April 2023 – Noteworthy New Releases
Our favourite tunes of the month.
Words by Will Oakeshott
DEM Mob - ‘Soul of the Lion
In 2019, Juan Siliezar wrote in The Harvard Gazette: “Since hip-hop emerged from Bronx house parties in the 1970s, the medium has become an undeniable fixture in the global music scene.”
What this scribe implores readers do is focus on the word ‘global’. The dazzling hip-hop group that is DEM MOB are worthy of that description. Their new single, ‘Soul Of The Lion’ should be at Rolling Stone’s head office in New York.
This composition is immaculate – the heavenly, harmonising chorus has an orchestral charisma that vitalises and invigorates those witness to it. The fast-paced rhythm of rapped verses in both English and the native Pitjantjatjara is otherworldly and the finesse is monumental. The jazz undertones illuminate the variance of the vocal deliveries and these artists lyrically address the injustices that Indigenous Australians face. The acapella closing statement is one of spine-tingling power.
DEM MOB have wowed WOMAD. Now for the WORLD.
LOLA – ‘Billionaire’
Skate punk is a radically imposing genre of music, an adrenaline-fuelled, fast-paced rock that invigorates enthusiasts to explore the extremes of skateboarding. Whilst bands such as Jan & Dean and Devo explored the sport themselves with their song themes and video clips,
it must be noted that Suicidal Tendencies’ ‘Possessed To Skate’ single was one of the revolution points of the genre; their film clip was even more rebellious, and certainly assisted with the boom of the sport as well as the version of punk.
Adelaide’s LOLA are riding this punk rock path in a truly astounding fashion. The quartet’s latest single, ‘Billionaire’, has all the ingredients for a beer-fuelled mosh pit or a half-pipe session. Fusing the pioneers of the genre such as the aforementioned ST, but expanding this recipe to include elements of Mach Pelican, Cosmic Psychos and even modern day delightful delinquents, Dune Rats, this under-two-minute uppercut will trigger any enthusiast to misbehave to some degree. For the most part, the jarring jingle is a brash and raw power surge of uninhibited revolt. However, on the broader spectrum, it’s an anthem against those that shouldn’t exist in this troubling day and age: the billionaires.
It’s time to rise and grind.
Mane – ‘Breathing Again’
In July 2016, this writer descended the dimly lit stairway to the Lowlife basement bar venue to witness Paige Court. Also known as MANE, she was celebrating the launch of her EP entitled House Of Horror, as part of the Umbrella Festival. Her bluesy pop was undoubtedly charming and her sincerity encompassed the entire venue. Unbelievably, that was seven years ago and the progression MANE has undergone since that intimate, idyllic show is awe-inspiring.
Beginning with a progressive piano pop rock delicacy, Paige entices her listeners with a croon that Elena Tonra would marvel at; her words, “One hand gentle, one hand strong”, capture the exhilarating essence of the single ‘Breathing Again’. This track guides listeners through a journey that is soul-encompassing and uplifting. Elements of Florence + The Machine’s chamber pop become the ‘one hand strong’ with a chorus that is beyond electrifying – then the ‘one had gentle’ tranquillity washes over like an elixir. This is not just a musical composition, this is performance art with theatrical chapters, and this scribe dares you not to sing and dance along.
Let MANE take your breath away.
Normal Behaviour – ‘I Wish’
“A tune has to resonate with whatever is happening around it.” – Jeff Buckley.
There’s an idiom that expresses how some individuals
are ‘too good for this world’. Jeff Buckley was one such individual. With just one studio album and a very extensive world tour around the release, his legacy is striking: he left this world too soon, but his influence is still felt every day.
Adelaide’s NORMAL BEHAVIOUR are guided by this legacy, in the sense that Mr Buckley is the light in their darkness. Their single ‘I Wish’ spirals from a romantic tender
ballad to a frenzied alternative rock aggression parallel
to ‘Mojo Pin’ – however, there is a sensational synergy between the four musicians. Their loud-to-quiet-to-loud dynamic is amazingly animated in a near four-minute adventure where vocalist Nic Hutton’s voice performs acrobatics that are almost not of this Earth. Lyrically, the topic of heartbreak is evident, yet there is so much more to uncover, as if the song is more movie-like than just a soundtrack.
This tune more than resonates. It levitates.
