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LATEST
RELEASES
"Ten Years at the Table"
marks a decade since singer/songwriter Sime
Nugent released his first record under his own name. He’s re-recorded seven songs
from his past album, added two new tunes and an Irving Berlin song that’s
become stage favourite … ‘Good Gracious’ the debut album
from Melbourne-based producer M-Phazes
features some of Australia’s best MCs including Muph & Plutonic,
Drapht, Bliss N Eso, and Pegz alongside upcoming talent like Dialectrix,
Mantra, and Spit Syndicate ... On
March 5th guitarist and vocalist John Baker and accordionist Gayle Buckby release ‘A Quartet for Car Horns and Brakes’,
produced by Paul Grabowsky, who also features on piano ... The Vasco Era’s second album
Lucille is out on March 12th It was
produced by producer Scott Horscroft (Silverchair, The Presets, Sleepy
Jackson) .... Gold Coast collective Operator Please, return with
‘Gloves’ on April 23 ... Gyroscope’s
fourth studio album ‘Cohesion’, due in April was recorded at Rockfield studios in
Wales and produced by the “legendary” Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, The Pixies,
Eskimo Joe) .... Hoodoo Gurus'
ninth record, 'Purity Of Essence', their first for new label partners Sony
Music will released in March 2010. A jam session at a Sydney rehearsal
studio e produced eight songs. Even the band was surprised by the speed
with which they were able to bring Dave Faulkner’s demos to life...., Melbourne’s Deaf Wish holed up for a few nights
at a warehouse space in Clifton Hill with little more than an 8-track for
company. The result is second LP ‘Reality & Visions’ .. After years of
working with bands from Africa to the Middle East and honing his reggae,
ska and mento expertise, Nicky Bomba has drawn on his musical
journeys and philosophies to produce his first ever solo work, 'Planet
Juice' ... The Necks first studio album in three years is named
after an industrial suburb in the band's native Sydney, 'Silverwater '. In
keeping with their improvisational ethos, the band went into the studio
with nothing planned.The result is an album divided into some six or eight
distinct episodes…. "Rock mistress" Penny Ikinger's
forthcoming album 'Penelope' features legend Deniz Tek's guitar; Charlie
Owen on sitar, also Dave Graney playing the bass and a duet with Ron Reno.
Ikinger has not only a band in Melbourne Australia but another in Sydney,
one in Paris, Tokyo and another in the U.S. This enables her to tour at
home internationally with relative flexibility … The second album from
Sydney indie-pop troupe Cuthbert & The Night Walkers 'Mr
Pickwick’s Camera' was engineered by Haima Marriott (Architecture in
Helsinki) and is a product of several jam sessions in an old house in the
Blue Mountains. ... The Drones will release a live recording next
month. Live At The Hi-Fi, The album showcases tracks from throughout the
band's career, stretching as far back as their first LP ..... The
Hitmen release a new live album on. St. Valentine's Day Massacre of a
one-off show with iconic Detroit singer Niagara (Destroy All Monsters) The
album features 10 tracks including Destroy All Monsters and Stooges
classics, as well as a new Hitmen tune and a lesser-known Radio Birdman
song ... Whitley returns with stellar follow up, "Go Forth,
Find Mammoth" again written and produced by Whitley with most instrumentation
was tackled by Whitley himself with the exception of a few friends
including Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst (drums) and Jim Moginie (organ/vocals).
Whitley also passed the mixing duties to Scott Horscroft (The Panics/The
Presets) ….Perth “supergroup” Mukaizake which features members and
former members of Bluetile Lounge, Umpire, O! and Adam Said Galore, will
release a new album 'Unknown Knowns' in December 11 through local label
Hidden Shoal Recordings ....
In-excess
INXS has forgiven J.D.Fortune, the
singer who probably sacked himself. He re-joined the band for their
one-hour concert at the Vancouver Victory Ceremonies, one of a number of “special
guests”. J.D. was originally from Vancouver. Last year the band decide a
break after touring their ‘Switch’ album with Fortune, the Rockstar: INXS reality show winner. Presumably trying to
drum up interest in a solo album recorded but unreleased Fortune went
public with the claim that he’d been sacked without a goodbye. ‘Not true’
said the band, but they were disappointed and once they decided on their
next move .J.D.’s good fortune had run out. He was not included. INXS have
recorded new versions of their best-loved songs with Rob Thomas, Ben
Harper, Brandon Flowers, Nikka Costa and others. Then, they promise they’ll
recorded a new album of original material. But with who at the
microphone? J.D.Furtune’s solo album
remains unreleased. (February 26)
Ruby
was a gem
Tributes are pouring in for Ruby
Hunter who died in the arms of her husband Archie Roach earlier this week
following a heart attack. Paul Kelly remembered sitting around the kitchen
table as Rudy made tea and nudged Archie to reveal one by one the songs
that Paul Kelly would help record for his debut album, ‘Charcoal Lane’.
Archie had managed to get Ruby to sing one of her own songs too, and ‘Down
City Streets’ was also included on Archie’s album. One of the “stolen
generation” of Australian aboriginals, she spent her childhood in various
foster homes and institutions until meeting Archie at the Salvation Army
drop-in centre in Adelaide. Archie was already playing guitar and writing
songs and Ruby was inspired to follow his example. Later she would threaten
to end their relationship if Archie didn’t get his act together when she
found him lounging with the other drunks in the so-called ‘Chicago
lane’. It was her turn to inspire
Archie and the result was Archie’s celebrated album and subsequent career.
Rudy’s own career, singing her personal songs in her husky voice grew from
strength to strength alongside Archie’s. Married in song and life they
raised their own children, fostered others, and together were an
inspiration to all Australians, aboriginal or not. Ruby was the strong one,
the rock. Musically every time she came up with a new song she revealed
another layer of a very thoughtful, dedicated, socially conscious
individual. The aboriginal community has had a troubled history. In recent
years the women have stepped forward to show the way forward. In every way
Ruby Hunter was the epitome of that. And of course she was a fine singe
songwriter. Ed.Nimmervoll
Barnstorming
2010
Internationally there’s Dave Grohl
and Jack White, locally there’s Jimmy Barnes – rock and roll workaholics.
Fresh from a December reunion
performance with Cold Chisel and plans to explore the possibility of another group album, Jimmy has been
working on his next solo album in Los Angeles due for release during the
first half of 2010, his first album of original material since 2007. His
most recent album was his “pre-quel” to the ‘Soul Deep’ albums , number one
album of 2009 ‘The Rhythm and the Blues’. Over the years Jimmy has often
delivered ‘project’ albums in between albums of new material.
Over the next months Jimmy plans
to get together with Don Walker, Ian
Moss, Steve Prestwich and Phil Small
for a jam session at Jimmy’s home studio. Since their official
break-up in 1984 Cold Chisel have reunited several times, but only
delivering one new album, 1998’s ‘The Last Wave Of Summer’. They’ve treated
each potential reunion with caution and respect, careful not to do anything
which might tarnish their reputation or heritage.
The fact that they appointed new
management late last year indicates that the promised get-together is meant
to be more than a gathering of old friends to reminisce. (Feb 5)
Back
in the House
While confirming Crowded House
dates in Ireland in May, Neil Finn has given details of the as-yet untitled
new album.
“Time On Earth was released in
2007 and the tour that followed turned us into a great band again, much
more than nostalgia, it gave us the scent of something new.
And so the 4 of us Nick Seymour (
bass ), Mark Hart ( keys / guitar ), Matt
Sherrod (drums) and myself Neil ( singer, player ) began our new record
last year at Roundhead studios in Auckland with Mr Jim Scott as our
producer
ally. Some of these 11 songs were first played at a little gig north of
Auckland The Leigh Sawmill back in Feb 2008. They have been worked over on
the road and transformed a few times, some all the way back to square one,
it’s a good place to return, from time to time.
“That was the case with the song
Twice If You’re Lucky, we played an
alternative version, more complex and mysterious on tour then deconstructed
back to original simple form in the last week of recording. I am inclined
to
circle the songs, looking for any bit of advantage I can find, a verse, a
chord or a word to change .Its sometimes unsettling for the band but it’s
my
way and I’m sticking to it.
“There’s always a possibility of
transformation. It was a wonderful moment
when the song Either Side Of The World took off on a Samba groove at last
rehearsal. “Isolation” travelled a twisted pathway too ending up as a
hybrid
of 2 songs, its folky origins now obscured by some deep tremolo guitar and
my wife Sharon’s ethereal singing. “Saturday Sun” was awash with guitars
until mix day when I went to town with a korg microsynth, a gift from a
friend that arrived that day.
“There were other fine
contributors too. Our friend Don McGlashan, helped us
lay down tracks adding, percussion, acoustic and horns. Lisa Germano took
to
Archers Arrows and Even If with her extraordinary violin playing. Jon Brion
added layers of sampled voices and mashed up guitar to Twice If You’re
Lucky. My son Liam took to Falling Dove and the coda of Isolation with
psychedelic guitar. James Milne aka Lawrence Arabia provided manly voices
to
the Intriguer.
“Jim Scott mixed the record back
in L.A and we caroused and held up the bar
in his very well appointed studio/ den within sight of Magic Mountain. The
late evening playbacks at maximum volume are my favourite part of the whole
process and Jim mixes an excellent cocktail as well. ….It’s so important to
have a good time making music .
And yes, the tour will follow,
from the Byron Bay Blues and Roots Music
festival to The Isle of Wight, May/ June theatres in The U.K and Europe,
late summer in the U.S and maybe a few far flung cities, new destinations,
we could turn up anywhere. The intention is the same as ever to get the
people involved, to hit some heights and leave the songs hanging in the
air….
“This 11 track album is exotic in
parts, traditional in origin, through many
a twist and turn we fashioned some drama and intrigue. You will find some
threads that go back through all that history and some new discoveries as
well that will need to be followed up. Its part of the continuum and it may
just be the best thing we’ve done ……till the next one.”
OMC’s
Pauly dies
New Zealand musician Pauly Fuemana
who was responsible for New Zealand’s biggest selling single of all time
has died. He was 40. The singer's
death came after a short illness, TVNZ reported. In 1995 Fuemana’s OMC (Otara Millionaires
Club) achieved fame with ‘How Bizarre’. Between 1995 and 2000 OMC are
estimated to have sold between three and four million records worldwide.
The full name of the band Otara Millionaires Club was a tongue-in-cheek
reference to Otara’s status as one of the poorest suburbs of Auckland.
Fuemana subsequently lived like a millionaire and saw the world until the
royalties ran out and he was forced to declare himself bankrupt. OMC
reformed with the single and in January 2007 OMC released a new single,
"4 All of Us".
(January 31)
Midnight
Oil breakout
Three members of Midnight Oil -
Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey – have formed a surf rock group
called The Beak with Violent Femmes bass player Brian Ritchie. They tested
the waters (bad pun I know) late last
year with a short stint of gigs in Sydney and surrounds and their first
major appearance at the Manly Festival Of Surfing Sunday in November.
All three former Oils members have
been busy with various solo projects since the band’s official demise in
2002 – especially Rob Hirst – but The Breaks seems to be more than another
“hobby” band. The most recent Oils reunion , for Sound Relief, was the starting point. Hirst,
Moginie and Rotsey, the Oils engine, decided to form a new band with
a new identity. Bass player Bones Hillman has moved to America, so in an
ironic twist they called on American who has moved to Australia, Brian
Ritchie, formerly of the Violent Femmes.
Ritchie and his wife were finally
prompted to leave America after the 9/11 attacks. Midnight Oil facilitated
the move. Peter Garrett offered to sell them his property at scenic Opossum
Bay, near Hobart, while other members of the band sponsored the couple into
the country on a distinguished talent visa. The Ritchies have made their
mark on Tasmania, opening a teahouse and running a festival of music and art.
Now he’s teamed with the ex-Oils
in The Break. Warming up in the studio by jamming on old favourites like
Link Wray's 'Rumble' the band has ended going full circle, playing surf
instrumentals as they did before Peter Garrett joined The Fam on vocals and
they became Midnight Oil. Peter Garrett is associated with the words of the
Oils’ songs, but was not necessarily responsible for them. Deciding to
predominantly write and record instrumentals has “liberated” the Oils
songwriters.
A debut album ‘Church Of The Open
Sky’ will be released on Friday April 16th on the Bombora label through
MGM, comprising 15 songs mainly named after surfing breaks. The album was mixed in Los Angeles by
Nick Launay, who of course has worked on many Midnight Oil releases as well
as Icehouse, Inxs, The Models, Silverchair, The Living End and others.
(January 20)
Local and/or general
* When Flying Nun’s founder
Roger Shepherd bought back the company last year Neil Finn and his wife and a business partner bought a quarter
share each.
*
Thirsty Merc will take a
break from the studio working on a highly anticipated third album due later
this year to support The Fray
* Devendra
Banhart told triple j that he and Wolfmother’s
Andrew Stockdale are about to make a record together.
* Youth Group will
take a break from recording and performing for the next 12 months.
*Regurgitator is starting to think about a new album for 2010.
* You Am I's Tim Rogers has formed another new side project. Rogers
is joined in The Gung Hoes by fellow You Am I member Davey Lane, Dallas
Crane's Pete Satchell and Cold Harbour's Evan Richards.
* During Augie March's first real break in 13 years, singer Glenn
Richards will record a solo album and do some film soundtrack work
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