Words: James Frostick Artist image: Margarita Strateas
Nicolaas Oogjes is stepping away from the heat-beat release of NO ZU – donning a Stetson and a pair of Cuban heels, thereby transforming into his outsized cowboy-electronica and synth-sleaze persona Cong Josie. Today marks a formal introduction to the artist’s enigmatic sonic persona via new digital single ‘Leather Whip’. This rodeo is a throbbing piece of sweat-drenched hedonism and peacocking virility that cloaks a tongue-in-cheek self-awareness and earnest critique. It’s a striking and unpredictable turn for a figure who has built a career out of creative artistic pivots.
With new single ‘Jenny (Breathe)’, June Jones of Two Steps on the Water fame steps further into the spotlight as a solo artist. This is a song of survival, which June sings to herself and others who, in her words, are “hurting and [need] a place to rest, recalibrate, and breathe”.
RATH is the COVID-19 bedroom solo project of Sean Bailey (also of LAKES, GRANE and TOL), and his self-titled three-track tape is an excellent gothy response to the extremely grim reality of contemporary Australian life, and an interesting sketch for a concept that boasts a lot of potential.
Emerging at a pivotal time is Permits, a band comprised of a murderer’s row of acclaimed Naarm/Melbourne-based musicians. Originally an outlet designed to document and house abandoned songs and musical concepts, the group (comprised of members of The Shifters, Pop Singles, Chook Race and Dag) have utilised the recent lockdown period to bring these disparate ideas to life for a forthcoming album out in November via Tenth Court. Lead track ‘It Takes A Long Time (To Be Free Of Society)’ channels feelings of societal malaise via sun-dappled melodic jangle – a genre each member has helped shape separately, now executed flawlessly together.
Tom Ridgewell – member of Naarm/Melbourne underground luminaries Constant Mongrel, Woollen Kits and Calamari Girls – is stepping away from a band framework to create under his solo moniker TB Ridge As The Director. In November TB Ridge will be dropping a five-track EP via Anti Fade Records that doubles as a love letter to good old-fashioned rock’n’roll. Lead single ‘Rock N Roll Heart’ showcases a playful subversion of stylistic hallmarks that have been imbued with Tom’s own charismatic musical essence.
Words: James Frostick
Artist image: Louis Oliver Roach
The world keeps spinning, as does the Australian underground music scene. Volume three of Brief Breakdown features an eclectic mix of new music, including Time For Dreams’ warped electro-pop, bruised and boozed rock’n’roll from Knifer, an energetic exercise anthem from Hearts and Rockets, brutal hardcore from UAV, dystopian techno pop from Mahne Frame, dilapidated improvisational noise from Deepfake, experimental electronica by Bridget Chappell and soothing psych-pop from Muma Ganoush.
Today marks the official release of SUPER-X’s debut self-titled album – a collection of head-rattling noise punk that delivers on the band’s early potential. Although blistering, bullying and blunt in tone and aesthetic, SUPER-X imbue their aural brouhaha with a rugged beauty that elevates the collection out of the murk.
Naarm/Melbourne-based darkwave crew screensaver are today releasing the visual accompaniment for their new single ‘Strange Anxiety’. Set to a shadowy sonic backdrop rippled with slashes of incandescent beauty, screensaver convey feelings of emotional dissonance and a growing disconnect with our current form of isolated existence.
Moon Rituals – the enigmatic creative pairing of Sarah Hardiman (Deaf Wish) and Mikey Young (Total Control / The Green Child) – have teamed up once more for a brand-new 7″ single as part of i heard a whisper’s Club Seven series. The single’s A-side track ‘Aura’ is a peppy piece of minimalist synth-pop on the surface, but it’s imbued with lyrical undertones that hint at serious conceptual beginnings.
Words: James Frostick
Band image: Eden Meure
Cover art: Amber Perez-Wright
Today marks the release of If You’re Cold They’re Cold, the debut album from Tasmanian group Dolphin. To celebrate the release, the band (which is comprised of members of The Foxy Morons and Slag Queens) is sharing the visual accompaniment to lead single ‘Wine’ – a downcast lo-fi jam that hints at an inner unhappiness and the unhealthy coping mechanisms we often rely on to persevere.Continue reading Video Premiere: DOLPHIN – ‘WINE’→
Weirdo Wasteland is an Australian-based music blog that examines musical endeavour from the cultural fringe. The site regularly features reviews and interviews from the underground scenes from Australia and New Zealand. Weirdo Wasteland acknowledges the original custodians of the land upon which it operates. Sovereignty has never been ceded. To get in touch, contact: weirdowasteland (at) gmail.com
