Twin star outfit Cosmo’s Midnight today announce their long-awaited sophomore album Yesteryear, to be released worldwide on October 2 via Black Butter Records.. Celebrating the news, the duo also shares a new remix from Brame & Hamo for their recent album-titled single.
After releasing the psychedelia-infused 70s pop single “Yesteryear” with an iso-inspired film clip back in June, the uplifting track receives a club fit-out for dance heads everywhere. Irish-bred, Berlin-based duo Brame & Hamo put their famed house reputation to task, transporting the single to new darker, melodic and higher-tempo territory.
“Slicing up and vocoding the original vocal performance Brame & Hamo take ‘Yesteryear’ out of the clouds and into the clubs. For us, this remix embodies a post-covid, sweaty warehouse rave with it’s dark, hypnotic blend of trance, breakbeat, techno and electro.”
Cosmo and Pat Liney on the remix
The Yesteryear LP will arrive on October 2, representing a new and self-assured chapter for the Sydney-based duo who have spent years honing their sonic identity to become a confident live project of intelligent design and feel. From their bedrooms many years ago, to studios and sold-out stages across the world today, Cosmo’s Midnight have keenly enveloped an essence of timelessness within their sound, soon to be heard on their second album. Having excelled in their lane as songwriters and producers, the pair have fed their curiosity to master a sophisticated blend of disco, funk, psychedelic, soul, hip-hop and pop influences in their output while retaining clear-cut melodic progressions and ideas that stick around long after the record ends, often reflected back in their worldwide following and loyal fanbase. Familiar faces Ruel, Matthew Young and Age.Sex.Location are among the tracklist’s artist collaborations, topped off with a special appearance from Wollongong’s Stevan.
“Our second album is more or less summed up in the title track ‘Yesteryear’. It’s about reflecting on the past with not only nostalgia but also an element of melancholia ~ all the formative experiences that we absorb growing up both good and bad. It’s an album inspired by personal growth, looking back on these experiences, learning from them and moving forward with optimism. Stylistically we have always looked back to genres our parents introduced to us growing up; disco, funk, psychedelia, alt-pop of the 70s and 80s. In ‘Yesteryear’ we have homed in on that, moving away from overly produced sounds to more organic instrumentation, focused on feeling rather than thinking.”
Cosmo’s Midnight
In 2020, Cosmo’s Midnight continue to hold their reputation as one of Australia’s best loved duos in left-field sound. Their debut in triple j’s Hottest 100 countdown with their gold-certified single “C.U.D.I (Can U Dig It)”, was followed by the release of “Down For You” with global pop phenomenon Ruel, seeing over 16 million online streams/views to date alongside a live debut at Sydney’s Laneway Festival. The arrival of “Yesteryear” kept the momentum strong, placing the duo on the cover of Spotify’s The Local List playlist and receiving acclaim from the likes of NME and Rolling Stone Australia. Previously, the pair have shined in performances at Splendour in the Grass, Australia-wide festival tours of St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival and Listen Out, and sold-out headline shows in the US, Asia and major Australian venues on national tours. In 2018, their widely-appraised, debut triple j Feature Album What Comes Next put gold-certified favourites “History”, “Talk To Me” and “Get To Know” out into the world, kickstarting a meteoric rise that hasn’t slowed down since.
As Cosmo’s Midnight continue their trajectory of fearless exploration and reserved sophistication in 2020, turn up the dial on a new remix of “Yesteryear” today ahead of their sophomore album in October, promising some of their most exciting work yet.
Cosmo’s Midnight ‘Yesteryear’ will be available Friday 2nd October via Black Butter Records
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ADESSO MUSIC
JUNIOR JACK & PAT BDS – ‘KLIMAX’
OUT NOW
Remaining one of Italy’s premiere House music exports Junior Jack’s achievements are multitude, as a producer, he’s created some of the best House records of the early 2000s becoming a big star and major contributor to the sound and style of the time. Since then he has been a prolific and varied producer, continuing to release tracks, diversifying his sound, always with his ear to the underground and creating many early morning dancefloor moments.
He now comes to us with a strictly for the club release in partnership with friend and fellow producer Pat BDS. They have their own Adesso Music imprint to which they can release those tracks which are firmly aimed at the darker and techier side of dance music. Make no mistake this is a label that specialises in a tougher rawer sound.
With previous releases which include the 2019 debut ‘Flash’ and 2020’s ‘Tecky Dream’ they now release ‘Klimax’. A three-part package that includes the Original, JJ Rework and Alex 47 Remix.
With three different flavours that are all aimed at the dancefloor, the Klimax Original brings about a feeling of 4 am in a club and a perfect rolling techno track. Subtle beats and percussion build into a momentous track full of warm bass and energy.
The ‘JJ Rework’ is techy deep and driving – with bright synth stabs and an underlying underground dark feel. Atmospheric, with gentle and rolling builds.
Meanwhile, the ‘Alex 47 Remix’ is bursting with deep and warm bass and tension building drops – this is instrumental and deep techno at its finest. A track that slowly builds around a hypnotic beat.
Further remixes to follow from Darius Syrossian and Patrice Baumel complete the package.
Junior Jack & Pat BDS ‘Klimax’ is out now on Adesso Music
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Braxton keeps up his run of remarkable releases with his brilliant remix of Matt Fax feat. RBBTS ‘Set Your Sails’ on Colorize, out now. The label invited him to choose any track from Fax’ album ‘Progressions’ to rework, a vote of confidence fully justified by the result.
The Brighton-based producer is a by-word for quality and thoughtful composition, finding favour as a regular with imprints including Anjunadeep and Colorize. He has put lockdown to best possible use already, with his recent double A side ‘Torn/Chiaroscuro’ (Anjunadeep) gaining attention from Phil Taggart, Jaguar’s BBC Introducing Dance Show, and more.
His entrancing rework of the driving dance-led cut from French DJ/producer Matt Fax adds dreamy synth chords and a breakbeat element, giving full rein to the haunting, sumptuous vocals of European duo Anne Kalstrup and Hendrik Burkhard aka RBBTS.
‘Set Your Sails’ (Braxton Remix) is Out Now. Get it here: https://colorize.ffm.to/0227r1
Hey Braxton, thanks for speaking with us! Congrats on your new release, the absolutely stellar remix of Matt Fax ‘Set Your Sails’. Can you tell us how this remix came about?
Thank you for having me! Well Colorize got in touch with Matt’s new album and let me choose a track to remix, there were a couple on there I liked but this one really stood out.
Have you got much of a relationship with Matt Fax too, or is it more the label? How did you pick this song as the one you wanted to remix, what swayed you?
I think it was the vocals mainly, I prefer to remix tracks with vocals because it gives me more flexibility to bring something different to the track. I had a go at remixing another track but I struggled to do something meaningful with it, then this one came along and I could really get stuck in.
A lot of the tracks you’ve released have these really special vocals. Is this something you look for in a track you want to remix, is it one of the key components that grabs you?
Yeah absolutely, a lot of the music I make has a kinda anthemic quality, sometimes it’s subtle and sometimes it’s really in your face. I like my tracks to sit somewhere between the club and headphones, and vocals really help me to get that balance across.
And when it comes to making an original track, what is it that you tackle first? Do you pick or write a vocal, then create the track around it, or the opposite?
It’s usually the opposite, but there’s never a right or wrong way really, the most important thing I’ve found is to let the track develop as naturally as possible. Sometimes vocals it will happen early on in the writing process, and it’ll involve humming along some sort of topline idea before getting the vocals down properly. Other times I’ve gotten to the ‘end’ of the process with a track before deciding I want vocals on it. I try and keep all options open at every stage as it allows much more freedom to experiment during the writing process.
What can we expect from you in the rest of 2020? You’re an Anjunadeep favourite, will we be seeing your name on the label again this year?
I very much hope so, it’s a label I’ve admired for such a long time now and to be working with them is still a little bit mind-blowing 🙂
And on a more personal note to finish – what has this time in lockdown taught you?
I learned that people deal with complex situations in completely different ways and we all need to show a lot more empathy in order to better understand each other.
Thanks for your time!
No, no……Thank YOU! x
The 2020 AIR Awards will celebrate the success of the Australian Independent recorded music sector on Thursday 1st October, thanks to the continued support of the South Australian Government. The event has traditionally been a closed-door industry invite only event, this year, it will be held from Adelaide’s Lion Arts Factory as a hybrid virtual event that will be broadcast via YouTube. To watch the awards, subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE.
AIR is also thrilled to announce the nominees for the 2020 Independent Label Of The Year Award are:
ABC MUSIC | SPINNING TOP RECORDS | ELEFANT TRAKS | I OH YOU | SWEAT IT OUT
Thanks to moshtix; Australia’s most trusted independent ticketing company and supporting partner of the 2020 AIR Awards, the recipient will receive a digital marketing package valued at $10,000 to help showcase their talent to the music public.
In 2019, Chapter Music took home the Best Independent Label award. Chapter Music Co-founder Guy Blackman commented on the win, “We were very chuffed to win Best Independent Label at the AIR Awards last year, especially knowing that it was voted for by our peers in independent music. Running a label can be a fairly behind the scenes, anonymous task, so having people take notice and express their appreciation meant a hell of a lot. Best of luck to all this year’s nominees!”
AIR will hold its 2020 Indie-Con Australia conference virtually this year on the 1st and 2nd of October – Tickets and program to be announced soon.
Follow AIR and join the conversation:
air.org.au | twitter.com/ausindies | facebook.com/australianindies | instagram.com/ausindies
@australianindies | @southaustralia | #AusIndies | #indieconaus | #ADLCoM | #SeeSouthAustralia | #ADLcityofmusic
Seattle band’s sophomore album features singles ‘Take A Chance’, ‘Turns Blue’, ‘High School (Don’t Like Them)’ and ‘(God Damn!) What I Am’
Seattle trio Naked Giants today share their second studio album The Shadow, released via New West Records. A culmination of experiences lived over a hectic three years of touring worldwide and meticulously honing their skills as songwriters, the album is an impactful release for Naked Giants as they continue to make their mark internationally as a dynamic group.
Already, 2020 has seen Naked Giants release a slew of songs from the new album; leading with ‘Take A Chance’ in June, ‘Turns Blue’ and ‘High School (Don’t Like Them)’ in July and more recently, the cracking ‘(God Damn!) What I Am’.
To listen to The Shadow, you’re invited to get to know Naked Giants a little better. The record was made as the band’s live reputation grew around the world off the back of the release of their 2018 debut album SLUFF, and tours with Car Seat Headrest (both as his live band and as main support band). The music that features on this album demonstrates maturity in songwriting, the further development of an already strong musical partnership, and a dive into a rich soundscape. Dictated by a wide range of influences from rock to post-punk and grooves in spades, The Shadow is a journey of Naked Giants’ artistry – made to be immersed in.
“In the years since our previous album SLUFF was recorded, we have toured around the world, honed our musical skills and found our own little place in the music industry – but we have also seen our share of shadows, and it is through acknowledging these shadows that we grow the most. Each song on The Shadow examines an aspect of this growth through a different musical lens, adding up to a series of rock and roll vignettes of light, shadow, anxiety and responsibility.” Naked Giants
The 11 track album was recorded in Portland, Oregon with Chris Funk of The Decemberists on production, Adam Lee (Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks) on mixing and John Baldwin (Benjamin Booker, The White Stripes) on mastering duties.
The music is frantic, fun and leaves rooms to explore experimentation amongst the tightly composed arrangements that come together seamlessly. ‘(God Damn!) What I Am’ is a perfect example of Naked Giants’ all-in approach to playing with harmony, punk-tinged rhythms and gritty swagger. Chest thumping percussion and rousing vocals make the song perfect for sweaty live venues, primed for audience participation.
The Shadow plays with tone and mood well too, going from the punchy highs of ‘Television’ and ‘(God Damn)…’ to the more melodic and paced out sounds of ‘The Ripper’ and ‘Turns Blue’. The album gives the listener time to breathe without losing momentum.
“We threw in all our influences, from the usual suspects of punk rock and new wave to spaced-out 80’s balladry, fuzzy garage-metal and psychedelic desert folk (with synths and tape loops added to taste). And with Chris Funk leading the way, our somewhat scatterbrained sprawl of musical and conceptual ideas are tied together in an artful way.” Naked Giants
Steadily building up their reputation as a tremendous live act, Naked Giants were named Seattle’s best live band by The Seattle Times at the end of 2018 and Rolling Stone named the band one of the “30 Best Artists We Saw” during SXSW that year as well.
The Shadow is available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl.
A limited Coke Bottle Clear Vinyl Edition will be available at Independent Retailers and is also available via NEW WEST RECORDS.
PRAISE FOR NAKED GIANTS
“A one-of-a-kind band.”
Paste Magazine
“Naked Giants might just be your new favorite band (we promise!).”
Alternative Press
Naked Giants The Shadow Track Listing:
1. Walk Of Doom
2. High School (Don’t Like Them)
3. Take A Chance
4. Turns Blue
5. (God Damn!) What I Am
6. The Ripper
7. Unpeeled
8. Television
9. Better Not Waste My Time
10. The Shadow
11. Song For When You Sleep
The Shadow is out now!
Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram
That undeniable feeling when you suddenly smell fried food by the seaside. Smooth dreamy vibes and sparkling stratocasters. Premiere solo release by Collingwood’s Adam Webster (Colour Picture Book, The Funky Truth) “Sunshine and Onion Rings” is the soundtrack to the dog days of summer. Adam Webster has an affinity for dogs, rivers, and towns with small populations.
FKA twigs and acclaimed filmmaker Hiro Murai have collaborated to produce a seven-minute fantasy film for ‘Sad Day’, from FKA twigs’ acclaimed second album MAGDALENE. Co-conceived by the pair and directed by Murai, ‘Sad Day’ is Murai’s first music video since his GRAMMY award-winning video for Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’ in 2018, which won in the Best Video of the Year category.
The ‘Sad Day’ film is the culmination of three years of training in the art of Wushu for FKA twigs, who originally took up the discipline in 2017 under the guidance of Master Wu of the Shaolin Wushu Centre, the highest-ranking Wushu master in the west. As twigs herself states “everything I’ve previously done with my body, all the training and dancing, has led to this point.” Filmed in FKA twigs‘ London hometown, it sees twigs “finding magic in the city I’ve lived in for over ten years” with the musician and filmmaker starring alongside co-star Teake – who twigs cast through social media – as they battle on the streets of London.
In part inspired by a line in FKA twigs’ ‘Home With You’ (“never seen a hero like me in a sci-fi”) and representing just how far we will go for love, ‘Sad Day’ sees FKA twigs becoming the hero she wanted to see growing up but never saw in mainstream cinema. The video premiered exclusively on national U.S. television by FX, within FXX’s Cake, and is now available for streaming everywhere, including FX on Hulu.
About FKA twigs:
Throughout her career, including three EPs (EP1, EP2 and M3LL155X), her Mercury Prize and Brit Award-nominated debut album LP1, and latest release MAGDALENE, FKA twigs has established herself as one of the most innovative artists, performers, producers, and directors of her generation. MAGDALENE was named one of the best albums of 2019 by outlets including NPR, The Guardian, The New Yorker, Billboard, Complex, PAPER, TIME, USA Today and Vice, among others, and received a GRAMMY Award nomination for ‘cellophane’ as Best Music Video. Pitchfork declared, “with limitlessly innovative songwriting and production, the cinema of twigs’ music has never been more affecting. MAGDALENE is not just on the vanguard of pop, it’s in a breathtaking class of its own.”
FKA twigs has taken a complete approach to every facet of her art and career, and has been honoured with a Webby Special Achievement Award for her “incredible contributions to digital culture and for constantly using the internet to create and distribute experimental art.” She’s directed and starred in campaigns for Nike, Google Glass, Calvin Klein and Apple, and made her big-screen debut in Honey Boy.
About Hiro Murai:
Hiro Murai is an Executive Producer on FX’s award-winning series Atlanta and directed seven episodes of Atlanta Robbin’ Season, including one of the most talked-about episodes in television, “Teddy Perkins.” Murai won a PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy for Atlanta in addition to receiving three Emmy Award nominations and a DGA Award nomination for the show. Atlanta was recently renewed for a third and fourth season. Last year, Murai won a GRAMMY for Best Music Video for his collaboration with Childish Gambino, ‘This Is America’, which has garnered over 690 million views on YouTube. Murai has also directed select episodes of HBO’s acclaimed series Barry and recently directed Amazon’s Guava Island, the musical film starring Rihanna and Donald Glover. He also directs and serves as Executive Producer on the upcoming HBO Max series, Station Eleven.
Stream / Purchase MAGDALENE: https://fkatwigs.
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One of Newcastle’s best kept secrets and exciting 3-piece indie-rock band, dave the band, have released their long-awaited debut album, Slob Stories out now via believe.
Slob Stories was recorded in Chicago with none other than Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Pixies), who perfectly captured the band’s raw energy and brain-to-page intensity of Noah’s songwriting. Building off the promise of a string of early EPs, Slob Stories is a fully realised work of emotional scale and scope and shows a different side to Noah’s song writing.
To celebrate the release, they have released the video for latest single, Capsule. Capsule follows the singles, Ultrahard, Get Smart, Fine! and Where You Are.
“I had the idea for capsule when I heard a friend talking about his trip to Japan where he’d stayed in a capsule hotel. It was written just as winter was ending and I was reflecting on the last few months that had passed. We’ve always been influenced by Cloud Nothings, but this is the track that makes me think of them the most. Gabe and Max are chugging away so hard in the verses that all I need to do is strum each chord once and it feels like the song becomes this living and breathing thing that we are engulfed in when we play it.”Explains vocalist, Noah Church.
So, ‘Which Dave Are You?’. Are you Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters? Or are you Dave Le’aupeppe from Gang of Youths OR are you Dave McCormack from Custard, Dave Brubeck or dave.? Well, head to Instagram and download your dave the band filter and find out yourself. Our friends at Pilerats show you how it’s done here.
Tonight, dave the band will be performing 2 album launch shows at The Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle. Tickets for the second show with Mahalia is sold out, but there are a handful of tickets still available for the all-ages show with Milky Thread.
Combining a punk, DIY ethos with heartfelt and honest songs, dave the band are much more than your typical rock band, drawing influences from artists such as You Am I, Built To Spill, Pixies and Custard; introduced to them by their music fanatic, vinyl-collecting parents.
dave the band have performed with some of their biggest influences such as You Am I, British India, Dune Rats, The Hard Aches and Bootleg Rascal as well as playing events such as Gumball, No Worries Festival, Moruya (Touch Sensitive, The Vanns), Raave Tapes, Shut Down, The Argyle House (Good Boy, Kwame) and The Cambridge Hotel’s Boxing Day Party (Dear Seattle, Rackett, Maddy Jane).
Newcastle has seen its fair share of loud rock bands over the years, but few have been as raucous and high energy as dave the band in full flight.
Auspicious local bedroom producer SH Gemini today introduces himself with the debut track ‘In Your Eyes’ out via Medium Rare Recordings.
At only 20 years of age ‘In Your Eyes’ is a compelling and mature debut from this self-taught auteur. Built on a classic house bed the infectious track swells with a texture of synths and deep vocals with a melody that’s sure to linger for days.
Speaking on the song’s creation SH Gemini says “It was born through me just having fun writing music in my bedroom, but with support from the team at Medium Rare, I felt for the first time this ability to finish a song & that it could be the one to set the stage.”
Honing his craft since the age of ten, it’s a talent he’s nurtured with care and patience and points to a wealth of stellar releases yet to come.
SH GEMINI
‘In Your Eyes’
OUT NOW
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“…this follow up EP is TOTTY in full bloom. The Wollongong grunge trio are a life raft for those who prefer their contemplation of restlessness and detachment to be loud and under-polished.” – Rolling Stone Australia
In an ode to a life of touring that once was, TOTTY today reveal their new singe and video ‘Same Bed’, a third glimpse into their rescheduled ‘Garden’ EP which will surface on November 6th via Ratbag Records/BMG. PRESAVE HERE.
‘Same Bed’ speaks to the monotony of touring and travelling from state to state to sleep in what seems like the same hotels, something that the band now look back on fondly. “Same bed is about life on the road, touring from show to show. When you’re traveling every hotel room feels the same and often you’ll drive all through the night to get to the next venue to do it all again.” Singer Kel says, she continues “The song was written last year before COVID with our previous bass player Max. It’s been sad to reflect on that time while in lock down but the song really makes me happy to have experienced it all with some amazing people. I really hope we get to do those tours again soon but it’s so important to stay safe in the mean time.”
Due to the unravelling of 2020 their hotly awaited EP release is a little later than planned and a little lite on the live touring TOTTY love so much but most importantly it’s full of good times, a sentiment summed up by the Rolling Stone review.
Last year the Wollongong shed-rock three piece lifted the lid on the first single from the EP in ‘Lucky’ which immediately resonated with radio. It was swiftly added to rotation at triple j and sat in their Top 50 Most Played for a month, ultimately reaching #13. They then completed their own headline tour full of sold out dates, and fronted the camera for an Aus Music Month shoot with General Pants. The second offering came at the end of last month with the release of ‘Fairies’, a loud and more grungier track showing off their raucous energy.
Never ones to shy away from the tour van, TOTTY spent the start of 2020 on a national tour with Dune Rats, Ruby Fields and Dear Seattle and have played alongside names like SKEGGS, Hockey Dad and Slowly Slowly as well as graced the festival stages of Falls Festival, Yours & Owls, Fairgrounds, Farmer and the Owl and Grow Your Own and they can’t wait to get back out to those same beds soon.
TOTTY
‘Same Bed’
OUT NOW
‘Garden’ EP
OUT NOVEMBER 6TH
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‘Sydney’s Crocodylus are back and they’ve bought a fresh new single with ‘em called “Social Climber”, out today via Bargain Bin Records.
A jangly garage rock anthem-in-waiting, “Social Climber” shows off Crocodylus at their most dynamic, with the trio thriving within the light and the shade, as the whisper-quiet bits pave the way for the parts so loud they’ll rattle your windows. It’s also Crocodylus’ most poignant song yet, with singer Josh Williams’ refrain of ‘I tried so hard’ a particular point of emotional resonance right before an immense, cathartic breakdown. The single had its first spin last night on triple j’s Home & Hosed and can be heard below.
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Hailing from Perth, Western Australia, alt-rock group Big Orange return with their new single, ‘The Reason‘.
The brainchild of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Davis, they are heavily influenced by the classics such as Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and The Rolling Stones. The pop craftsmanship of Daniel’s songwriting is both refreshing and captivating. Following their July release ‘Apocketlipstick’, Big Orange follow up with their new track ‘The Reason’, delivers an upbeat vibe with underlying tones of sadness.
The track’s theme explores addictive love and the emotional battle within.
“It’s a paradox. The source of joy and the source of pain- it’s bittersweet”, says Daniel.
Their roots to hometown Harvey in the south-west of WA inspired the band name and is where they originally formed. Daniel’s vocals and guitar is complemented by life-long friends Tom Garvey on bass, Emma Adams on synths and percussion, and Jamie Gallacher on drums.
The band has maintained a loyal following since inception and has played alongside legends, Big Country, Jebediah and Ash. With extensive national airplay on FBI Radio and Double J, the group has also had regular features in RTRFM’s Sound Selection which landed them in the station’s Top 50 Most Played Tracks of 2018. Big Orange has been featured in Spotify’s ‘Chords & Cardigans’ Playlist and recently been featured in Bandcamp’s ‘New and Notable’ List.
‘The Reason’ is out NOW.
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