Upcoming Local Releases 2009
Economic forecasters may be predicting a year of doom and gloom, but here at 'M+N' HQ we’re a bit more optimistic. One month into the year, we take a look at what’s coming out in the first quarter of 2009. And things are already looking good – even if you won’t be able to afford anything.
We should also mention that this list is by no means exhaustive – we’ve simply canvassed our favourite labels – so if you notice some glaring absentees, add them in the comments section below. Also, due to the fickle nature of the recording biz, most of these dates are tentative, so don’t hold us or the artist to ‘em. Remember: you can’t hurry love.
February
Super Wild Horses, one of Melbourne’s favourite underground whispers, will release their self-titled 7” EP on Aarght!. Over the past year or so, the instrument-swapping twosome – Amy Franz and Hayley McKee – have built a steady live following with their cute minimalist pop. Described as “one chord, six songs”, the EP was going to be launched on Melbourne’s famed Tramcar Restaurant (for out-of-towners, it’s a restaurant on a tram). Sadly, pesky OH&S issues got in the way. Super Wild Horses, along with labelmates the UV Race, Straight Arrows and Eddy Current Suppression Ring will also feature on a forthcoming split Aarght!/Almost Ready Records (US) 7” EP.
At the other end of the spectrum – and the Hume – Sydney’s Devoted Few will release their fourth LP, Baby You’re A Vampire, on Laughing Outlaw/Inertia on February 14. The album’s protracted release – it comes out more than three years after 2005’s Schematic Tracks – was caused by songwriter Ben Fletcher’s “second job” as touring guitarist for Sarah Blasko. Dark, moody, anthemic and multi-layered, it’s described as the band’s “most confident and ambitious effort to date”.
After their triumphant return to the stage as part of the recent “Don’t Look Back” concert series, legendary punk trio X will re-release their debut, X-Aspirations, on Aztec Music on February 10. Originally released in 1980, the album was recorded in five hours in Trafalgar studios with producer Lobby Loyde at the helm. In addition to the 14 album tracks, the re-release features three bonus songs: two versions of ‘Mother’ and B-side ‘Halfway 'Round The World’.
Adelaide’s Wolf & Cub will release the follow-up to 2006’s acclaimed Vessels on Dot Dash on February 14. With Chris Colonna from electro-pop outfit Bumblebeez producing, the band is reportedly exploring a lighter, more danceable sound as evinced by teaser singles ‘One to the Other’ and ‘Seven Sevens’. “[The plan] was to loosen things up a little, give the music some more space, loosen the tie so to speak,” writes frontman Joel Byrne on the band’s MySpace blog. “I guess we also wanted to move forward from where Vessels left off. Listening to the record I'm confident that we've accomplished that, actually I'm certain we have.”
Also in Feb, experimental Sydney outfit Underlapper, who were recently sampled by Faux Pas on his Waterfalls EP, will release an album of remixes from 2007’s acclaimed LP Red Spring. It’ll be out through Sydney label Feral Media.
March-April
Jessica Venables could well be a face to watch in 2009. Recording under the moniker Jessica Says, the Melbourne singer-songwriter, who elicits immediate comparisons to Kate Bush (but isn’t Kate Miller-Heidke MK II), will release her debut album We Need to Talk on Unstable Ape/Remote Control on March 21. The album was produced by Geoff O'Connor (Crayon Fields, Sly Hats) and features guest artists including New Buffalo’s Sally Seltmann.
Speaking of Geoff O’Connor, the Crayon Fields’ new LP, All The Pleasures Of The World, has been pushed back to “later this year, most likely September”, according to his label Chapter Music. Until then, you’ll just have to make do with summery new single ‘Mirror Ball’.
If their cowbell-heavy single ‘How To Choose Your Guru, Pt 2’ is any indication, St Helens’ debut LP will be chock full of sleazy rock goodness. Well, it’s a given really when Jarrod Quarrel (ex-New Season) is involved. Recorded with the help of founding members Karl Scullin (Kes) and drummer Paul Williams (Panel of Judges), the album is due out on Dot Dash/Remote Control in March.
Is Pikelet (aka Evelyn Morris) Australia’s most prolific one-woman band? Only a few months after the release of her new EP Not So Still – the first release for “kind-of new” label Special Award – Morris will drop the follow-up to her 2007 self-titled debut. A co-release between Chapter and Love+Mercy, the album is due out in March/April.
Taking a leaf out of Hungry Jacks’ book, Mum Smokes will offer fans two LPs for the price of one. The elusive Melbourne quartet will release House Music and Easy through Sensory Projects in April. The two albums will be packaged together, comprising 33 tracks in a recycled card wallet with artwork by renowned visual artist Mark Rodda.
The Future
We can also tentatively announce forthcoming album releases by The Sun Blindness, Panoptique Electrical, Aleks and the Ramps and Lee Memorial, a “supergroup” comprising members of Sodastream, Paradise Motel, Ninety Nine and Nation Blue.
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to listen to their music now on 
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Forthcoming albums (no release dates)
Ghosts of Television
Castings
Naked on the Vague - Heaps of Nothing
Ned Collette's releasing a new one this year too I believe.
_Prehistoric Fuckin' Moron(s) (4 albums due for release this year)
_Alps Of New South Wales (y'all are gunna shit yourselves when you hear it)
_Chrome Dome 7'' (watch out goths...and yes, it's not an LP)
_Athol LP (newie/sydders trio we all should be thankful for)
_Midget (wishful thinking or on the cards?)
_Slug Guts 7'' on EXO and LP on Autistic Records (rad)
_Kitchen's Floor 'Loneliness Is A Dirty Mattress' LP (again, rad)
_The Rug Ropers (yep)
The Cheats -- Hats Off to The Cheats;
U2
pop side project?
a new anonymeye album the disambiguation of anonymeye is due march-ish.
there's a new seaworthy record on the way as well.
new Alps, fun.
Also want that X re-issue.
The only album of that kot that interest me in the X one and thats a re-issue. Shithouse.
our band The Nice Folk have a new album ''Devil At My Door'' out in March but I already know not one of you people are interested in it.
nah...it's code for you and me.
pop stuff aplenty though with AB's new stuff and another new group also.
rad.
I'm so keen to hear a new Alps record.
Interesting year coming up!
there's that new radiant city EP on the way, too. only about a week away, i think.
tell us about The Nice Folk.
any music online?
or is this just an advertisment?
Operator Please should have been included just for the porn gags.
are you coming to the launch goldie? It's at the Empire Hotel in Annandale.
facebook link
Chris has made his best LP so far...it's absolutely gorgeous, and will surprise a lot of people who haven't seen him live for awhile or only know the CDR's/lathes.
you'll LOVE it mate.
Nah...well kind of I suppose. We have a myspazz site and two of our more recent songs are up there (although only one of them will be on the album). Playing on Sunday at the Vanguard if anyone is interested. Sorry didn't mean to be all negative about it. Maybe some of you people would like it.
www.myspace.com/thenicefolk
rad. thanks mate.
I didn't even know about it! Shall most likely be there. Danka.
Yep, Athol LP indeed coming this year (info for our dozen/s of fans)... about 95% written, have been road-testing new stuff over the last few months... thanks for the mensh, Necktie!
More upcoming releases:
Lakes - Cloven CD
Wasted Truth 12''
Bed Wettin' Bad Boys - Kiss It! (Kiss Covers Cassette)
Onani - 7'' + C-30 (actual songs on the 7'', drones etc on the cassette)
Family Jewels - a couple of c-30's
Dead Farmers LP
The UV Race LP
A bunch of stuff Free Choice (Jarrod of Fabulous Diamonds) according to his myspace...
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Alberts Basement have been releasing some quality music.
New Paradise Motel??? Vety cool if it's true.
As for this:
on the cards.... but a while off.... every nail has it's thorn, knock knock knockig it together... things they fall together, things they fall apart. midget you are so frigid.
Necktie, I'll tell everyone about my label soon. Here's the logo my honours degree in graphic design made:
that's classified information, needlestrasse - how do you know??
Not really, it's on their myspace and wiki. But I am friends with one of them.
THE PINK FITS ''Deja Blues''
new album out in March on Off The Hip Records,
it's gonna be really good like...........
this is an advertisement....
Catcall.
FUCKING AWESOME!
Pfft, I once undertook a 2 hour, delayed train ride and dealt with the now-shitty sound of the Oxford just to see you cunts.
The 2nd Athol record will be great, the new material is fucking great live
Might be a new Pure Evil Trio record.
ABC Weapons might release that 12' which has been planned for a while.
Pisschrist / Framtid split??
The Night Terrors
'Back to Zero'
UV RACE s/t LP/CD later in the year. yeah!
and on the new zullund front, KNIFE FIGHT four song 7''EP
and finally, THE UNFUCKABLE Complicated Meditation Class 7'' featuring wipey's stand up routines circa 2004
all on faarght! fresh produce
Cuba Is Japan.
Recording with U.S producer Kramer in May (Lou Reed, Will Oldham, Yo La Tango), and it'll be out... kinda Augustish?
anonymeye's the disambiguation of anonymeye is out may 18 on sound&fury.
there are also CD-Rs from heil spirits and felicity mangan on the way.
Treetops - Standing Babas.
neat.
there will also be a solo andata album on 12k mid year.
new Athol album is done, preview a track on the myspace
I'm sorry Anne...I just noticed this...we both know how that story ends.
So yeah Devil At My Door by The Nice Folk
is still out if anyone is interested.
Two Bright Lakes has
Otouto LP
Seagull - Carmel Di Mattia LP
Label Compilation curated and recorded by Nick Huggins
Otouto, saw them once. quite interesting. so i brought the cd available then, a Hazel Brown solo cd. that was a bit disappointing after the show.
new cd is pretty different to the solo disc that was made some years ago Tinyman i think you'll like it, its one of the best pop records i've heard in a long time.