Hope you’re having a merry Friday! To make it all the more exciting, we’ve selected our five favourite releases from the past seven days.
From a fresh Bec Sandridge single to another album from the mighty Gizz, it’s been another solid week of new sounds.
It’s that special time of the week again and artists around the world are still creating A-grade music. Here’s our top 5 picks from the week that was.
Bec Sandridge – Eyes Wide
Bec Sandridge is at it again with a super hot new single Eyes Wide. With her trademark angular, one-note guitar lines and ethereal wave chimes, Sandridge is as assured as ever.
Eyes Wide explores the anxiousness and limitations of entering into an emotional relationship, as well as the fear of being abandoned. The lyrics are deep and nuanced, harkening back to the likes of Fleetwood Mac or Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Catch Bec Sandridge at our Happy Mag Issue 11 Launch Party at the Marly Bar in Newtown on May 24. She will also being playing the Northcote Social Club in Melbourne on June 7.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Fishing For Fishies
The ever prolific King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are at it again with their fourteenth studio album Fishing For Fishies. The album sees the band venturing, once again, into new musical waters with a heightened interest in synth and soundboard exploration.
“We tried to make a blues record” said frontman Stu. “But the songs kept fighting it. Or maybe it was us fighting them. Ultimately though we let the songs guide us this time. We let them have their own personalities and forge their own paths. Paths of light, paths of darkness. This is a collection of songs that went on wild journeys of transformation.”
I think it’s somewhat impossible for these guys to make the same record twice, so turn up the volume and enjoy another side of the thousand faced god that is King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
Thelma Plum – Better In Blak
The powerhouse that is Thelma Plum has unveiled new colours with Better In Blak. The driving beat and uplifting chorus are shy to the important lyrics and message that Plum promotes. Tired of abusive late night calls and pressure to confirm to “white” ideals or images, Thelma has taken a stand with one powerful statement, “I look better in Blak”.
Lines like, “If I had lighter skin maybe I would win”, “You took the colour from me” are as hard hitting as Thelma intended, with a super punchy rhythm to back it up. Take a moment to enjoy one of Australia’s best Indigenous artists doing her thing and taking an empowered stance on the struggles she’s faced.
Middle Kids – Beliefs and Prayers
Beliefs and Prayers is the new track from Middle Kids’ upcoming EP New Songs For Old Problems. It’s a beautiful song and once again, Hannah Joy’s vocals induce shivers. After an absolutely huge 2018 for the Sydney trio with the release of their debut album Lost Friends, the band toured non-stop, won the triple j Album of the Year Award and were nominated for an ARIA.
Clearly the winds are still full in the sails with their six-track EP dropping on May 24. Beliefs and Prayers is definitely some of their strongest work yet as Joy continues to explore and push the complexity and range of her voice. Check it out below.
Catfish and the Bottlemen – The Balance
Welsh heroes Catfish and the Bottlemen are coming in hot with their third studio album and it’s an absolute belter. With wall-to-wall hits, it harkens back to the sounds emanating from their debut The Balcony. To be fair they haven’t radicalised the formula too much at all, but hey if something’s not broken then don’t fix it.
The album was recorded over a 12 month period with Irish producer Jackknife Lee and the attention to detail is evident. Crank up the speakers and delve into an absolutely A-grade rock record, Catfish and the Bottlemen have still got it in spades and it’s good to know they still got plenty more juice in the tank.
