Community radio music directors often have an encyclopedic knowledge of local music and an insatiable thirst to keep their ears ahead of the curve. So in this Tone Deaf series, the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (Amrap) invites music directors to highlight new Aussie tunes that you might have missed.
In this edition, Will Backler from Perth’s RTRFM contributes with a selection of tracks currently making their way to community radio through Amrap’s music distribution service ‘AirIt’.
Check out Will’s selections below and if you’re a musician you can apply here to have your music distributed for free to community radio on Amrap’s AirIt.
Spaceman – The Stars Are Not Eyes
Spaceman are a six piece out of Fremantle, who changed their name from SpaceManAntics as their sound went in a more kraut influenced direction.
‘The Stars Are Not Eyes’ is introduced by a synth and tinny drum machine, which give the live drums a great impact when they hit. This intro gives way to an ever-accelerating all-in jam, that finally resolves and gives way to pondering, reverb soaked vocals.
Verge Collection – Postcodes
Verge Collection expertly blend classic pop sensibilities with witty, poetic lyrics, delivered by songwriter and front-man Ben Arnold. This is exemplified by the alternative country leaning track Postcodes, an ode to the often rocky road to romance faced by suburban millennials in Australia.
A perfect balance is struck between classic acoustic guitar strums and surf rock electric guitars, with the rhythmic section holding it all together.
Gravy Murphy – Keep Her Lit
Gravy Murphy is the solo electronic project of Jon Murphy, originally from the UK before settling in Perth at the start of the decade.
Now based in Melbourne, he released his debut LP of experimental dance-influenced sounds, The World Is Your Moisture, in June this year.
Childsaint – Hallelujah Heartache
Perth four piece Childsaint have been combining dream-pop and heavier shoegaze influenced sounds for the last few years, releasing their debut EP in 2014 to great acclaim and gigging all around town.
Their latest single is a mixture of soulful, poignant lyrics with dreamy, almost hypnotic guitar tones that give way to an intense barrage of sound, as distortion and saturation kicks, the drums breakdown, and a driving bass line takes over.
Parnell March – Dragon
‘Dragon’ is the title track from the second EP of the same name by Perth based producer Parnell March, an experimental beat maker using luscious synthscapes from both analogue and digital sources.
The track is a head nodding hip-hop beat, featuring swirling pads, syncopated percussion, and vocals so heavily vocoded that they sonically resemble an additional synthesiser, propelled by a double time breakdown.
The Shabbab – We Keep Coming
The members of the Shabbab originate from Tel Aviv, Beirut and Melbourne, where they are now based, with their heritage having an influence on their songwriting.
‘We Keep Coming’ is an in your face garage rock jam, with smooth keys being outweighed by distorted guitar riffs and urgent drums, while the lyrics grapple with the racism and discrimination faced by both indigenous Australians and refugees.
The Nation Blue – Erectile Dysfunction
Returning after a seven year hiatus, the Melbourne trio headed to regional Victoria to track their forthcoming albums live in a huge hall space. This recording method coupled with their bare bones, aggressive, uniquely Australian rock sound resulted in a track of raw power and emotion.
Repetitive unsettling guitars meet a grimy, pounding bassline, tied together by relentless percussion, all topped off by Tom Lyncoln’s unrestrained, confrontational vocal delivery.
