Setting it off in my 'hood

Resin Dogs played at the Jacaranda Festival in Goodna last night. That was supercool - lots of kids and oldies who probably didn't dig hip hop, but there was a good little crowd bouncing in the front (except for the fat old chick in tight skimpy clothes grinding... ew). I'm not a huge fan of MCing, but I looooooooooove those infectious beats and samples. I really appreciated the live instrumentation of guitar, bass and drums, along with the scratching and effects. And the visuals were really cool, particularly when they did a Midnight Oil song and looped footage of Peter Garrett dancing. Very fun (and I think fat old chick in tight skimpy clothes may have started a fight at the end). Like everyone, Resin Dogs have a myspace.

Good Aussie stuff

‘Stand Up’
Blue King Brown
(Roots Level)
With a title like ‘Stand Up’, this is, unmistakably, music with a message of social change. While politics may not sit well with everyone, Blue King Brown does it with an aesthetically pleasing roots/reggae style, motivated by compelling offbeat guitar and syncopated bass. Having seen this band play live, the dynamics of the brilliant African drumming isn’t quite captured to full effect in the recording. However, you’ll still find the beats stuck in your head, while Natalie Pa’apa’a’s honey-like vocals do come through gorgeously defiant and strong, holding the entire album together. Having toured at festivals, amassing fans all across the country in the past couple of years, it’s about time that this unique five-piece from Byron Bay released their first LP, and it’s one that doesn’t disappoint.

Blue King Brown's Official Site
Blue King Brown's myspace


‘House Of Heads’ EP
Scul Hazzards
(Valve)
There really is quite a lot of quality indie rock in Brisbane, if you know where to look. One band to look towards is Scul Hazzards, a four-piece who cites their influences as Jesus And Mary Chain, Sonic Youth, The Melvins and The Birthday Party among others. These influences emerge prominently in their screechy vocals, use of distortion, pummelling drums and wicked wicked bass lines. Altogether, their sound is fast, noisy and dirty, in every positive sense of such a description. One could argue that this sort of sound has been done by many before, and doesn’t provide any new ideas, but it’s one that I can’t seem to get sick of.

Scul Hazzards' myspace

Wine, dance and song

Doch was an absolutely spectacular 2 hours spent at the Powerhouse last Thursday night. The guest singers were beautifully expressive, while the instruments were played with great technical ability as well as fun and passion. I can't believe how fast they could play! And with such a large orchestra, the layers of sound were coordinated amazingly. The slower songs had me transfixed, while the livelier pieces got me up and dancing by the end. My favourite aspect of Doch and Balkan gypsy music is the element of wit, humour, satire or irony expressed in musical style, which I just can't quite articulate into words.

L'avant-garde et l'après-garde

‘Through The Windowpane’
Guillemots
(Polydor/Universal)
You’ve probably already fallen in love with this band if you’ve heard the sweet and uplifting ‘Trains To Brazil’ on the radio. While the rest of the Mercury Music Prize-nominated album from the London four-piece isn’t necessarily as catchy, it disappoints not, as nothing warms the soul like a dose of heartfelt indie pop. Experimenting with sounds that range from curious and quirky to opulent and grand, emotions vary between optimistic and melancholic as singer Fyfe Dangerfield earnestly pours his heart out. The plethora of instruments used, together with the incorporation of different effects, enrich the dynamics of their sound greatly. Although the occasional omission of drums and bass is only effectively poignant at certain times, and causes the album to lose pace at others, ‘Through The Windowpane’, on the whole, is highly intriguing and enjoyable, invoking a myriad of moods as well as exploring interesting sonic ideas.

Guillemots' Official Site
Guillemots' myspace


‘Cream Ibiza: Eddie Halliwell’
Various
(Newstate Music)
As the market becomes saturated with commercial dance compilations, this has to be one of the slightly better ones. Disc 1 is nothing innovative, with house and electro tunes already ubiquitously featured on other compilations, played in clubs, and used in television advertisements. However, Disc 2 is a little edgier, with a selection of less overexposed techno and trance, sewn together rather nicely. Still, I wish producers of such compilations would try to introduce more ideas and styles in electronic dance music that are completely new and avant-garde.

Eddie Halliwell's Official Site
Cream's Official Site

Grate as ever

Friday night started out at the Jubilee Hotel, where Block Past Maple played six brilliant original songs. My favourite was the 1950s style love song with a lovely doo-wop chord progression. The band, and in particular the lead singer Stu, has improved phenomenally in style and confidence since their last gig. Kudos to the guys, and a shout out to the drummer Jeremy who is one top bloke :)

Faker were first up at the Tivoli, and like at Big Day Out, were jumping and climbing all over the stage. 'Hurricane' had the whole crowd dancing, while the songs that weren't off Addicted Romantic, and hence that I hadn't heard before, were interesting and somewhat promising.

The Grates, like always, were as fun as I had expected. I was jumping around and singing along most of the time, and I'm still in awe of Patience's energy on stage. I love their raw sound - just drums, guitar, vocals, and occasionally keyboards played by a panda, come across so well live. The white winter stage decor and faux snow were also rather cool.

To market, to market...

If you’re yet to hear of these birds, you ought to soon. On the line-up for 4ZzZfm’s Market Day next Saturday is Brisbane band Butcher Birds, who have been gigging around town. Bassist Joanna Jane Nilson (who also sings for The Mean Streaks) speaks to Scene.

“The band started when I met Stacey through her boyfriend Nate, who played in the Wulvs,” explains Jo. “The Mean Streaks did a couple of shows with them. I met her and thought that she was really strong and funny and cool. I wanted to start a gang with her, and the next best thing was starting a band. I didn’t have the time or the means to do anything, but I learnt to play bass anyway because I wanted to play with her so badly. We got our friend Steve who played in Wulvs to play drums. I met Jacinta at a Red Paintings show in the toilets when The Mean Streaks played with her band, Dictator Chic.”

Among various local bands, Jo says she is influenced by seminal bands such as Bikini Kill, PJ Harvey, Roy Orbison, AC/DC and Sonic Youth. “Sonic Youth influenced everyone who came out of the nineties and the early noughties, and some parts of the 80s, so it’s hard to escape them even if you don’t like them directly.”

Despite yet being played on 4ZzZfm, the band is well in support of Market Day, and is looking forward to playing. “There’s always all these great bands that play. It’s kind of like a big house party, getting horrendously drunk on tinnies with everyone you know, and everyone should come and support it, because they’ve done a lot of good for me in the past. Triple Z is a good showcase for us, because we just need to play to a wider audience. I just like being a girl playing and if other girls can see that, that’s really cool.”

Butcher Birds will also play Ladyfest in November with Erase Errata. “It sounds like an interesting day,” says Jo. “Obviously, there are not many women doing rock n roll stuff in Brisbane, so it’s really great that girls are doing stuff to bring other women to the forefront creatively, and that’s never a bad thing. I just wish there was a larger variety of bands on the bill perhaps.”

The band is also hoping to get a CD out soon. “We have actually recorded, but that’s not out yet. We’re kind of looking for someone to help us release that. It’s just a little five song EP. We recorded that with a friend of ours, Emerson. It’s going to be called Eat Their Young. We’re getting it mastered this week, and that has most of the tracks we play live on it. Hopefully we can get it out in the near future.”

It's all just a little bit of history repeating

‘(ONe)’
The Panic Channel
(Capitol)
‘(ONe)’ is a highly appropriate name for this album, because it’s the number of times too many that I’ve listened to it. You’d expect a new project involving former members of Jane’s Addiction to be an exciting, innovative and interesting venture. Think again. This album is simply mundane and clichéd. The Panic Channel seems to do nothing except borrow from the past, with sounds typical of Californian alternative rock bands of the 1980s and 1990s, such as Mötley Crüe, Rage Against The Machine and System Of A Down. While these bands, along with Jane’s Addiction, have played a role in creating that sound, The Panic Channel merely imitates it, and as a result, is incredibly obsolete. Perhaps I’ve missed something more subtle, intricate and sophisticated to this album, but I’m just not willing to find out if it means having to listen to it again.

The Panic Channel's Official Site
The Panic Channel's myspace


‘Revenge Of The Killer Slits’ EP
The Slits
(Exo)
I’m relieved to find that this is not a case of music greats being has-beens. Original UK 1970s punk chicks have recruited Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols and Marco Pittoni of Adam & The Ants to record some clever new tunes. While they haven’t abandoned their raw angry sound of old, there’s a savvy urban touch to this EP that shows that they’ve certainly evolved and aren’t stuck in the past. Old and new fans alike would appreciate that their attitude is as witty, sassy and in-your-face as ever, with the only disappointment perhaps being that the EP only comprises three tracks.

The Slits' Official Site
The Slits' myspace


‘The Best Of Fabienne Delsol & The Bristols’
Fabienne Delsol & The Bristols
(Damaged Goods/Shock)
This now split London garage punk band and their French leading lady are fantastic. The melodies and riffs are sweetly catchy, while Fabienne’s exquisite vocals are sexy, saucy and playful. It’s very retro and reminiscent of 1970s go-go, added with punk influence, and entirely clever and fun. This compilation includes songs from The Bristols’ only two albums as well as rare singles. It will be interesting to see future solo work from Fabienne Delsol.