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.
Death Bells – Death Bells
Death Bells’ highly accomplished debut EP is a piece of music made with a set time and place in mind. It’s often sparse tracks open in a cold wind whipping up in your face, and they slowly start to grow and expand, the sun comes out.
Progressing from their more alternative roots, their EP has a more electronic sensibility in the song writing, though none of the coldness that the format often inherits. It’s personal and warm, yet still maintains intensity. If the music is the place, then the lyrics are the story, and they compliment each other exceedingly well. There is a sense of gravity to this story, and it regains a sense of emotional honesty that is often missing from music, much less debut releases.
Death Bells debut EP is a remarkable step forward for a group that already came out swinging. After garnering acclaim for their ferocious live set, they have taken a leap forward and presented one of the more understated and mature releases so far. It’s the type of pop music that supersedes the connotations of the word pop: it’s accessible, it’s honest, and above all, it’s exceptionally good to listen to. (Adrian Pedic)
Emma Russack – In A New State (Spunk)
Much loved Melbourne singer-songwriter Emma Russack is continuing her trend of dropping a stunning LP every second year with the release of In a New State.
A follow on from You Changed Me (2014) and Sounds Of Our City (2012), In a New State saw Emma work with new producer (John Lee – Mountains In The Sky, Beaches, The Ocean Party).
You Changed Me is a stunning effort from the prolific Melbourne songwriter who manages to continue her legacy as one of the country’s most underrated indie rock talents.
Nicholas Allbrook – Pure Gardiya (Spinning Top)
POND front-man (and ex-Tame Impala member) Nicholas Allbrook is unclassifiable in his creative outputs, but one thing that is for certain is his ability to craft works that are so thoroughly conceptualised and sure of themselves. His new LP Pure Gardiya is no different.
The title Pure Gardiya translating to ‘outsider’ in the Kimberly where Nick is from, this LP is an exercise in self reflection for the Perth multi-instrumentalist, as he ruminates on his Australian roots.
Taking a theatrical, Bowie-esque approach to crafting a number of tracks on this LP, Pure Gardiya sees Allbrook continues to push boundaries while remaining wholly accessible.
Tully on Tully – Miles Away
Having well and truly kicked off 2016 in style thanks to the release of the band’s sophomore EP Miles Away, Tully On Tully have just wrapped up their national tour.
Upon their return to Australia Tully On Tully retreated to a recording studio in the Victorian highlands to put their new work to wax and Mile Away was the outcome.
Miles Away came after an intense period of song cultivation. The EP was written whilst the band were abroad in New York City and represents their experiences in the metropolis and the tyranny of distance, it’s a stunning effort from the crew.
OPIUO – Omniversal
In the last eight years Opiuo has gone from aspiring bedroom producer to the recipient of five awards at 2013’s UK Glitch-Hop Awards, and winner of Best Electronic Album at the New Zealand Music Awards, establishing himself in the process as one of the world leaders of the highly infectious glitch hop scene.
The talented producer has now unveiled Omniversal a 12 tracks release overflowing with syrupy bass. Continuing to build on his funkadelic big bass sound, this record sees Opiuo carve himself a niche in the dance music world.
Mixing dance with funk, pop, bass and and countless other genres, Omniversal is an impressive piece of work from one of this country’s quiet over achievers.
QD – Lysergic Flaccid
Quang Dinh, (Little Red, Naked Bodies) has been making music under the moniker QD for a little while now. Six month ago the prolific songwriter started to release and record music at what can only now be described as a ‘King Gizzard-sque pace’.
This new LP Lysergic Flaccid is QD’s third EP in six months and like King Gizzard, QD proves you don’t have to scrifice quality for quantity.
Manic and guitar fuzz laden, Lysergic Flaccid is a psychedelic trip into QD’s songwriting ethos. Think ’60 pop crewed up and spat out by garage punks and you’re getting close to the unclassifiable world of Lysergic Flaccid. If you’re hanging for the new Gizz record, let this tide you over.
