Tone Deaf » Local Artists

No Sleep by DZ Deathrays

Esther Semo — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:20:22 +0000

Brisbane boys Shane Parsons and Simon Ridley’s weirdly successful house-party-esque project DZ DEATHRAYS are back with a new single. The duo have had a huge 12 months having travelled to the US for to tour – including playing South By Southwest and playing New York’s iconic Bowery Ballroom– and are now playing Laneway Festival here in Australia.

It seems no one can get enough of DZ DEATHRAYS from local fans to international ones to music execs to the Queensland Government (last year the band got a grant to tour to the UK). It’s looking like in 2012 the guys are set to top last year’s efforts.
No Sleep by DZDEATHRAYS

The new single, ‘No Sleep’ – which premiered on BBC1 earlier this week- is in the same vein as their previous hit ‘The Mess Up’. That is, dirty, messy, loud garage punk that makes you a little less sad that Death From Above 1979 aren’t around anymore.

After Laneway and some dates in New Zealand the boys head back overseas to tour Europe and the US.

Mercy by Devotional

Stephanie Liew — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:11 +0000

Sydney artist Madeleine Lucas’s solo project A Casual End Mile now has a new name, and new members! With the addition of Luke Bacon and Rob Irish, the group is now called Devotional. They released Mercy, the first single off their upcoming EP, today. The single was self-recorded, self-produced and then mastered by Don Bartley (The Beatles, Silverchair, The Necks).

The band’s new name aims to “embody their aesthetic, conjuring images of sincere, haunting, and archaic romanticism.” Mercy definitely is, in a nutshell, haunting.

1. Devotional – Mercy by tonedeaf

Lucas’ permeating vocals, slathered in reverb, combine with the delay-heavy picking of guitar strings to create an otherworldly, cavernous sound. Sparse instrumentation accentuates the ethereal, poetic quality of the single.

Devotional have shared stages with the likes of Mick Harvey, Loene Carmen, Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders and Rohin Jones (The Middle East). Their forthcoming EP will see them solidify their new sound, which encompasses the genres of folk, shoegaze and alternative-rock.

You can download the single for free from their bandcamp here.

Links:

facebook.com/devotionaldevotional
www.devotionaldevotional.com

Real Young by Dirt Farmer

Esther Semo — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:18:02 +0000

Melbourne five- piece Dirt Farmer have just released a new single entitled ‘Real Young’. Originally from Albury-Wodonga but having now relocated to the big smoke, the band of boys play dreamy, 60s influenced pop.

Having formed less than two years ago, Dirt Farmer have already had a fair share of success with lead singer Stuart Barlow touring nationally and internationally with Lisa Mitchell and the band supporting Alpine, Husky and The Fearless Vampire Killers.

While easily likened to artists who achieved success in the mid 2000’s like Coconut Records and Rooney, Dirt Farmer’s sound is still distinctly modern with very obvious vintage influences due in large part to lead singer, Stuart Barlow’s vocal stylings which are right out of 1964.

Real Young by Dirt Farmer

The band’s previous single ‘Johnny Marble’ garnered significant play on RRR, SYN and was featured on FBi’s New Music playlist. Their latest single ‘Real Young’ in the same vein as their previous release, all sunshine and melancholy. With a fun bass line and hazy harmonies, the single is perfect for a Melbourne summer.

Dirt Farmer is playing ToneDeaf’s Bowled Over Australia Day celebrations.

All Ways Were Lost by Saint Jude

Zahra Khamissa — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:05:32 +0000

St Jude have now swelled to a 5-piece, obviously still with Brooke & Bill (who also moonlight as the rhythm section of Little John), along with Ryan McCarthy from Dynamo, Bern McMahon from Downhills Home and Mick Stylianou, sometime bass man for The Bowers, so their pedigree is outstanding.

All Ways Were Lost by Saint Jude

They’re playing a free gig at The Post Office Hotel in Coburg, so check it out, they put on a killer live set.

Downtown by The Slips (feat. Phrase)

Zahra Khamissa — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:29:26 +0000

Phrase lends his vocals to Aussie band, The Slips for a sick collaboration!

The Slips – Downtown (feat. Phrase) by theinsound

Have a listen!

All The Cool Kids by The Demon Parade

Esther Semo — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:40:12 +0000

Melbourne band The Demon Parade has just released a new single entitled ‘All The Cool Kids’. Don’t let their name fool you, the band of four don’t belt out tunes of Satanic worship or perform clad in leather and studs like you might expect. The boys’ music – which has been gaining huge audiences since the launch of their debut EP in 2010 – is self described psychedelic rock. They sound like the unique breed of mid-90s 60s revival made famous by Pulp and The Brian Jonestown Massacre (the latter of which the band toured with) and they pull it off without a hitch.

All The Cool Kids by The Demon Parade by showoffservices

While their sound is decidedly 60s, The Demon Parade don’t come of the least bit dated and manage to keep things fresh thanks in large part to lead singer, Michael Badger – who sounds a lot like Craig Nicholls (The Vines)’s pipes and if their touring history is anything to go by, the boys are sure to blow up soon enough and ‘All The Cool Kids’ might just be the single that does it.

The band are continuing to play shows for the rest of 2011 and their debut album is set to be released in March of next year.

Sexual Lifestyle by Strange Talk

Esther Semo — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:24:55 +0000

Melbourne 4-piece band Strange Talk has had a big couple of years. Coming off the success of their previous single “Climbing Walls’ which garnered them some much deserved attention for Triple J, their new single ‘Sexual Lifestyle’ shares the same high energy sound.

It comes as no surprise that Strange Talk have garnered the attention of international acts, having supported big name artists like Marina and the Diamonds and The Rapture. Their synth-heavy dance music , which sounds a lot like The Presets and a bit like MGMT, are sure to be a big hit come the summer season.

Strange Talk – Sexual Lifestyle by viceroyalty

Currently touring the country with New Zealand band Zowie and gaining a wider base, Strange Talks existing fans and new listeners alike are sure to love ‘Sexual Lifestyle’.

Grow Up by The Aves

Stephanie Lee — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:30:54 +0000

Self described as sounding like “four friends playing instruments in the same room together at the same time,” it is easy to say that Adelaide band The Aves are fairly laid back. With influences such as the Kinks and The Who the band draw on old school British rock for inspiration.

The band, is made up of Lucy Campbell (vox/rhythm guitar), Florentina Pergoleto (drums), Tom Williams (lead guitar) and Tasman Strachan (bass), and has just finished recording their debut EP Panic with Aria Award winning Producer Lindsay Gravina in Melbourne.

Grow Up – The Aves by showoffservices

“Grow Up” is the first single of the upcoming debut EP from the four-piece and tells the tails of life in suburban no man’s land.
With vocals that are a little Amanda Palmer-esque, that have a conversational quality to them, “Grow Up” is a catchy indie track that could easily find itself implanted in your head for the next hour or so.

While the song is catchy with impressive guitar solos, the band have some work set out for them to set themselves apart from the smorgasbord of young indie Aussie acts that are currently on offer.

Considering the track was written in “about five minutes” the Aves have produced a light-hearted and fun track that is likely to leave a smile on your face.

So It Goes by Ali E

Stephanie Lee — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:42:55 +0000

Melbourne based Ali E is a busy woman, She plays a variety of roles in bands such as Little Athletics, Damn Terran and Ferry Tails. With a career that has spanned over many years she is now delving into a solo project.

So it Goes by Ali E by showoffservices

“So It Goes”, is the first single from Ali E’s yet to be released debut album. The single is a significant move away from the post-punk style of Damn Terran, with a more stripped back approach to music.

Ali E drew inspiration from Slaughterhouse Five protagonist Billy Pilgrim for the single, drawing upon the characters apathetic approach to life. As a result the single is dark, brooding and contemplative.

The stripped back single balances the fuzzy guitar beautifully with Ali E’s reflective vocals. The single calls on the help of fellow Little Athletics band member Brad Rusbridge with his subtle use of drums that helps to fill out the sparse track.

The guitar driven melodies and haunting vocals are likely to wash over you leaving you both enchanted and a little uneasy. “So It Goes” is a promising glimpse into the upcoming debut album from Ali E.

Witch Hats – Pleasure Syndrome

Zahra Khamissa — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:25:23 +0000

Witch Hats released Pleasure Syndrome in October this year, and even though you’ve already purchased the album (of course you have, and if you haven’t, you should), here it is for your streaming pleasure, in it’s entirety for when you’re in the shower, on a tram, or poking holes in styrofoam noodle cups at 7/11.

Pleasure Syndrome by Witch Hats

It’s their second album, and it’s awesome. Just that. Awesome. And make sure you catch them live.