April 18 - Noteworthy New Releases
Our favourite releases of the week.
Ebop – ‘Cage’
Ebop – AKA Ethan Brandwood – has a baritone drawl that touches on so many indie royalty references that his new single ‘Cage’ drifts like a cloud of nostalgia. The obvious comparison here is British lo-fi monarch King Krule, but the foundation seems to be constructed from The Strokes’ spare parts. These intersecting elements lead to a startling emotional depth, considering how barebones the instrumental palette is. With a minimal, treble-boosted guitar riff and an inflection that belies his acerbic wit, Ebop manages a debut that turns the listener’s expectations against them. Just when you think you know everything ‘Cage’ has to offer in the classics of a bygone era, it veers as far into the uncharted plains of the future as its old dusty guitar tones allow it.
Sounds like: Attic music.
By Jack Paech
Colourblind – ‘Learn To Be’
Singer Alicia Villarreal once said, “Through music, I think we can inspire each other.” While the Mexican vocalist may be worlds away from Adelaide’s Colourblind, she’s managed to crystallise the message of the band’s latest track, ‘Learn to Be’. The four-piece magnificently uncover their motivations and inspire their listeners with this emotional-grunge-punk treasure. Fusing early Hot Water Music, Superheaven and Horror My Friend to create a sound that’s undeniably their own, the band’s output is simply charismatic. Lyrically, Finn Cameron triumphs, disclosing a troubled insight of seeking betterment. “I can learn to be!” – live these words and be inspired repeatedly.
Sounds like: Polar Bear Club’s best days.
By Will Oakeshott
Ethanol Blend – ‘Look Me in the Eyes’
When Ethanol Blend’s Jack Stokes first began the project in 2019, few could have expected what its future would look like. Fast-forward to 2025, and the band’s fourth album, Can’t Help But Wonder, has arrived to wide local acclaim. Penultimate track ‘Look Me In The Eyes’ is emblematic of the alt-rock vibes that Ethanol Blend encapsulates, bringing the fuzzed-out sonics of the ‘90s indie era to the modern age. The rough edges of what might have inspired the band have been sanded off to showcase an outfit who are performing at their peak, delivering stellar cuts that are equal parts emotive, immersive and impactful. You can’t go wrong.
Sounds like: A time machine to the golden age of alt-rock.
By Tyler Jenke
Oscar the Wild – ‘Big Think’
Raise your pitchforks and your picket signs against the crippling numbness of modern life – Oscar the Wild have returned. But first, a caveat: there’s a yawning hole at the centre of new single, ‘Big Think’, where the whimsy and the optimism used to be. Harmonies haunt the corners of this mix like the ghost of innocence (or rather, ignorance) and the rhythm that underpins this storm of existential fear moves with menacing deliberation. There’s not much of a filter on ‘Big Think’ – lyrically or musically – but this is by no means a drawback. Oscar the Wild’s commitment to saying and playing on their first impulses is a refreshing protest against the prescriptive ‘happiness’ we’re instructed to pursue as we’re made anaemic by the lifeless glow of our devices.
Sounds like: An alarm clock.
By Jack Paech
Sunsick Daisy – ‘It’ll Be Alright’
Sunsick Daisy’s sonic purple patch continues. After dominating the stage at Nice Day To Go To The Club and being handpicked to support Selfish Sons on their recent Adelaide visit, the quartet have announced their own tour in support of hazy new single, ‘It’ll Be Alright’. A shoegaze delight awash with sunny melodies and vocalist Sarah’s sparkling vocals, Sunsick Daisy have crafted another must-hear tune. With reflective lyrics about those in our lives who make us feel safe, ‘It’ll Be Alright’ acts like a warm embrace from a friend, holding you tight and reassuring you that all will be fine.
Sounds like: A mother’s love.
By Tobias Handke
Stormy-Lou – ‘Confident Until It Counts’
Grappling with your place in the world is perhaps one of the most universal yet isolating experiences. Am I doing this right? Do people actually like me? Am I enough? Doubt-induced clouds often obscure your view of reality. However, songs such as Stormy-Lou’s latest, ‘Confident Until It Counts’, ease that fog of insecurity. Tender, heart-on-sleeve confessions unearthed from Mikaeli Stoker’s subconscious drift throughout the track that’s authentic in its pursuit of honouring all sides of her psyche: the assured, the diffident, the loveable, the shy. Raw indie-rock, which edges towards Teenage Joans’ juicebox pop-punk, then pushes the track into anthemic territory – a gritty courage further fuelled by the closeness of the three-piece. Sincerity is Stormy-Lou’s superpower (as is soaring vocals and stunning hooks). We can’t wait to see where it takes them next.
Sounds like: A mirror.
By Zara Richards
