We listen to a lot of music here at Tone Deaf HQ, and we’re the first to admit we’re perhaps a little biased towards sounds of the Australian variety. We do make the best music in the world, after all.
In honouring our favourite Aussies, we’ve once again compiled a list of the most outstanding local releases you should be listening to right now – whether they’re smaller indies acts or big-name essentials, these are the newest Australian records you should be adding to your ‘must-listen’ list.
Let’s get started.
Ella Thompson – Janus (Hub/Caroline)
Ella Thompson is finally taking some time for herself. Thompson is, or has been, the angelic vocalist behind great local acts including GL, The Bamboos, and Dorsal Fins, and has long been one of our most special local talents. Thompson’s debut album, Janus, sees the singer-songwriter taking the first bold steps out on her own as a solo artist. It’s a nerve-racking dive for any artist, but Thompson has pulled it off in spectacular fashion, putting out a confident and glossy pop record with the flair of a reverse four-and-a-half somersault tuck.
On Janus, Thompson’s enchanting vocals are backdropped by dreamy synthpop production that combine analogue 80s synths, syncopated beats, and gently distorted guitars. Punchy lead single ‘I Go Over’ is an infectious, dancing-on-your-bed piece of pop; there’s more emotional moments in moody R&B ballads like ‘Gave It All Away’ and ‘Fall’; while Thompson displays shades of Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino in the oo’s and oh’s of the more guitar-based track, ‘Away Too Long’.
Overall, Janus just confirms what we knew about Thompson all along. She’s always had the voice, only now she’s turned it into a truly magical debut LP. (Dylan McCarthy)
Oisima – Nicaragua Nights (Create Control)
South Australian multi-instrumentalist Oisima is somewhat of a quiet achiever on Australia’s beatmaker scene, so the producer’s debut LP Nicaragua Nights might not get as much attention as it deserves. Oisima’s lush, soulful soundscapes are reminiscent of Bonobo, Onra and Hiatus Kaiyote, and the album oozes an authenticity that is becoming increasingly harder to find in a homogenised, post-Flume world. The good stuff is still there in abundance, of course, but you just have to search a little harder through the noise.
Nicaragua Nights is one of those special finds. It’s a gorgeous record made up mostly of live instrumentation, combining saxophones with dreamy guitars and vocals from Mei Sariswati and Anabel Watson. It results in something much more tangible than sample-based electronica, and just like picking up a glossy magazine is a more refreshing experience than scrolling through pixels on an iPhone screen, it’s more tactile, and it’s ultimately more rewarding. (Dylan McCarthy)
Mike Waters – Life (Independent)
Mike Waters was working in the corporate world for 10 years, and then one day he revealed to people around him that he’s been quietly making music in his bedroom – and not only that, but it’s really good. Now, after his first demo went on to become the most-played track on triple j Unearthed, the humble singer-songwriter has released his debut EP.
Waters recently told Tone Deaf in a track-by-track that the EP gives “a real little insight into what it means to be me”. His songwriting ranges from love interests (‘Daisy’), to festival experiences (‘Feels Like Home’), to the particularly touching track ‘Dreams’ inspired by his mother who passed away when he was 15.
“Frankly, this EP is the thing I’m most proud of achieving in life. I’ve owned a house, I’ve finished a degree and I have 10 years experience working in various industries, but putting this whole thing together has been an experience that I never thought I’d get to have,” says Mike.
C1 – A Skateboard Soiree (Hub/Caroline)
C1 is the producer behind Allday’s debut EP, A Skateboard Soiree, which gave him his first real dose of street cred before ‘You Always Know The DJ’ et al made the rapper one of the most popular names in Australian hip hop. It’s been three years since G1 and Allday collaborated for the release in 2012, and due to an overwhelming response to fans wanting the instrumental versions of the tracks, C1 has gone and remastered all the beats that appear on the short-player.
From the melodic strings of the emotional ‘When I’m Gone’, to the sunny jazz of ‘So Good’ and the distorted trip hop beats on ‘Harpoon’, the EP stands up strong on its own as an instrumental release, becoming a totally different experience without Allday’s rap. (That wasn’t shade.)
TTTDC – Acronym (WeEmptyRooms)
Melbourne three-piece TTTDC are a heavy prog rock outfit made up of members who have played in Peeping Tom, Wicked City, and Sons of the Ionian Sea. On their new sophomore album, Acronym, TTTD take their huge sound to chaotic new levels.
Acronym is a hard-hitting album jammed with glass-shattering riffs, huge walls of psych, and brutally electrifying levels of energy.
The record’s roaring lead single ‘Reitarate’ is the perfect starting point for the rest of the LP’s rock’n’roll madness. The accompanying video, which features people wearing creepy mask faces of Tony Abbott, Joe Hocky, and Christopher Pyne, was deemed too controversial for the ABC to play on Rage. Judge for yourself below:
