Music

Album of the Week: The Beths take the plunge on Jump Rope Gazers (2020 LP)

  When The Beths released their debut album Future Me Hates Me in 2018, I thought they were one of the more refreshing and interesting bands of the past couple years. With harmonies aplenty, soaring guitars and ever-so-wordy and clever lyrics, the New Zealand four piece were seemingly bound to become everyone’s second favourite band…

Read more
Kev Carmody

Seminal Kev Carmody tribute album Cannot Buy My Soul to be reissued with new recordings

It’s been announced today that Cannot Buy My Soul, the seminal Kev Carmody tribute album first released in 2007, is set to be re-released. Out on August 21st, the 2020 edition will feature new recordings of Carmody’s songs from artists such as Courtney Barnett, Kate Miller-Heidke, Alice Skye and Electric Fields.  Carmody is one of…

Read more

Track of the Day: AJ Tracey Feat. Mabel “West Ten” (2020)

Garage may have taken a backseat in the UK music scene, but whenever the seminal sound emerges it always hits hard. With “West Ten”, emcee AJ Tracey has reunited with singer Mabel to swiftly blend the iconic sound with an irresistible pop melody. Despite its saccharine sound, Tracey’s charisma and Mabel’s summery vocals reiterate how…

Read more
Mazlin

Exclusive Single Premiere: K. L. Mazlin “Middle Ground” (2020)

Former Hungry Kid of Hungary K. L. Mazlin is continuing on his journey into solo territory. Following the positive response to his debut single “Aurora Glass”, he’s back with new single “Middle Ground”. Officially releasing tomorrow, we’re stoked to bring you this exclusive premiere of the new track.  “Middle Ground” is an ode to getting older,…

Read more

Track of the Day: Lime Cordiale “Screw Loose” (2020)

  On the cusp of releasing their second studio album, 14 Steps To A Better You, Lime Cordiale have released a superbly catchy tune off it, “Screw Loose”. It’s a fun tune, as is the accompanying video. The video is a mixture of animation and footage of Oli and Louis Leimbach gallivanting around the Blue Mountains. They’ve even…

Read more

Exclusive Single Premiere: Liam Morton “Sunny Afternoon” (2020)

We might be in the middle of winter, but we’ve got a song which will transport you back to the heady heights of summer. It’s the Exclusive Single Premiere of “Sunny Afternoon” from Brisbane singer/songwriter Liam Morton. This follows on from his debut single, “Margarita’s By The Pool”. Prior to launching his solo career, Liam…

Read more
AR Pinewood

Track of the Day: A.R. Pinewood “Hotel” (2020)

Move over Orville Peck there’s a new mysterious cowboy country singer on the scene: A.R. Pinewood. His debut album, No Life, dropped on Friday on Scotland’s Lost Map Records.  The creativity that’s gone into the production of this album, is amply matched in the project’s fictional backstory. A heartbroken cyber-cowboy, forged in Colorado, but programmed…

Read more

DMA’S announce six intimate shows at Sydney’s Factory Theatre

As live music slowly crawls back to the fore, a total of six “Unplugged & Intimate” Sydney shows have been announced by DMA’S. The four-time ARIA-nominees and constant hitmakers will be highlighting forthcoming third album The Glow, giving fans in their hometown the chance to be the very first in the world to hear the…

Read more

Track of the Day: Sun Kil Moon “Lemon Balm” (2020)

Though not quite as meandering as the 11-minute “The Johnny Cash Trail”, “Lemon Balm” is a necessary second single for the forthcoming new album from the always joyful Sun Kil Moon. Steadfast with its feathery piano riff, the song is a six-minute rumination that’s just as tender and contented as its predecessor. The new album,…

Read more

Track by Track: Alex Hardy takes us through her debut EP A Little Break From Love

We are really thrilled to be able to present a track-by-track description for the debut EP from Sydney singer/songwriter Alex Hardy. Alex has a silky smooth voice, perfectly suited to the soulful jazz grooves on these tracks. Alex had a crack team creating this record, with it being produced by Sarah Belkner. Helping out was…

Read more

Jetlag The Podcast: LPX on the artist & label experience during quarantine and the BLM movement

Lizzy Plapinger of MS MR, who now performs as LPX – and is the co-founder of Neon Gold Records – is the guest on the fourth episode of Jetlag The Podcast’s second season, “An Industry Grounded”. Lizzy talks about what it’s been like releasing new music, including her latest single “Delayed Gratification”, and having to…

Read more

Track of the Day: Jack Grace “A Ribbon” (2020)

Sydney-born, now Paris-based artist Jack Grace, has released a really lovely moody track, “A Ribbon”. It’s been a while since we had any new music from Grace, as his last offering was the EP If I Tremble in 2018. He is a man of many talents, being highly accomplished at producing, arranging, collaborating and songwriting….

Read more

Interview: Marvell (AUS) flourishing during lockdown and their latest single “19 Homes”

We caught up with Northern-beaches indie-rockers Marvell during the week, to talk about their latest release, “19 Homes” and how life has affected them during the current crisis. As you’ll see, they have positively thrived during these times. The band was formed in 2016, with the founding members being Tom and Max Marvell. No prizes for…

Read more

Exclusive Single Premiere: Sarah Stone “What We Do” (2020)

Sarah Stone came into the public consciousness via The Voice, Australia, taking out a spot in the top 6.  Since then, Sarah has built a strong following on YouTube and has been working on her own songwriting. We are thrilled today to be premiering the first single off her debut EP, “What We Do”. It’s…

Read more

Megan Washington: A Visual Retrospective – From Spicks and Specks to Batflowers

Megan Washington will be releasing her long-awaited album Batflowers on the 28th August. I thought this would be a nice moment to take a visual retrospective at the career up to this point of one of Australian’s most talented and creative singer/songwriters. Like so many others, my introduction to Washington was seeing her on Spicks…

Read more

Album of the Week: DMA’S shine bright on THE GLOW (2020 LP)

More than two years after their dance tinged second album, DMA’S return in 2020 with another mixed bag of treats and hits as they embrace all things old and new on THE GLOW. Much like their progression from their Hills End to For Now albums, THE GLOW has elements of what you’ve come to expect from…

Read more

Track of the Day: Wolfjay ft. Austen “Very Soon, Very Frequent” (2020)

Initially developed through quarantine for the Triple J Unearthed competition #DIYSupergroup, Melbourne based Wolfjay – who played our party in New York back in March – has teamed up with their housemate Austen for the remarkable new single “Very Soon, Very Frequent”. The original track featured samples from Middle Kids, Tame Impala and G Flip…

Read more
Lime Cordiale

WATCH: Lime Cordiale play Tait’s 8 as they announce a live music comeback of intimate shows.

The iso-wait is over! Gigs are beginning to make a comeback as Lime Cordiale takes the lead with their string of already sold-out gigs being announced at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory. Only there’s one restriction catch: all audience members will be seated in what is set to be a very intimate and possibly bizarre concert…

Read more

Exclusive Single Premiere: Michael McCartney “Sweet Side of Love” (2020)

We are thrilled today to be premiering the first single from the next EP for Gold-Coast indie-rocker Michael McCartney, with the title track “Sweet Side of Love”. It’s a blissfully positive theme, about enjoying the intimacy of being in love. In “Sweet Side of Love”, McCartney has found an intoxicatingly sweet groove. It has a…

Read more
The Harriets

Track of the Day: The Harriets “Trip To The Moon” (2020)

With the release of the debut album Hopefuls all set for next month, let us introduce you to The Harriets. Fronted by lead vocalists Daniel Parker-Smith and Ben Schrodel, The Harriets are a Leeds-based alternative rock/pop four-piece. Live, they’re joined by Jess Womack (keys) and Ryan Bailey (drums).  The band head towards the release of…

Read more

Track of the Day: Leanne Tennant “Record Stores” (2020)

Our track of the day is “Record Stores” from Leanne Tennant. For anyone who has wondered around a record-store on a bad day, looking for an album to either sympathise with or to shock yourself out of the funk, then this song will resonate with you. “Record Stores” is a beautiful stark tune; an acoustic…

Read more

Exclusive Video Premiere: Lamalo “Jungle Train” ft. Little Green (2020)

We have the exclusive first look at the video for the latest offering from Lamalo, “Jungle Train”. Lamalo is a duo of multi-instrumentalists Michiya Nagai and Yossi Cascun. They formed in 2016, and since then have created a signature sound of layered sounds, combining modern and traditional instruments.  “Jungle Train” features Little Green, the moniker for…

Read more

Exclusive Single Premiere: Tullara “Let This Go” (2020)

“Everyone has fooled themselves into a happy ending once or twice”, says NSW-based singer-songwriter Tullara on her new single. “I’d been holding onto the hope that this new love of mine was going to work itself out”. That’s what’s captured here in “Let This Go”, a piercing and poignant folk song, exclusively premiering on The…

Read more

Track of the Day: Keegan Calmes “Broken Heart” (2020)

Keegan Calmes’ latest single “Broken Heart” is still lingering in our ears. Known for for his work with Vinyl Theatre and signed by Fueled by Ramen, the talented singer and songwriter has made a comeback as a solo artist. Growing up with inspiration from John Mayer, The Killers, & Two Door Cinema Club, Calmes has…

Read more

Track by Track: Key Out talk us through their new record Anthropomorphia

Sydney trio Key Out have released today Anthropomorphia, the follow-up to their debut LP, What (do) you see. This is a seriously beautiful album, with tender harmonies, pulsating walls of sound and lush layers of synth and guitars. Lovers of New Order, Joy Division and local legends, the Underground Lovers should find plenty to dig in this short…

Read more

Ten Years On: Sleigh Bells’ blistering debut Treats

Ten years ago this month, Sleigh Bells released their debut LP Treats – an album which I gave a perfect 10 out of 10 score. In a period where it felt like so many albums were feeling like carbon copies of things that had come before, Treats was a breath of fresh air. It was unapologetic fun,…

Read more

Track of the Day: The Psychedelic Furs “Come All Ye Faithful” (2020)

No, this isn’t a Throwback Thursday. Legendary Brit band The Psychedelic Furs are back and prepping their first album in almost three decades. Although they’ve been reformed and touring since the 2000’s, this marks the first new studio music released since the very early 90’s, which kicked off with the release of single “Don’t Believe”…

Read more
Tom West

Track by Track: Tom West walks us through his new album Antarctica

Singer-songwriter Tom West released his new album, Antarctica, on Friday. The album, produced by Allen Tate in Brooklyn, was written following the death of West’s father from motor neurone disease.  It is the culmination of a three year journey around America; touring, couch surfing, and playing as much as possible. That was until a Husky…

Read more

The AU Review’s 20 best albums of 2020 (so far…)

2020 has surely been a weird year, and you’d be forgiven for being a bit taken aback when we remind you that we’re halfway through it already. Since at least mid-March, many have largely been in lockdown, economies have threatened collapse, bushfires have devastated, systemic racism has been confronted head-on, and we have been rightfully…

Read more

Three new Hip Hop playlists to help you explore the rich history of the culture

The AU Review has always been about connecting readers with the best of arts, entertainment and culture. From music and books to travel and food, for more than a decade now the website has been dedicated entirely to discovery and re-discovery, celebrating the best experiences from around the world. To further that, we continue to…

Read more