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.
RaRa – PLANET2016 (Zero Though Nine)
Melbourne based avant-hip hop crew RaRa have been a Tone Deaf favourite for a little while now. From capturing attention and imaginations last year with their collaborative EP Pink and Teal to shaking up the sonic expectation placed on them with the release of their manic ‘0H5H1T_4L13N5′ the one thing about RaRa that is for certain is that nothing is certain.
Their EP that was actually released last month: PLANET2016 sees the guys showcasing just how much RaRa can do on their own. The nine track release dips and weaves in and out of slow cloudy emotional pop jams, and straightforward hip hop vests oozing with bravado. It’s a journey but one you definitely want to experience.
Jaala – Hard Hold (Wondercore Island)
Quite potentially one of the most talked about and hyped new local artists Jaala came onto the scene was really only born about a year ago. Creating a buzz with the release of singles ‘Hard Hold’ and ‘Salt Shaker’ the four piece fronted by vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Cosima Jaala (Manglewurzel) are wasting no time pumping out their debut full length also titled Hard Hold.
The outcome of a manic week writing and recording, this record was produced and engineered by the band’s good friend Paul Bender (Hiatus Kaiyote) it was tracked live with limited overdubbing keeping as close as possible to the live energy of the songs as they were first written and performed.
Cull – Aloft (Independent)
Born in 2012, Cull have spent the last few years receiving accolades for their stunning debut EP which saw the guys dive deep into the gloriously murky waters of fuzzy psych guitar pop. To follow up the guys have gone with the ‘all or nothing ‘ method, unleashing Aloft a booming album filled to the brim with shoe-gaze riffs that are set to blow the mesh off your headphones.
This album was driven by the band’ passion for creating shoegaze and dreampop, but also linked closely to Cull’s great love of muzak, crushing noise and pedalboard expansion. Written and recorded in Sydney by Chumpy in a studio he built under a loft bed, ‘Aloft‘ rings with experimentation and unexpected influences – while keeping the guts of Cull intact.
Dan Flynn & The Sate Of Things – Preparing For Flight (Independent)
Formerly known a Major Chord, Dan Flynn and the State of Things are back with a new record and name, that still thankfully an undeniably recognisable indie folk sound they’ve so meticulously crafted.
Titled Preparing For Flight the album was recorded and mixed by Neil Thomason at Head Gap Studios, and it sees the band explore bigger production and a stronger focus on live energy while still managing to form an incredibly intimate collection of songs. If you’re a lover of breathtaking songwriting and high quality folk you can’t go past this album.
MKO SUN – Opus Opalus (Independent)
The Brissy based Hannah Macklin formed the MKO SUN project during her time in New York City last year, and it has seen her go though quite a journey both personally and musically, which is perhaps why the music on this EP Opus Opalus is so difficult to pin down.
Evolving in her home studio, Opus Opalus was created in with Macklin’s close collaborator and MKO SUN drummer Myka Wallace, the result is an impressive seven track journey of an EP which glistens with sincerity rather than over polished production. Equal parts accessible pop and experimental boundary pushing Opus Opalus is an exciting exploration of what Aussie electro pop looks like right now.
Wafia – XXIX (Future Classic)
Future Classic have done a good job of establishing themselves at the forefront of Australia’s increasingly respected electronic music scene. A big part of their strategy has not been simply fishing for hot producers, but genuinely talented songwriters.
It’s only fitting then that Wafia’s XXIX EP opens not with swirling synths or heavy beats, but a series of understated, elegiac piano chords. Don’t worry, the 22-year-old Brisbanite’s five-track EP has plenty of the aforementioned, but its quality songwriting that sits at its core.
Lisa Salvo – I Could Have Been A Castle (Eastmint Records)
Lisa Salvo describes her music as “folk-inspired pop music with engaging instrumentation and thoughtful songwriting”, which is a pretty good approximation of what listeners venturing into the sunny meadow that is her debut LP, I Could Have Been A Castle, can expect.
The playful interaction between Salvo’s delicate, ethereal voice and her catchy, scintillating songwriting drive the record and keep you hanging on her every last, carefully considered word. One amendment: the instrumentation and arrangements aren’t only “engaging”, they’re a lot of fun too.
