Blog: Oceans Never Listen

THE band of 2010, with their ode to New Jersey. Directed by Tom Scharpling.

New venue, new night. Great idea. FBi Social @ Kings Cross Hotel is something for Sydneysiders to look forward to. Perched on the second floor of the newly refurbished Kings Cross Hotel, this small room is cozy and intimate. Perfect setting to see young and talented bands for next to nothing. In fact the whole night was only $12. For four bands. Put together by Adam Lewis, of FBi's Radiant, I missed the first two acts, but arrived in time to see New Zealand's The Coolies . They were energetic and loud, if a little predictable. But [...]

The first one was a huge underground success. So naturally there is much anticipation for take two. Jagjaguwar give much pleasure in announcing "Bon Iver, Bon Iver" will be released on June 21. The album contains 10 tracks and was recorded and mixed at April Base Studios in rural Fall Creek, Wisconsin. "It's been a wonderful freedom, working in a place we built. It's also only three miles from the house I grew up in, and just ten minutes from the bar where my parents met", quotes band leader Justin Vernon. Let the countdown begin! [...]

Ragged glory, hallelujah good times. Blood, sweat, maybe even tears. They are American and it is pretty bleeding obvious. They are rough and ready, beauty delivered with charm and swagger. They speak to me. They know me. I need them. I know it now. The Felice Brothers played their first Australian show on Wednesday night at the hopefully continuing Annandale Hotel . For 90 minutes they traversed mostly every strain of music. Folk, rock, country, ragtime, zydeco. Even electronic. It was a glorious soup of clattering sounds. Voices rang out and instruments clashed. All [...]

Sydney's purveyors of fine music, Dead Letter Chorus , have a brand new single out now in the shape of "Yellow House". It's a sublime slice of harmony and melody. Following on from the great "Run, Wild" this song will be included on the band's second album, "Yearlings", due out in June. Stay tuned for more details. For now, enjoy! Yellow House - Dead Letter Chorus by showoffservices

• Dead Letter Chorus - Yellow House

They are back! To shred our hearts and jump start our brains. Here is the first taste from Handsome Furs album number 3. "What About Us" is all pulsating excitement before dissolving into sheer melancholic beauty. June 28 will see the release of "Sound Kapital" on Sub Pop . Containing 9 tracks, the album was written entirely on keyboards. It was recorded in Montreal and then produced at Hotel2 Tango by Howard Bilerman and Arlen Thompson. Get Ready! Sound Kapital Track Listing 1 When I Get Back 2 Damage 3 Bury [...]

May 17 will see the release of a new album from Calgary's Chad VanGaalen . "Diaper Island" is the musician's fourth full length and by the sounds of the first track available for preview it could possibly be his finest. Once again, VanGaalen illustrated the album cover. Diaper Island Track Listing 1 Do Not Fear 2 Peace on the Rise 3 Burning Photographs 4 Heavy Stones 5 Sara 6 Replace Me 7 Blonde Hash 8 Freedom for a Policeman 9 Can You Believe It!? 10 Wandering Spirits 11 No Panic/No Heat 12 Shave My Pussy MP3: [...]

They moved to London. They are no more. Snowman went from being a band I had no time for to being one that I couldn't get enough of. Sadly, on April 22 they will release their third and final album. "Absence" contains 8 tracks, was recorded in London and is bound to be sensational. Please listen to "Hyena" and judge for yourself. Hyena by SNOWMAN

• SNOWMAN - Hyena

Woods are great. Great ness. So, I am very excited to hear that they have a brand new album due out on Woodsist Records on June 14. They sure are prolific as this follows hot on the heels of 2009's "Songs of Shame" and 2010's "At Echo Lake", both amazing and superb records. So I am super keen to hear "Sun and Shade" when it arrives. Below you can listen to the first track available for preview. It's pretty fantastic too. "Pushing Onlys" - Woods by forcefieldpr

• Woods - "Pushing Onlys"

Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean from Fleet Foxes on Vimeo .

The Ben Sherman Big British Sound returns in 2011, with shows in Sydney and Melbourne. This event features a selection of young and upcoming Independent Australian talent. Their goal is to throw in one or two covers by British bands that influenced them in the past. The previous two years have seen such talents as Tame Impala, Whitley, Art Vs Science, Bertie Blackman, Deep Sea Arcade, Jonathan Boulet, Little Red, The Seabellies and Jack Ladder take part in the night. The lineup in Sydney this year will feature Ball Park Music, Strange Talk, Boy In A Box and Step-Panther. Plus [...]

All sorts of Felice Brothers news here. Firstly, the band will be releasing a new album on May 10. "Celebration, Florida" contains 11 tracks and was recorded in the gymnasium and theatre of Beacon, NY's old high school. It will be the bands's fourth album. Celebration, Florida Track Listing 1 Fire at the Pageant 2 Container Ship 3 Honda Civic 4 Oliver Stone 5 Ponzi 6 Back in the Dancehalls 7 Dallas 8 Cus's Catskill Gym 9 Refrain 10 Best I Ever Had 11 River Jordan Secondly, they are here next month [...]

The great Bill Callahan will release a new album on Drag City on April 19. "Apocalypse" contains only 7 tracks, but judging by the song available for preview it is sure to be solid quality. Apocalypse Track Listing 1 Drover 2 Baby's Breath 3 America! 4 Universal Applicant 5 Riding for the Feeling 6 Free's 7 One Fine Morning MP3: Baby's Breath - Bill Callahan

• Bill Callahan - Baby's Breath

In some eyes "Kaputt" would be seen as a masterpiece. Another vibrant and compelling chapter in the lifecycle of Destroyer . I can understand that point of view, as this album is surely grand, expansive and gracefully complex. It is ambitious and original. But, but I can't fall in love with it totally. Which is quite hurtful, as I regard, and still do, Dan Bejar as a true musical visionary. A prophet of melody and lyric. Truth. He has stated in interviews that he was rather bored with the Indie Rock idiom and wanted to explore. Which I find [...]

The great Will Sheff interviewed at SXSW 2011.

Meek's Cutoff is the latest film from Kelly Reichardt, director of Old Joy and Wendy and Lucy. Set in 19th century Oregon, it stars Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Bruce Greenwood and Shirley Henderson. Opens in the US in April, no word yet on an Australian release date.

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If you love Megafaun , and you really should you know, then this might tickle your fancy. That band's lead man Phil Cook has a record coming out in May under his own name. Trekky Records will be releasing "Hungry Mother Blues" on May 10 and I am very excited to hear it. The album was recorded in a single day in the back room of Phil's house in North Carolina. The preview track (see below) is a golden slice of instrumental acoustic goodness. Augurs well for the new album. Can't wait! [...]

• Phil Cook and His Feat - Ballad Of A Hungry Mother

Yes!

This is the album cover! This is a song from the album! This is genius! This is intense! MP3: Trembling Hands - Explosions in the Sky "Take Care, Take Care, Take Care" will be available for pre-order on April 15 from Temporary Residence . It will be housed in a 10-panel quadruple gatefold cardboard jacket, with an enormous 18 panel colour double-sided poster and a full-colour double-sided postcard.