In the back half of 2017, after nearly a decade of chaos and carnage fronting one of the most successful bands of the ’00s, and a few quiet years living in Berlin, Milan and Como, Nic Cester returned to the fray with Sugar Rush – his debut solo album. Produced by Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Queens Of The Stone Age) and recorded with his amazing all-Italian live touring band The Milano Elettrica, Sugar Rush melds soul, blues, lost Italian soundtracks and sheer musicianship.
Following the release of Sugar Rush, Nic and his band toured the world. A number of shows were recorded, and Nic now brings us Live Across Europe – a live album recorded in Bologna, Koln, Munich, and at the iconic Castello Sforzesco in Milan (a 15th century castle built by the Duke Of Milan at the time). Live Across Europe will be released on 19 June, and is available to pre-order now.
Today, Nic Cester releases a live video for ‘God Knows’, recorded at Castello Sforzesco. Nic says, “it’s probably my favourite tune on the album, certainly my favourite to perform with my live band, the Milano Elettrica. What began as a simple blues tune became a pretty epic, brooding, James Bond-esque number.” Nic Cester will perform ‘God Knows’ live from Milan for tonight’s State Of Music event.
Sugar Rush was welcomed by music lovers everywhere, with Cester’s knack for arrangements and melody and one of the most powerful voices in rock ‘n’ roll celebrated.
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“Watt’s most personal and revealing work; you just have to tune into it. If he believes, then we believe.” – Hysteria Mag
“Teeming with raw power and rage.” – Mixdown
“R U N has landed with a ground-shaking thud.” – Depth Mag
“An absolute gift for Aussie metalheads.” – Tone Deaf
Australia’s freshest heavy act R U N have surprised us with their extraordinary debut release, For You Will Never Find Peace Within Your Quiet, arriving in full today. Now streaming not only via audio, but also a fully-animated visual format, a physical product is also available for pre-order. The project’s future-oriented nature means that this product does not need to contain any vinyl or CDs. In order to streamline the process for all, and lessen the impact on the environment, it will be printed to the appropriate demand.
A duo composed of vocalist Lochlan Watt (host of triple j’s The Racket) and guitarist Mike Deslandes (YLVA/High Tension), R U N debuted their first single on 4/20 last month, to what can be safely described as a huge response. Then, they slyly unveiled one song at a time over the course of the past week, hinting of what was to come. The sequence of release saw each track title build upon the previous one to slowly reveal the name of the record and complete the journey. You can now watch the fascinating, moving artwork of the record from start to finish right here – thanks to the efforts of Patrick Galvin at Hollow Bones Studio.
A unique blend of extreme metal fury, hardcore accessibility and the heady contemplation of post-rock, the music ruminates on themes of suicide, heartache, fear, mental health, struggles with queerness and identity and, on top of it all, coming to terms with the life-threatening illness that is cancer. For You Will Never Find Peace Within Your Quiet was produced and engineered by Mike Deslandes, mixed and mastered by Will Putney (Northlane/The Amity Affliction), with session drums provided by Joel Taylor (The Abandonment/Galaxy). Artwork and animations are by Patrick Galvin (Architects/AB Original). A physical version is available now for pre-order, but just not how you’ve come to expect it…
STATEMENT FROM LOCHLAN WATT:
With where R U N has landed, we feel as though we have been handed a once in a lifetime opportunity to try out new things above the unstable ground we all find ourselves now navigating. I cherish my old CD collection, and I love supporting my friends and bands I like by buying their records, but I also almost never listen to any music this way anymore. My means of consuming music on a day to day basis are purely digital, and being an independent, self-financed band that so far only exists on the internet, we don’t have to cling to dated technology or tradition for the sake of what is now a quite visibly broken system of capitalism. I’ve seen far too many CDs and LPs end up in bins during my time in the music industry – and I know the production of them is not exactly good for the planet. We want this music to leave behind a massive impact on your mind, not the environment.
As such the physical product for ‘For You Will Never Find Peace Within Your Quiet’ will slot perfectly into your existing 12” collection, yet you won’t be able to listen to it. You will, however, be able to open the folding cover to pore over Patrick Galvin’s incredible artwork, with high quality full sized prints of all five songs and their lyrics on the inside, while you listen to the record via your preferred digital service. It being a purely cardboard creation gives us a lot of flexibility, and the size of this first ‘pressing’ will be determined by the demand. We’re also cutting Patrick in on the financial side of things here, because we think he deserves it. So, the more of these we sell, the more money all three key artists involved will make.
In these times especially, is consuming more plastic products really essential, or do we just want to be able to hold onto something special, and support the music that connects with us? This is an experiment and we welcome you to take part in it.
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Bleeding Buttercup by The Blossom is out independently now,
buy/stream it here.
TRACKLIST
1. Bored Baby Blues
2. Kill My Mind
3. Puppy Dog Tears
4. Wish You Well
5. Won’t Leave My Bedroom
Stay connected with The Blossom:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
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Australian rapper, songwriter, and artist Zheani has today released her highly-anticipated The Zheani Sparkes EP. The record takes an autobiographical perspective focusing on dark memories from her childhood but is opened and closed with a silver lining of melodic trap that drips with positivity and escapism. On the project, Zheani stakes a claim to her background, with the lyrical content driving home harsh realities that shaped her and formed the woman she is today.
Speaking on the release Zheani states:
“With The Zheani Sparkes EP, I aimed to provide context after a year of being relentlessly picked apart and judged online. I wanted to dive back into embarrassing memories that I have for the longest time suppressed and through a process like alchemy, transmute them into music. My hope is the project will help me finally resolve and leave these memories behind and also help others that have gone through similar experiences feel less alone.
With the Zheani Sparkes EP I take a past that I was ashamed of and stake a claim to it knowing it made me the woman I am today. A woman that I am proud of.”
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Follow Zheani:
@askulloffoxes
facebook.com/zheanisparkes
twitter.com/askulloffoxes
zheani.com
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Soothsayer can today reveal the next chapter in the ever-growing Willaris. K story in the form of ‘Chapel (feat. WaveIQ)’, a heaving, post-apocalyptic rave anthem and the first single off his four-track rave-inspired EP Full Noise, which arrives Friday 19 June.
Conceived in an old chapel overlooking the Pacific at Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La studio in California with Passion Pit’s Nate Donmoyer, renowned producer Tim Anderson (Halsey, Banks, Dizzee Rascal) and US underground rapper, WaveIQ, ‘Chapel’ showcases Willaris. K’s most direct yet diverse sonic work to date. The angular track channels the frenetic warehouse rave energy from the 26-year-old producer’s globally celebrated live show, delivering an electric aural experience direct to the homes of fans across the globe. Added to that is the improvised vocal chants from WaveIQ that tie the track together, and create an atmosphere of smoke, sweat and sin.
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Leif Vollebekk
website | facebook | twitter | instagram
secretcityrecords.com
remotecontrolrecords
Avoidant, the new label from power house Soma Records, share its first vinyl release – bass heavy The Infinite Ones EP from Kronos Device
| Artist: Kronos Device Name: The Infinite Ones EP Label: Avoidant Records Date: Vinyl out now
Available for purchase here. Having been at the forefront of the electronic music scene for almost 30 years, Soma continue to push the boundaries as they announce a new Electro sub label Avoidant established specifically to push dynamic and diverse sonics from across the globe and already has 4 releases under its belt from duo CYRK, Scottish new bloods PinballSpider and Autonomous. For the label’s latest release and its first on vinyl, Kronos Device return in fine form for their first EP in four years ‘The Infinite Ones’ with a bass-heavy, BPM busting electronic gem; synonymous with their sound. Simon Brown (aka Dexorcist) and Phil Klein (aka Bass Junkie) joined forces in 2001 after pre-establishing themselves as major names in the underground scene. Hyperqub3 throws the listener into a the deep-end sonically with funked up beats and electrostatic vocals slicing through gut-pounding bass that drives through the heart and instantly increases the bounce – all held together by hyperspatial SFX. Track 2 delves into more heady, cerebral sounds. The title track of the EP, The Infinite Ones’ ripping synth sequences, dramatic pads and pulsing vocal riff is a supremely produced nod to the duo’s versatility. The EP culminates with Control – heavy distortion makes the 808 bass work hard, while robotic overtones and formidable synths command the track. The Infinite Ones is an expertly produced electronic EP that undoubtedly proves Kronos Device as pioneers of the genre. Avoidant Records, said: “Since starting the avoidant label, Kronos Device were the first names to pop into our head for a release – their extreme bass heavy, fast BPM, unique 808 electro style was something we felt suited our labels sound perfectly and have always held them in high regard.” |
In a sheer show of sonic force, Up In The Airlock (UITA) hosted Brisbane’s WAAX last night for ‘The Quarantine Sessions’ – live now via YouTube.
Initially scheduled to go live as the platform’s debut in April, the Up In The Airlock team postponed the WAAX session due to social distancing restrictions but recently had the chance to finish it, with spectacular results. Filming at the studio where the band first recorded their debut EP was a somewhat nostalgic experience for WAAX. “We felt at home in the beautiful studio amongst the vintage gear and Powderfinger’s ARIA Awards. Airlock still fosters a real creative vibe for us,” says tour-de-force Maz DeVita. “The best part was being able to play and perform live; something that we have truly been missing as of late!”
Performing a high-octane 30 minute set, the band surged through some of the key moments from their debut album Big Grief including ‘Labrador’, ‘FU’ and ‘I am’. Up In The Airlock’s Ian Haug said he was mesmerised by the session. “WAAX had been bottling up the energy that they were going to bring pre-lockdown to Up In The Airlock and they exploded into the room here at Airlock Studios after escaping from isolation. The band is loud, tight and purposeful, and Maz is unstoppable. I think she even freaked herself out with the energy she brought.” he says.
Up In The Airlock is an initiative from Ian Haug (Powderfinger, the church) Airlock Studios and Method To My Madness (MTMM) to showcase great Australian acts in a format that captures the intimacy, personality and technicalities often missed at a live show. The project also acts as a fundraiser for the artists and crew with proceeds collected via the Up In the Airlock website. Taking a page from the books of other successful live sessions such as NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts & Live on KEXP, the sessions feature the premium production value that Airlock Studios is known for.
Don’t miss the exciting next episode of this great new series supporting Australian music. Subscribe to the Up In The Airlock YouTube channel and sign up to the mailing list on the official website.
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THE LAWRENCE ARMS
ANNOUNCE SKELETON COAST
OUT JULY 17
SHARE NEW TRACK
“PTA”
Chicago bred trio The Lawrence Arms will release Skeleton Coast, their first album in six years, on July 17. The band offers fans a glimpse at the record with the release of the first single from the new record, “PTA.”
Skeleton Coast was recorded 30 miles east of El Paso, TX at Sonic Ranch Studios with longtime producer Matt Allison. It was kind of like album camp in the sense that we were in this very remote setting for two weeks and really focusing on making the record. That was a very different experience for us because we’ve always made our records in Chicago which is home and all the things about home are in the way,” says vocalist and guitarist Chris McCaughan.
The album contains the elements of the band’s sound that fans have come to love for the past two decades but recontextualises them in a way that somehow sounds perfectly aligned with this strange time in our collective history. Although it was written and recorded before the Coronavirus upended the world, the band’s seventh studio album sounds eerily prescient as it imagines an apocalyptic future where coyotes croon and wolf packs roam free. “For a band who has been around as long as us, this is about as urgent of a record as we could make,” vocalist and bassist Brendan Kelly explains. “It may be kind of dark but it’s really about searching for light in the darkness and finding it, as small as those moments may seem. That’s sort of where we’re at: Collecting the scraps of things that could make for a bearable existence in dark times.”
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Yaeji Instagram / Twitter / We
xlrecordings.com
remotecontrolrecords.com.au