New music is coming in thick and fast, February traditionally was a month of reset but the horse has really bolted this year, god knows what happened to the gate…Hopefully in the selection below you’ll find something that speaks to your rapid pace, your winding down, or most likely a combination of the both.
All The Same, Fat Dog
I’ve been watching these dogs in the park for a while now, and this track is not a gentle start to the playlist – so watch your heart rate. Fat Dog are famed for their riotous and raucous live shows, which you can certainly imagine through this track, leading to them getting signed to Domino.
Religion For One, Fat White Family
Will this playlist be a word association game? Perhaps. I’ll try not to be so predictable. Religion for One actually came out a couple of months ago, but the record is due in April and I’m pretty excited. There is a touch of Cohen to this, but through the FWF lens, especially with the female backing vocals and the subject matter.
Floating On A Moment, Beth Gibbons
Gibbon’s iconic voice is back, perhaps in her purest form, now that it is completely her vision without Portishead. The song is airy, dreamy, romantic, ethereal and yet somehow retains the earthly gravitas of a serious and well-respected songwriter.
Black Holes, The Stars And You, A. Savage
Risky, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Iggy Pop
This treasure was shared with me recently, so I’m sharing it with you. I am very glad to know this exists.
Number In My Pocket, Lord Esme
A new Australian band that are evocative of Talulah Gosh and that 80s Sarah Records “Twee as Fuck” scene but with an Australiana flair. The record is called A Nice Sit Down, which I think we all need. Songs like Shane Warne and Karaoke King make this record and band worth exploring.
ride around, Goat Girl
I fell madly in love with early single Country Sleeze from Goat Girl and was so pleased to hear they have a third album coming: Below The Waste. Inspired by Philip Glass and Deerhoof, one of the coolest, most nonchalant-yet-biting voices guides you through this 4.16 lead single.
Here Hair / Hard Hair, Gustaf
This is great, aside from the post-punk B–52s references in the music – they even have the huge wigs in this video. However, it’s a bit darker than Give Me Back My Man, there’s a bit more no-wave mixed in with the post-punk references, like DNA and Teenage Jesus and The Jerks.
Some Velvet Morning, Lydia Lunch and Rowland S. Howard
Speaking of Teenage Jesus and The Jerks, no wave icon Lydia Lunch is touring Australia through March and April, with Joseph Keckler (see below – it’s something). As well as her own shows, she’ll be part of the Rowland S Howard Tribute Night at Sydney's Factory Theatre, I believe, so here is their cover of Some Velvet Morning. It’s definitely my preferred version.
Ghost Song, Joseph Keckler
Just watch. You won’t regret it, nor will you have seen anything like it.
Life Is, Jessica Pratt
Psychedelic 60s folk pop from Jessica Pratt. It’s evocative of those big arrangements from someone like The Walker Brothers, but the fragility in her voice continues to provide consistent allure and seems to go against the ‘bigger’ sounds. And yet, it’s never lost.
Lipstick, Maxine Gillon
Melbourne/Naarm based Maxine Gillon has a deeply captivating and unique voice with the ability to write a pop song about lipstick that feels like it's been left on the edge of the glass, or is somewhat smudged, which only makes it better.
You can listen to the full February 2024 favourites playlist on Spotify (there are some other fun releases in there from Woo, Omni, Izzy Glaudini and Packs).
