Great guitar tones, harmonious vocals from soul sisters and garage rock sounds make up this mixtape with new tracks from Sydney’s Bearhug, Sydney based soul songstress Ngaiire, Melbourne based The Delta Riggs, New Zealand born singer Haarlo, singer/songwriter Matt O’Donnell’s project Tarmac Adams and Honey Badgers
Bearhug – Fireworks
With vocals as soft and smooth as Carl Giammarese of The Buckinghams, and a guitar tone Wilco would be jealous of, Bearhug have a lot of, admittedly contradictory things going for them. ‘Fireworks’ is the single from their latest EP Over Easy , and yes, it does seem everything from the band name to their record titles are meant to be indicative of the sound of their own music. The Sydney band are embarking on a headlining tour next month, and having already supported the likes of Broken Social Scene and Built To Spill, we’re sure it’ll be a cracker.
Ngaiire – Dirty Hercules (feat. Nai Palm)
Yes, yes, yes!!! It’s so great to hear neo-soul or should we say future-folk/soul finally being written and produced here in Australia on an international level. Sydney based artist Ngaiire (pronounced Nighree) has done just that with her single ‘Dirty Hercules’ featuring fellow singer ‘Nai Palm’ from Melbourne band Hiatus Kaiyote. Together these ladies deliver beautifully crafted lyrics and soulful harmonies layered over mellow beats, allowing Ngaiire’s sweet vocals to soar, soothing ones soul and ears.
The Delta Riggs – Rah Rah Radio
Another super catchy tune from Melbourne based rockers The Delta Riggs, short, sweet and straight to the good time rockin’ point. With a some awesome supports over the past few months including Primal Scream and Divine Fits, the band are clearly on a musical high! Rah Rah Radio has moments of Blues Explosion and The Hives with a whole bunch of other garage goodness including lyrics that stick in your mind over and over “You should go back to where you belong, You Should go back to where you belong”…
Haarlo – Easier
It’s fair to say you haven’t heard anything like Haarlo in a while. The Melbourne-based New Zealand-born singer’s vocals evokes all the best part of 90s Britpop. When juxtaposed with the synthy, beat-heavy music the result is something a bit spectacular. New single ‘Easier’ is an authentic representation of what the songstress is all about. Wearing her musical influences on her sleeve, Haarlo, aka Stacey Gardiner – and her production partner Jono Steer – are set to soar high in the music scene.
Tarmac Adam – Chalk On Slate
With punk rock vocal sensilbilites mixed in with a very twee melodica, Tenessee banjo, and impossible to place accent, it’s difficult to define Tarmac Adam’s latest single ‘Chalk On Slate’. What is easy though, is knowing that despite the weird combination of musical aesthetics, the song is catchy as all hell. Including a past member of Crowded House and an array of other accomplished musicians at the helm of this band, it’s not hard to see why they’ve been kicking for over a decade.
Honey Badgers – If
In the true sense of garage, local rockers Honey Badgers have delivered a stellar little tune ‘If”, that sounds like it was actually recorded in a garage. Mostly instrumental ‘If’ kicks into a minute long intro with a groovy bass line, a jingly jangly guitar melody before launching into one of two small verses of slacker lyrics “if you’re running out of luck and couldn’t give a fuck about your self control, well I can sooth your soul”. The track has literally about 30 seconds of vocals, so that’s your kinda vibe, you’ll dig this tune.
