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.
Circular Keys – Sorry! (Bedroom Suck)
Melbourne’s enigmatic pop duo Circular Keys have been floating around for a little while now, dropping the sporadic track on their Soundcloud page – but it’s not until now with the release of their full length debut LP Sorry! That we’ve been introduced to just what these guys are capable of.
Consisting of Dennis Santiago and Philippa O’Shea, the duo have produced a record that traverses the world of bedroom production, ambient electro and R&B influence all swirled together to creating something unclassifiable in the best way possible.
Featuring abrasive electronics, juxtaposed against O’Shea’s angelic vocals Sorry! Is an incredibly other-worldly output from a band who sound like they know exactly what they’re doing. This LP is without questions set to be one of the most underrated records of 2015.
The Basics – The Age Of Entitlement (Waterfront)
Aussie modern day rock legends The Basics are currently celebrating the release of their stunning new album The Age Of Entitlement and they should be celebrating as this is potentially the band’s best record yet.
A culmination of inspiration from each member’s crazy experiences over the past six years (since the last LP – 2009’s Keep Your Friends Close) the trio have been knee-deep in other Gonzo-style adventures.
Schroeder put out a solo EP Patience In The Face of Control, before moving to Kenya with the Red Cross; Tim Heath toured and recorded with his Spaghetti-Grecian mariachi band ‘Blood Red Bird’; and Wally de Backer pieced together Making Mirrors under the Gotye pseudonym. Now they’ve reunited and it sounds so good.
Deaf Wish – Pain (Sub Pop / Inertia)
Deaf Wish have for a long time been one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets. For the past eight years, the four piece, consisting of bassist Nick Pratt, drummer Daniel Twomey and guitarists Sarah Hardiman and Jensen Tjhung, with each member contributing vocals—have amassed one of rock’s most exhilarating bodies of work, all the while playing tight shows down the road from your house to those in the know.
Now having signed to the iconic Sub Pop record label, the band have unveiled Pain – a record that oozes the band’s charismatic live energy while still staying true to their ethos of keeping it loud but simple.
The record is an impressive Sub Pop debut from the local punk heroes, the lead single ‘They Know’ is the epitome of Deaf Wish – cold, guitar driven, moody and less than two minutes long. If you’re an Aussie punk fan you’ve gotta’ add this to your collection.
The Snowdroppers – Business (FOUR | FOUR)
Blues rocking legends The Snowdroppers – have been doing much more than stealing people’s underwear lately. The seminal Sydney crew have just dropped their brand new third album and it’s evethything we’ve come to love and expect from the guys.
Titled Business the new record see the band’s long time mate and sound man Ryan Hazell (The Drones, The Fumes) distils the band’s live energy and unorthodox interpretation of rock n’ roll into a triumphant collision of potent song writing and discordant raw power.
Garnering a swelling fan base over the past few years thanks to their hard gigging attitude, the band have really channeled their live energy and power into this release. A little but pop, a little blues and a lot of fun – it’s great to hear these guys are back in business.
Sui Zhen – Secretly Susan (Remote Control / Dot Dash)
One particular talent pop lovers should be paying a lot of attention to is Melbourne producer and vocalist Sui Zhen. She’s just dropped her debut full length Secretly Susan and it’s stunning lackadaisical synth-pop with a glossy, stylised finish.
A concept album of sorts Secretly Susan follows the live of Zhen’s ulter ego Susan who Zhen explains is “a manifestation of meta-data, her personality has been cultivated from the collective anxieties, hopes and dreams of the digital documented public. Susan is also an individual, someone’s digital doppelganger. In this video she is trying to connect with her true self. I took a particular liking to mannequins wig models that manage to convey human emotion whilst simultaneously being completely vacuous simulacrum.”
Featuring her attention catching but elegantly minimal tropical debut single ‘Infinity Street’ Secretly Susan is a fascinating exploration of a modern day pastel pop genius.
Ferla – Guilt Pop (Independent)
You probably know him as the frontman of spaghetti Western loving blues rockers Twin Beats (formerly Toot Toot Toots) but Giuliano Ferla is now going solo with his new EP Guilt Pop.
The four track release was created in as a bedroom recording, and as Ferla explains himself “I have no idea what I’m doing. Good tunes tho” – good tunes we agree. Like Twin Beasts – this new project sees Ferla produce music that’s groove laden romantic but still maintaing an undeniable feeling of tragedy.
If you’re a fan of acts like local legends Lost Animal, or of course Twin Beasts, Guilt Pop is definitely worth getting familiar with.
