July 12 - Noteworthy New Releases
Our favourite tunes of the week.
Indiago – ‘P.L.B.’
Adelaide Hills rockers Indiago have shared one final taste of their upcoming album, The Line, in the form of pulse riser ‘P.L.B.’
A modern guitar-heavy beast, there’s a glimmer of ‘80s power rock moving through ‘P.L.B.’, making it the type of rager you want to put your beer down for and start moshing along.
The track takes a dig a social media influencers, with frontman Will Solomon singing “Can’t you see that you’re the same as me / Only ‘Likes’ make us differ / Get that blue screen away from me / Cause you’re makin’ me wanna scream.”
‘P.L.B.’ is a catchy tune that ends in a crescendo of noise and Solomon’s heart-ripping scream, leaving you wanting more from this formidable five-piece.
NATHAN HUI-YI – ‘NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS’
Bedroom visionary Nathan Hui-Yi drops music at a frequency that puts most artists to shame. The rapper and producer has released five EPs in the last six months, which is wild. His most recent, NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS, might be his best yet.
The four-track EP is another awesome collection of songs led by the supersonic title track. Hui-Yi’s steady flow is as impressive as his scattergun lyricism, but it’s the samples he uses for the beat on ‘NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS’ that stand out.
Hui-Yi blends old school sound bites with modern hip hop beats and random vocal samples, producing a polished and absorbing beat that pairs tremendously with his effortless delivery.
Bjéar – ‘I’m sorry, the fire doesn’t fall anymore’
I’ve been a fan of experimental folk artist Bjéar since he released his 2017 debut single, ‘Falling’.
In the intervening years, Bjéar has shared countless singles and released four albums, two of which are recordings of Christmas songs. But it’s been surprisingly quiet on the Bjéar front for the past few years until the Adelaide product dropped announced new single ‘I’m sorry, the fire doesn’t fall anymore’.
A sentimental number about a deteriorating relationship, the song is formed around a gentle acoustic guitar, ambient synths and boy-girl harmonies courtesy of special guest Erin Beattie.
This is another warm and embracing song from Bjéar despite the depressing subject matter. Hopefully the release of ‘I’m sorry, the fire doesn’t fall anymore’ signals more music from the MusicSA Scouted 2024 participant.
Jess Day – ‘Captain Midnight’
Jess Day doesn’t make bad tunes. If you need further evidence just give her latest ‘Captain Midnight’ a whirl.
Inspired by the true story of a man who interrupted a HBO broadcast in 1986 to air his frustrations at the company’s price rise, Day’s soulful and moving vocals paint a picture of someone desperately trying to reach their crush who refuses to reply, going as far as hijacking the local radio to get their attention.
There’s so much to love about ‘Captain Midnight’; from the arrangement to the lyrics to Day’s beautiful voice. And while it’s easy to label Day as ‘indie pop’, there’s a depth to her work absent from many similar artists, with a realness to the lyrics of ‘Captain Midnight’ that will resonate with anyone who’s felt the pain of not being heard.
East av3 – ‘setbacks’
EAST AV3 keep the singles coming in 2024 with the beat-switching ‘setbacks’.
The song begins with a driving, snare-heavy, piano sampling beat before producer Nic Flare throws a curveball two minutes in, with the piano replaced by brass instrumentation and female harmonies filling the background.
Kane Trop3z and SENSEI also mix up their flow to match the production, going from rapid-fire delivery to a more laidback cadence when the beat switches.
‘setbacks’ is another dope showcase of EAST AV3’s talent, with the trio continuing to innovate and astound with each release.
