Discoverer 140: new indie findings

As we can't go physically (yet, we won't give up) what about taking advantage of the holidays to go tour most dreamt destination? Yes, here's another trip down under, with an incredible trio of Antipodean new bands in our discoverer series. Sure you're going to enjoy!

The Goon Sax. Riley Jones, Louis Forster (son of the great Robert Forster) and James Harrison are still teenagers and hail from Brisbane. The band formed at high school in 2013, when friends James and Louis began recording at James' home as a duo, until Riley joined in March 2014, after a month of drum lessons. First live show arrived at the Zoo in June 2014, and since then have played with Twerps, Blank Realm or Crayon Fields among others. In 2015, after getting impressed by an unsolicited demo, Chapter Music signed the trio. After first singles 'Sometimes Accidentally' and 'Boyfriend' appeared later in that same year creating such an exciting buzz on the group, their heavily anticipated debut album is now here. Under the title of  'Up to Anything' here's a surprising love letter to the magic of The Pastels, of course The Go-Betweens (talent stays in the family), Arthur Russell, Beat Happening and every pop band that should be on your music shelves. Frontrunners for the debut album of the year, fated for greatness.

Kane Strang. Let's go back to Dunedin's, NZ (always Dunedin) to meet young musician Kane Strang who kept self-releasing self-recorded acoustic tunes for a few years, until in 2013, while living in rural Germany he assembled (seems that it was recorded in a WWII bomb shelter) ‘A Pebble & A Paper Crane’, a self-released album or compilation of demos, depending the source of information. One of these songs, 'Winded' was included on the 2014' fantastic compilation LP 'Temporary', put out by our friends at Fishrider Records. After returning to New Zealand, he spent two months housesitting his parents Dunedin home while composed his proper debut album. 'Blue Cheese', out since February 2016 via Flying Nun and Ba Da Bing Records. Intriguing but undeniably melodic and immediate, Strang connects psych-pop with peculiar folkie and garage vibes, like channeling The Chills and The Clean kindred spirits with the most quiet moments of the Pixies. Very special and addictive.

Loose Tooth. And we end in Melbourne with another trio forged on the life-long friendship of Etta Curry (drums/vocals) and Nellie Jackson (guitar/vocals), completed around 2012 with the addition of Luc Dawson on bass, transforming their pop sketches into real hyper-catchy fuzzy tunes. Signed with the great Milk! Records, they are ready to make an impact with debut EP 'Saturn Returns' this April. Mark the date in your calendar, because this band has everything to knock you out. Stomping garage-rock tunes with traces of punk-rock, think on Thee Oh Sees and The Shop Assistants, guitars crunching, erupting vocals, that unstoppable beat... hearts conquered.

Discoverer 126: new indie findings

And here's the second chapter in anticipation of Primavera Club. Three more must-see at the Festival, enjoy!

Algiers. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, this trio formed in 2007 but it wasn't until January 2012 they released first single 'Blood' via Double Phantom, followed by digital single, 'Claudette' a year later. And now we can enjoy and get freaked out by their eponymous debut,out since this June on Matador. Conjuring the dead sounds to life, Algiers music is a tense, mind-blowing collision of post-punk, gospel, dub and soul. The Birthday Party meeting Suicide meeting The Temptations. Propelled to the stratosphere by Franklin James Fisher howling vocals and politically charged lyrics calling for rebellion and taking a stance against oppression, racism, and the dictatorship of capitalism. Bravest, boldest, most amazing record of the year? Band to follow, in every sense of the word...

Jessica Pratt.  From East to West Coast to meet this young singer-songwriter, based in L.A. and active since 2007 when she got linked to Tim Presley's solo project White Fence, who heard her demos and eventually released her self-titled debut album on his label Birth Records in 2012. The buzz was notorious, with first 500 pressings of the LP selling out in less than two weeks and main music websites and magazines praising it. Now she's back with LP 'On Your Own Love Again' out on January 2015 via Drag City, Vocally magnetic, making you recall folk myths like Joni Mitchell, Sibylle Baier or Karen Dalton, warm and intimate, she summons the spirits of 60's classic folk but still sounds fresh and surprising. Simply irresistible.

Fraser A. Gorman. And we end in Melbourne, Australia, to meet this extremely young (only 23!!) talent, active part of the DIY collective Milk! Records leaded by our beloved Courtney Barnett. Involved in local bands since an early teenager, first in Torquay, his birthplace, and later relocated in Melbourne, his solo project has offered us two releases to date, both this 2015: the single 'Book of Love' and debut album 'Slow Gum' both out in Milk! Records. Country-folk, Americana... and mostly, honest, joyous and heartfelt rock'n'roll with a ridiculous ability to tell stories while arresting you with another infectious hook or a stomping chorus. Fated for greatness!

Discoverer 81: new indie findings

New year, new discoveries! And to make a flamboyant start, we're heading to Oceania with three bombastic findings. Follow us in this music trip!

Courtney Barnett. Hailing from Melbourne, this singer-songwriter and guitarist started her own label, Milk! Records, in 2012, releasing her debut EP "I’ve Got A Friend Called Emily Ferris" that April achieving immediate praise in Australia. A follow-up EP, "How to Carve a Carrot into a Rose", arrived in October 2013, quickly packed together into a full-length entitled "The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas", which propelled the buzz about Barnett worldwide. Folk-pop with GREAT LYRICS (yes capital letters) sung in deadpan style, 60s-70s sunny vibes and loose melodies. You don't even know me dear Courtney, but I clearly see you're going to be "soundtracking" my life quite a bit. Thanks for that.
The Native Cats. South to Hobart, Tasmania, to meet Julian Teakle and Peter Escott, a duo active since 2007. Debut LP "Always On" came out in February 2009, and a year later the 7" single "Catspaw / Lemon Juice". Sophomore album "Process Praise" kept the work pace in 2011, with latest adventures to date being a split 7" with UV Race and third LP "Dallas" in 2012 and this past summer respectively. Self-defined as electronic pub rock, they recall early New Order, or the gloomiest moments of The Fall using a Nintedo. A razorblade bass, toy electronics and incisive, anxious words. 21st century post-punk meets excitement.

The Prophet Hens. Couldn't be any other way: we end our trip in Dunedin, New Zealand, this time to meet a lovely four-piece, formed in 2012, when songwriter and guitarist Karl Bray stayed at home recovering from a serious injury. He began writing songs with local musician John White, and an album, finally entitled “Popular People Do Popular People”, took form before the band shaped into its actual quartet form. Released on (of course) Fishrider Records past August, the LP is pure jangle gold, with Karl's and Penelope Esplin's harmonies shining all over, recalling Flying Nun's tradition, but also UK's indiepop classics, full of melodic hooks and well crafted tunes. Another gem from NZ!