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.