Words: James Frostick
Band image: Gus Hunt
Cover art: Jill Wilkinson
In just over a month’s time, Eora Country/Sydney group Shrapnel will release its new long-play effort Alasitas. Lead single ‘Orpheum Protocol’ showcases a sonic departure for the group, which builds upon existing guitar-centric foundations and accentuates them with some charmingly off-centre instrumentation – hinting towards a newfound freedom and flexibility in sound. Continue reading Premiere: SHRAPNEL – ‘ORPHEUM PROTOCOL’
Words: James Frostick
Artist image: Alex Gordon-Smith
Kaurna Country-based collective Dom & The Wizards are mere weeks away from the release of forthcoming record The Australian Cyclone Intensity Scale (out on April 2 via Tenth Court), but are squeezing in one more appetiser in the form of new single ‘Classical Antiquity Sunsets’. The track sees bandleader Dom continuing his marvellous storytelling streak, weaving sinister tales set to the kind of sun-warped music that can only emanate from his corner of the continent. Continue reading Premiere: DOM & THE WIZARDS – ‘CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY SUNSETS’
Words: James Frostick
With a new full-length album primed and ready to drop at the end of April, Bulanaming/Marrickville downer-rock four-piece Mope City begin to whir and crank into gear. To build anticipation for the release, the group is whetting appetites with a somewhat unusual taster – a limited-edition four-track cassette EP containing first single ‘Rocket Surgery’ and three bonus tracks. ‘Rocket Surgery’ sets a suitably dour tone, pairing claustrophobic creep and browbeating fuzz with lashings of disaffected ideation. Continue reading Premiere: MOPE CITY – ‘ROCKET SURGERY’
Words: James Frostick, Tristan Davies, Tam Matlakowski and Dusty Anastassiou
Today marks the official release of Time Permits, the long-gestating debut album from Naarm/Melbourne “superb-group” Permits. Although described on paper as a band conceived as a way to document abandoned songs, the record’s collection of off-cuts and cast-aside ideas has come together as a remarkably listenable whole. The group has agreed to take us through the album, relaying the journeys and inspirations behind its 10 tracks of sublime strum.
Continue reading Track By Track: PERMITS – TIME PERMITS (TENTH COURT, 2020)
Words: James Frostick
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.
Continue reading Listen: PERMITS – ‘IT TAKES A LONG TIME (TO BE FREE OF SOCIETY)’
Words: James Frostick
Band image: Capital Waste Pictures
Just over a month ago, Adelaide/Tarndanya trio Introduction released their debut self-titled EP – a collection of six beautifully minimal synth-pop -meets-post-punk gems. Today we’re thrilled to be premiering the visuals for standout track ‘Introduction’, a suitably mellow and hypnotic statement of intent that perfectly encapsulates the band’s understated power.
Continue reading Video Premiere: INTRODUCTION – ‘INTRODUCTION’
Words: James Frostick
Artist image: Endless Prowl
At the end of July, underground hip-up and electronica artist Neil O’Hardty (formerly known as Blackheart) will drop a new album. Before it hits, we’re premiering the visuals for fresh track ‘Miss Your Moment’ – a measured number that blends a loose mix of complementary genres together with grown-up sentiments about seizing opportunities when they arise.
Continue reading Video Premiere: NEIL O’HARDTY – ‘MISS YOUR MOMENT’
Words: James Frostick
Band image: Lisa Businovski
A lot of things went down in March 2020. As the nation shut its borders and everyone prepared themselves for the oncoming pandemic, a cloud seemed to hover over everything. Despite the ominous feeling permeating those weeks, the music scene kept churning out great records – some of which are candidates for best of the year. In an effort to keep track of the year’s best recorded material, Weirdo Wasteland is releasing monthly round-ups of albums and EPs that we didn’t have enough time to cover at the time of release. In no particular order, here is the best of what arrived in March …
Words: James Frostick
In an effort to keep track of the year’s best recorded material, Weirdo Wasteland will be releasing monthly round-ups of albums that we didn’t have enough time to cover in depth at the time of release. Although these are shorter write-ups, review length shouldn’t be taken as an indicator of album quality – everything listed is good and should be given proper time of day to indulge appropriately. Here is the best of what arrived in January …
Words: James Frostick
Sydney four-piece Sachet has dropped some new sounds (and accompanying visuals) from its forthcoming record Nets. ‘Arncliffe Babylon’ is a piece of engaging and oblique guitar pop – off-centre in such a way that it perfectly scratches an itch you never new existed. Continue reading Listen: SACHET – ‘ARNCLIFFE BABYLON’
Weirdo Wasteland 