Do you feel that guys? The weather heating up? Well we sure do, and it’s got us all excited for some new tunes! Kicking off this week’s mixtape is a local jam from Aussie rockers Calling All Cars. We keep up the local vibe almost al the way through, too with some tunes from Skipping Girl Vinegar, Brissy four-piece Little Odessa, Sydney’s Georgia Fair, and more Aussie acts before rounding it all out with Brooklyn punk-rockers Parquet Courts. Check it all out!
Calling All Cars – ‘Raise The People’
As a naggingly effective riff scratches to life, its clear the Melbourne trio still have an ear for a crunchy hook and wedding it to some surging dynamics. The verse/chorus switcheroo is as old as the hills, but with Haydn Ing’s roaring half-shouted, half-sung delivery there’s cause to give it another well-worn run. The tight rhythmic assurance of his brother James, on drums, and bassist Adam Montgomery gives the track its punchy immediacy, while the lean production gives it its anthemic drive.
Skipping Girl Vinegar – ‘West Coast’
Instructions: get in your car, drive down the (preferably west) coast, wind down your window and plug in Skipping Girl Vinegar’s newest blissful pop jam. Sing-along oo’s and oh’s, sunny instrumentals and a chorus line that’ll glue itself to your brain are all it takes for the Melbourne band to make you crave a cruise along the beach in the summer sun. The five-piece have launched a Kickstarter to get the monies needed to work on their third studio album, so if you like what you hear head on over and lend the self-proclaimed hobo popstars a coin or two.
Little Odessa – ‘My Girl’
From the outset this track is a fidgety ADHD afflicted tune with its overactive energies driven by a solid backing beat and Strokesy guitar lines. Although this Brisbane four-piece sound like they’re having twice as much fun as Julian Casablancas and co. minus the pretention too. While their intensity and heavy choruses are more in line with The Hives Little Odessa are undoubtedly and unashamedly drawing their influences from a 60s rock ‘n’ roll era.
Georgia Fair – ‘Love Me Free’
This Sydney duo’s 2011 debut album, All Through Winter, was an Americana folk record, which wore its influences on its sleeves. While ‘Love Me Free’ isn’t exactly a radical turn for the band Georgia Fair are bigger and sleeker here. The first to come from what presumably is a new EP or album opens with heavy drumbeats, twangy electric guitars and keys before building to a chorus stuffed with sentimentality.
M.Antonio – ‘Cornerstone’
Melburnian troubadour M.Antonio has just released his debut EP Slightshot Diaries, a promising three-track collection capturing the brooding indie rock he’s been playing across the country for months now. Channelling a similar brand of undyingly popular indie that shot Matt Corby and Vance Joy into success, Antonio applies a rawer, tougher edge to his emotional hook-filled tracks like the standout lead single ‘Cornerstone’. Rising through the ranks of triple j Unearthed, this singer-songwriter has all the right ingredients for being the next poster boy of Australian indie.
Birds Of Tokyo – ‘Talking To A Stranger (Hunters & Collectors Cover)’
Taking part in the upcoming Hunters & Collectors tribute record, Crucible – The Songs Of Hunters & Collectors, chart-topping alt-rockers Birds Of Tokyo have covered ‘Talking To A Stranger’ from Hunna’s acclaimed 1982 self-titled album. The first thing you might notice about the cover is the absence of that meaty bass line but Birds Of Tokyo more than make up for it with a massive wall of sound and Ian Kelly’s trademark vocals doing the original complete justice. Crucible comes out on September 27.
Stillwater Giants- ‘Insane’
The four lads from the Margaret River have released their fresh new indie jam ‘Insane’, the first cut from their forthcoming debut album due out early next year. Featuring upbeat percussion, smooth echoing guitars and catchy three-part harmonies, ‘Insane’ washes over you like a gentle tide against your ankles. Refreshingly chilled out, this surf-sprayed track is perfect for a lazy summer time afternoon.
Parquet Courts – ‘You’ve Got My Wonderin’ Now’
We’re just not sure we could be more in love with Parquet Courts if we tried. After all, what other band could make recorder-heavy punk a cool thing? With their signature noisy guitars and heavy drumlines, the Brooklyn-based four-piece are getting ready to release their new EP What’s Your Rapture later in October and we can’t even wait to hear itu
