June 14 - Noteworthy New Releases
Our favourite tunes of the week.
Luke Million - ‘Power Up’
I’m old enough to remember when Luke Million used to ply his trade as a member of Adelaide’s most underrated live act The Swiss. While the lively disco trio has been defunct for more than a decade, Million continues to release hypnotic disco-pop tunes you can’t help but groove along with.
‘Power Up’ is the latest silky electric hit the DJ and producer describes as “full of synth power and inspired by the sound of Italo and French Disco.” It’s hard to disagree with his synopsis, with ‘Power Up’ having a distinctively vintage European disco flavour that pairs well with a glass of vino or three.
Jamie Lena – ‘Devour’
The first thing that strikes you when listening to ‘Devour’ is Jamie Lena’s sultry vocals. There’s a hypnotic power to her voice that makes you want to play the song on repeat, which isn’t a bad thing considering how awesome this tune is.
Known for writing songs about the human experience, ‘Devour’ is an amorously soulful track even Lena admits will “make you blush.” Listening to ‘Devour’ is a pleasurable experience almost on par with the subject matter it explores. Tasty.
Brave Mistakes – ‘Aching Enough’
Beginning life as the solo project of guitarist and vocalist Garrett R. Cooper (Mule, Bronze Chariot, Tiersman, Dear Pilgrim and Eyes Like Black Stars), Brave Mistakes is now a fully-fledged band whose latest release is the atmospheric ‘Aching Enough’.
A post-punk delight, ‘Aching Enough’ ebbs and flows as Cooper’s vocals pair majestically with his band’s steady instrumentation. Ending with Cooper crooning about a love that has “taken its toll” over driving guitars, this is another quality release from Brave Mistakes.
State Library - ‘Tired’
There’s a bit of The Strokes to State Library’s ‘Tired’. Taken from the five-piece’s recently released EP of the same name, ‘Tired’ is the type of garage rocker you want to hear at your favourite dive bar when you’re a few beers deep and ready to let loose on the dance floor.
It’s all here – jangly guitars, head-bobbing percussion, subtle bass and carefree vocals, making ‘Tired’ a throwback to a better time when guitar rock ruled the charts.
Kempy – ‘Ice Coffee Bong’
“This is a song about a bong” solo artist Kempy explains at the start of ‘Ice Coffee Bong’. While the title suggests a comedy or novelty track, there’s a surprising amount of depth to Kempy’s train of thought musings.
Sure, there’s a reference to Cheech & Chong and a shout out to Triple M and triple j (“before triple j got shit” Kempy reminds us), but at the heart of ‘Ice Coffee Bong’ is Kempy’s longing for a simpler time free from the pressures and scrutiny of modern life. It doesn’t get much more relatable.
