after a year long break with a little track called 1990’s feat. N’fa Jones / Joyride, New York based Sydney natives High Highs have a new single ahead or their Laneway Festival appearances. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club return which is pleasing for BRMC fans, Australian country music supergroup The Hillbilly Killers give us their first tune, same with DZ Deathrays side project Wax Witches and Balthazar have a new track for their forthcoming album.
Drapht – 1990’s feat. N’fa Jones / Joyride
A welcome return for Perth rapper Drapht who has been on hiatus over the last year recovering from the massive year that was 2011 for him. Enlisting N’fa Jones & Joyride as a feature on lyrics and Ta-Ku on production this is an all-star cast of hip hop heavyweights. 1990’s is the perfect choice of track for right now because, who doesn’t love the 90’s? Featuring lyrics about Tupac and Biggie beefing, Jennifer Anniston having her own hairstyle and 90’s flare, it’s a cleverly crafted fun tune with smooth grooves and rhymes. Drapht’s hits the road on his Uni-Verse tour in Feb and March.
High Highs – In A Dream
With dreamy and etherial vocals and a chilled out instrumental section rife with an Oasis-y guitar sound, the new single from the now-New York-based duo stays true to their sound while still managing to retain the explorative nature of their previous tracks. Hitting the road for Laneway Festival and their own tour, it’ll be interesting to see how the two-piece translate their dreamy music to a large, live audience.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Let The Day Begin
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club recently announced that their sixth studio album, titled Specter At The Feast, is set for release in March this year. ‘Let The Day Begin’, a cover of the classic 1989 single by The Call, is our first taste of what to expect from the group who released their last record back in 2010. The track has a special significance to the band. The Call’s frontman, the late Michael Been, was the father of BRMC’s bassist Robert Levon Been. Michael Been died in 2010 from a heart attack during a BRMC show where he was working as a sound engineer. The track features the characteristic uptempo rock n roll we’ve come to expect from BRMC, with ethereal vocals bringing a shoegaze sound to the band that is instantly infectious and avoids the blandness that other bands of the genre fall into. Hopefully a good indication of what is to come.
The Hillbilly Killers – They Call Us The Hillbilly Killers
An Australian country music supergroup has arisen featuring the likes of Tim Rogers, Bill Chambers, Catherine Britt, Shane O’Mara, James Gillard and Michael Muchow. Whilst some of those names may not be immediately familiar the mere presence of Tim Rogers is enough to get any Australian music lover interested. More importantly he is joined by some extremely accomplished and talented country music players and songwriters. This track features Rogers’ voice most prominently, beautifully aided by the subtle tones of Catherine Britt and intricate guitar instrumentation.
Wax Witches – Alone
The solo project for Bleeding Knees Club frontman Alex Wall, ‘Alone’ is a taste of forthcoming album Celebrity Beatings due out February 8th. Inevitable comparisons will be made with his main project however Wax Witches certainly shows Wall taking a more raw approach. There’s most certainly some flavours of early Spiderbait and Regurgitator with heavily distorted guitars and punk drumming.
Balthazar – Do Not Claim Them Anymore
The folk-infused rock songs complete with strumming acoustic guitars and a sample of whistling, are nothing new for the Belgium band. Taken from their latest album Rats, the tune is original in the sense that it not only melds genres, but incorporates various ones into the course of one song. Unpretentious and relaxed, this one is great summer listening.
