It’s already May which means it’s time for the PBS annual Radio Festival! Between the 11th to the 24th of May, Melbourne music institution PBS fm is inviting all listeners to the party and asking you to sign up as a member of the station and help them stay on air for another year.
In celebration of PBS always being at the forefront of new, undiscovered and emerging sounds we asked a few PBS fm presenters to educate us on what artists are releasing the most exciting party jams right now.
If you like what you hear, support the station and become a member because with your support PBS will be able to continue to do what it does best- program incredible and diverse music for years to come.
Press Gang | Zen Arcade
Friendships – ‘When I Feel Like Killing, I Murder’
‘When I Feel Like Killing, I Murder’, as a title, does not really scream ‘whoo, yeah- let shake our booty on the dancefloor’. However, the opening lyrical gambit of ‘when I feel like moving, I move…’ is like a call of action to your outer extremities that almost jerk involuntarily and to relentless and tribal like rhythms that carry the song to its completion. Drop this when the dance floor is in the zone and the vibe is guaranteed to get dangerous.
NULL – ‘Luv U, Luv Me’
Fans of the mighty 90s beat should check out Melbourne based electronic producer, NULL. His track ‘Luv U, Luv Me’ may start off a little slow, but the lull soon builds through different stages of homages to great dance/electronic genres and culminates in something akin to old school breakbeat/drum’n’bass from warehouse raves. Appearing partly tongue in cheek and mostly reverential, NULL knows how to building anticipation and make a beat drop.
Jamie XX – ‘Gosh’
Still very much on the dark tip, but from the international pool is Jamie xx’s ‘Gosh’. I find it almost impossible to not do some sort of crazy shoulder dance to this track. A stunning piece of 2 step UK garage, re-imagined in, dare I say it, an indie electronic context. Intelligent production and completely solid in it groove.
Monica Hanns | Against The Tide
NO ZU – ‘Exclusive Mix’
It’s kind of impossible not to dance at a NO ZU gig. The jungle like rhythms and the way the band throws themselves around the stage while they’re playing makes their shows one big happy sweaty dancey mess. The best.
Forces – ‘World In Focus’
Turn the lights down low and reach for the green lasers with Forces. It’s very loud and sometimes a little harsh but you totally know you’re going to get on ebay when you get home and buy yourself a set of electronic drums.
Jonny Telafone – ‘The Prayer’
You may not dance, but he will. And it will be the most strangely sensual music gig you’ll go to all year. This is more for partying in your mind than in your body. Spiritual.
Richie 1250 | Stone Love
Sugar Fed Leopards – ‘Mi Querida’
A joyous orgasm of sequins and harmony, Sugar Fed Leopards sound like a 60s beat-pop girl group who found a crate of disco records from the future and decided to work them into their repertoire. Fronted by the swoon-inducing Steph Brett, who will also satisfy your party needs as a member of Empat Lima, The Rebelles and The Brides Of Christ.
Habits – ‘Beast’
These guys are only 21, but they think they’re old because their fans are 18. They do a wonky blend of r’n’b and techno and other genres I am too square to know about. It really hits the spot. A very idiosyncratic guy / girl duo who can both sing and work the stage like nobody’s business, plus a hype woman / dancer as a bonus sometimes.
Moses Iten | Space is the Place
Lewis Cancut – ‘Circles’
I have to mention my co-host Lewis, a DJ who knows how to make people dance with his own productions, which have been released on some of the world’s top dancefloor labels including Mad Decent, Enchufada and locals Scattermusic. Although Lewis himself is only just starting to tour internationally, his music has been travelling far and wide for some years now and been experienced in clubs from Mexico City to Lisbon, Auckland to Baltimore and back.
Los Kumbia Killers
When Melbourne-based musician Carlos Parraga returned from a six month music-learning mission to Colombia in 2014, he formed Los Kumbia Killers to play all the classic party songs from his parent’s homeland. What started as a trio (accordion, bass, drums/percussion) playing covers, is now evolving into a band also playing original new Cumbia.
Carlos cut his teeth as a performer touring the world with local party lords The Barons of Tang and Cumbia Cosmonauts. Prepare yourself to dance to Los Kumbia Killers later this year, when Carlos returns from a second fact finding mission to Colombia.
Chelsea Wilson | Music Director
The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra – ‘Mr Clean’
One of my favourite bands to party to in Melbourne is The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra. It’s like a live afro-beat version of the Tracy Anderson Method dance DVD. Its the best workout ever while listening to incredible local afrobeat.
Izabel Caligiore | Lullabies for Insomniacs
Eugene Ward – ‘Somnium (Group)’
A talented electronic music producer and DJ from Sydney, who just released his debut full length release under the name Eugene Ward.
Eugene worked on a project titled ‘Paint En Pointe’ over five months alongside choreographer Patric Kuo, which saw the duo create a series of dance performances that corresponded to an exhibition each month. Selected compositions from the series have been compiled and released on London label ‘Where to Now?’.
Rings Around Saturn – ‘Portion 22’
Expect to be hearing more from Melbourne’s Rory McPike, not only are his live sets amazing, he producers killer d-floor orientated music under the name Dan White and more ambient works under the moniker Rings Around Saturn.
The Durian Brothers – ‘giri giri’
German trio who first made waves performing at the Dusseldorf’s legendary experimental club, Salon Des Amateurs. Their set up is two pairs of prepared turntables and various effects. All their releases are great. Looking forward to what’s next!
Cameron Durnsford | Events Coordinator
Wet Blankets – ‘Fridge Too Far’
With all the nostalgia and hagiography that surrounds rock ‘n’ roll these days (think relentless reunion tours, cynical cash-grabbing reissues and bloated, middle-aged rockstars), it’s great to hear punk rock taken back to its primal best, and delivered with the awkward urgency of a 16-year-old.
Geelong’s Wet Blankets have finally got an LP out after a string of limited, hard to find 7”s, and it’s exactly what you’d expect of a band centred around aforementioned 16-year-old Zane Gardner and his bro Billy, of Ausmuteants, Living Eyes and Antifade Records. Short, fast songs about everything from being too far from the fridge when you want a snack to getting the bus to school. Real shit.
Lucy Cliché – ‘Drain’
I came across Lucy Cliché’s dark synth tunes in one of those happy accidents that remind us all of the importance of our local record stores – I overheard her Drain Down EP in Polyester one day and immediately had to seek it out. Lucy (Naked on the Vague, Half High) channels industrial and techno sounds – think 303 acid squelch over huge, goth-y drum machine beats – all with a DIY aesthetic and experimental edge. Plenty of exciting stuff like this happening locally at the moment – see also Brisbane’s Multiple Man, or Vacuum here in Melbourne.
Power – ‘Puppy’
Ask anyone who’s seen them and they’ll tell you how formidable a live act Power is. Featuring members of local ratbags Kromosom, Soma Coma and Dribble, they channel classic Australian boogie, vintage British metal and the nascent punk of the Stooges. They kicked off Thursday’s Drive Live show this year, which was by far the most raucous in terms of punter behaviour. I know I’m not alone in being more than a little excited about their forthcoming debut LP Electric Glitter Boogie.
What are you waiting for? Get on board now! Call PBS on 03 8415 1067 or sign up online at www.pbsfm.org.au.
