Local Artists:

Carmouflage Rose: Late Nights (Single) (Bedlam)
- Local MC, Carmouflage Rose, is known for his high energy. Here with his latest single, Late Nights, he flips it, dissociated from the club, this ode to the party vibe is thick and intoxicating. The suggestive patois creates a distinction from what could easily be a Travis Scott cut. (Nick Rodwell)

Holiday Party: I'm Still Here (Single) (Indie)
- Holiday Party is the duo of Mel Tickle and Luke McDonald and they can count The John Steel Singers, Little Scout and Pynes in their CV, which is pretty impressive. The single they've delivered is lush but snappy pop, heavily produced, to the point where the drums sound kinda synthetic, but in a good way. That title's pretty appropriate for people who've been round the rock'n'roll merrygoround before, too. The whole thing feels pretty similar to what Confidence Man have done recently and so successfully. Maybe this can nab some of the same success? (Chris Cobcroft)

Morning Harvey: Lucky Day (Single) (Indie)
- From Custard to Hey Geronimo, there’s definitely something in the water here in Brisbane and Morning Harvey have been drinking it as they shape up with a leading single that is both idiosyncratic and rockin’. There is enough grit and groove in Lucky Day to keep you moving as it splashes into the hooked up chorus. (Nick Rodwell)

EGGvE|N: Ev|££ (Indie)
- Proudly repping Wynnum North with an unusual and abrasive blend of what EGGvE|N like to call country electro goth. It's a slab of sludgy, slow, extremely DIY, a bit no wave, a bit industrial, messy goodness. Quite tongue-in-cheek but I imagine they'd rather headbutt you than admit it. (Chris Cobcroft)

Ella Fence: Cocaine (Single) (Indie)
-This is the kind of track that’ll make you miss your stop on public transport - sitting in a windowed box, seeing reflections of yourself amongst framed sections of society, will encourage daydreams of escape. Much like a whimsical decision, Ella Fence’ low-key pop has the power to nurture deeper impulses. (Nick Rodwell)

House Hounds: Saturate (The A&R Department)
- Local indie-pop outfit, House Hounds, are still finding their feet as a creative body. Their Saturate EP explores a number of sounds but where they sound their most compelling is in leading single Karamel. It’s a flirtatiously psychedelic number with the same sensibility towards pop that French band Phoenix bring to their stuff. (Nick Rodwell)

Australian Artists:

Bench Press: Group Anxiety (Single) (Poison City)
- Full disclosure, I’m a Fugazi fan. So, for Melbourne’s Bench Press to release a single that sounds like the Post-punk’s Repeater-era means that I’m having trouble containing my gushing bias. The niggling riffs combined with the the hoarse delivery plays so nicely into the theme that I’ve already signed myself up to Bench Press Anonymous. (Nick Rodwell)

blyolk: Shun The Sun Because I Don't Breathe Youth (Single) (Indie)
- Bastian Chesney has been taking his blyolk project all over the place. From lofi garage rock orgins, he's bloomed into dance-rock glory. Ragged but inspirational and thoroughly euphoric, this has the Madchester vibe of a good Primal Scream jam, with that slightly scary 'drink-the-kool-aid' enthusiasm you get from the Polyphonic Spree. Yeah, I do feel a little like I'm joining a cult, but listening to this ... it feels like the right thing to do. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Bombay Royale: Ballygunge (Single) (Hopestreet)
- Everybody's favourite -and, well just about the only- crossover Aussie Bollywooders, The Bombay Royale, fold a little more synth into the mix for their new single. The resulting electro-funk struts with an appalling ballsiness. As usual BR transcend gimmick with music that's sweatily great. New record's due later this year, I think? Can't wait. Hope it's like this because Ballygrunge motors on like Tower Of Power being blasted out of technicolour autorickshaw.(Chris Cobcroft & Nick Rodwell)

Cody Munro Moore: No Matter How Hard (Single) (Dinosaur City)
- Cody Munro Moore knows his rock, whether as a member of New Lovers, Big White, as head honcho at his record label Dinosaur City or out on his own. This single from his full-length, which is due imminently, adroitly demonstrates the hallmarks of his style. Key among those is his ability to deliver messy guitar and vocal lines that are -listen again- freaking genius. I struggle to find an exact reference for what he does: there's bits of David Byrne, Joe Strummer and, in the sung-shouted declamation of No Matter How Hard, some of the softest moments of Henry Rollins. Add a drum machine and you've got a song. Really liking this. (Chris Cobcroft)

Floating Pyramids: Floating Pyramids (Chasm Music Group)
- Chris Hamer-Smith is a restless artist. As Chasm he's had not-inconsiderable success as part of hip-hoppers Astronomy Class and a second life with electro-funk'n'soul beats of Dr. Don Don. Floating Pyramids is his vehicle for pure house. This EP gives a lot of the spotlight to a slew of female guest vocalists, producing an EP of pretty chill deep house. There are a couple of excursions into slightly more bangery trap-dance but for the most part FP is pretty easygoing and a little bit different from what most beat-makers are churning out. (Chris Cobcroft)

GL: Reflect (Single) (Indie)
- GL are back with a nu-disco jam reminiscent of CHIC's '70's classic, Le Freak. The Melbourne duo have blessed us with a 7:45 minute dance treat! But, for those who can't handle a super boogie, there is a tight radio edit to bust out to, capturing all the greatness that GL bring to the floor. (Luke Doig)

Hello Satellites: Hello Lover (Two Bright Lakes)
- I think I had to hear the whole of Hello Satellites new record before I got it. You could think of them as a folk duo, but -if it isn't too much wank- they're more like a crystal sculpture of a folk duo. Working with precious few ingredients the two women make something precise, brittle, clever and beautiful. Their harmonic and rhythmic gestures are minute but achingly effective, transformative even. There's nothing quite like a careful vocal cadence washing out of a sparse background with unexpected warmth. (Chris Cobcroft)

Jen Cloher: Forgot Myself (Single) (Milk! / Remote Control)
- Following on from the charitable Kinda Biblical, Jen Cloher, reminds us how to strip the stadium and hysteria out of rock whilst maintaining its edge with effortless cool. Forgot Myself is classically self aware, growing Rock’s self-destructive inclinations into a modern acceptance. Pay attention, Jen has an album coming. (Nick Rodwell)

Lincoln Le Fevre & the Insiders: Undone (Single) (Poison City)
- Heartbreak and heartland rock make a rocket-fuelled anthem for Lincoln Le Fevre. The Melbournite’s second single from his forthcoming album mixes quite a few fist-pumping influences: bits of the Foo Fighters, Bodyjar and The Boss. the muscular guitars and Lincoln’s pleasantly everyman voice make the wrenching melancholy criminally infectious. (Chris Cobcroft)

Michael Strong: Variation & Illness (Single) (Indie)
- I’ve always felt that much of the beat driven music out of WA doesn’t really sound like beats from the rest of the world. That certainly goes for this new, dark slice of dance from Michael Strong. The ambient idm uses a lot of the same elements as, say, Aphex Twin or Squarepusher (particularly that slap bass that snakes in near the end), but somehow this sinuous, syncopated badass is it’s own thing. Whatever else it is, it’s a good thing too. (Chris Cobcroft)

New Band: Bitter & Alone (Single) (Indie)
- The best jangle-pop bands are lifted above dolewave talentlessness by actually, secretly, being really good pop musos. That certainly applies to this outfit comprised of veteran Melbourne musos, who bring a lot more effort to the music they make than, say, coming up with a name for their band. There's pleasant echoes of Pavement and Sonic Youth and Dick Diver. They might be bitter, but they can sure write a sweet song about it. (Chris Cobcroft)

No Local: Never Really Feels Like I'm Going To Be Around For Long (Dinosaur City)
- No Local are a duo out of Melbourne (with a connection to The Ocean Party) doing the same kind of low-key fusion as Retiree or These Guy and which you can tenuously trace back to chillwavers like Toro Y Moi. Like all of them No Local are pretty damn stylish, even while trying to obscure it behind a wall of nonchalance and DIY affectation. There are all sorts of things happening on Never Really: jangle pop, lounge, nu-disco, synth-pop, avant-garde noise and electrofunk. There's obviously wild creativity at work here, not to mention a malevolent sense of humour, behind the po-faced, Euro-bored presentation. An acquired taste, perhaps, but one well worth acquiring. (Chris Cobcroft)

Other Places: T.R.N. (Single) (It)
- Welcome back to TRON! Melbourne's Other Places scores what could be a faux single on the Tron: Legacy soundrack. It's an electronica masterpeice, with soaring heavy synths, distored snares and a punchy kick to take you on the ride. (Luke Doig)

Parcels: Overnight (Single) (Kitsuné / Daft Trax)
- The secret is out, Byron Bay lads Parcel have hooked up with Daft Punk, producing a disco-rock smash hit. The guitar riffs are funky, the vocals are flowing and keys are swaying, what more can I say? I love this one and I am certain it will be playing everywhere sooner than later. (Luke Doig)

Pheno: Dragon Year (Indie)
- Canberra born Jess Green AKA Pheno is making some seriously cool art-pop on her EP Dragon Year. Kicking off with stand out banger There Are Voice's Out There. The six track ensemble maintains a common focus with plenty of self-vocal samples and guitar hooks to keep you around until the party ends. (Luke Doig)

The Pink Tiles: Writer's Block (Single) (Indie)
- We're four singles deep into The Pink Tiles #1 Fan LP, but the blend of retro-garage-pop and dreampop vocals is a real goer right now. The fuzz of the guitars and the smooth chaser of those vocals is just right thankyou very much. (Chris Cobcroft)

Planete: Guided By Flux (Single) (Good Manners)
- Dion Tartaglione’s new, standalone number is seven minutes that hypnotises, sparkles and shimmers, with a Jon Hopkins-esque techno, before slapping on some Vangelis synths to lift you to the climax. Not exactly new, but sophisticated and stylish. (Chris Cobcroft)

The Trepids: Fiend (Single) (Indie)
- We’re currently riding high on Australia’s procurement of new-emo (not the cringey fringe sh*t from the turn of the century, I’m talking Sunny Day onwards to Smith Street) and Footscray’s The Trepids show that there is still plenty to plumb. Displaying a similar sense of story to that of Paul Kelly and building into an overdriven release of energy to assuage the rabble, Fiend is definitely a worthwhile contribution to the canon. (Nick Rodwell)

Usurper Of Modern Medicine: House Of Reps (Single) (Indie/ MGM)
- Sounding like they’ve smooshed all of Manchester’s musical output into some sort of cosmic maelstrom, Perth’s Usurper of Modern Medicine are a sonic force to be reckoned with. Their House Of Reps single is so dense with hyper-kinetic grooves and nebulous synths that it makes the idea of being pulled apart by a black hole seem like a pleasurable experience. (Nick Rodwell)

Willow Beats: Be Kind To Yourself (single) (Indie)
- Electronic duo, Willow Beats are re-entering our attention with such an elegant shuffle on Be Kind To Yourself that it would remiss of you not to engage in its warmth and crystalline energy. The combination of Kalyani Mumtaz songwriting and Narayana Jonson’s production has always been captivating for its sensual approach to dance, their latest single is downtempo but far more immersive. (Nick Rodwell)

Wixwood: Cold Dead Hands (Single) (Indie)
- Lee Hazelwood is very definitely the influence for Brendan Wixted's new project (his other being Sydney band The Model School). It's not entirely obvious but he has quite a bit of synthesiser in this lush, gothic sounding country. Whatever it's made of it sounds just like the old, velvet cowboy and however close it cleaves to him, I'm very keen to hear the album, due later this year. (Chris Cobcroft)

Overseas Artists:

Covarino/Incorvaia: Granada (Whitelabrecs)
- Six warm and melodic instrumentals from the Italian drums and guitar duo. Wandering music that never loses its focus. The perfect soundtrack for a quiet afternoon.
(Adrian Marsh)

Cornelius: Sometimes Someplace (Single) (Spunk Records)
When Japanese recording artist Keigo Oyamada releases music under the Cornelius moniker you can be assured of impeccable high fidelity recording and one of the weirdest approaches to contemporary funk. Rhythmically intense, Sometimes Someplace sounds like Aphex Twin performing a Bossa Nova. Absolute magic. (Nick Rodwell)

Lea Porcelain: Hymns To The Night (Indie)
- The debut full-length from these fearsome Germans is very much as the singles portended: an unusual, shifting meld of enormous guitars, grim vocals and electronic beats. It keeps the album sliding around between shoegaze, goth, darkwave and postpunk. Fascinating and surprisingly listenable. (Chris Cobcroft)

Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires: Youth Detention (Don Giovanni / Redeye)
- Sounding like some sort of Johnny Thunders / Bruce Springsteen hybrid bumpin’ even higher tempos, these Alabama lads know how to drop the hammer. Ratty guitars and grand American stories equal good rock ‘n’ roll. (Nick Rodwell)

Megative: More Time (Single) (Indie)
- New project from Tim Fletcher (The Stills), producer Gus Van Go and others. They're across dub-reggae, punk and ska, so I'm told, but here you get mostly the smooth-ass dub-reggae, sounding a little bit like The Gorillaz or even Massive Attack. I get the feeling this band are capable of a whole lot more than we're hearing here, but this is a pretty slick start. (Chris Cobcroft)

Melanie De Biasio: Gold Junkies (Single) (PIAS / Inertia)
- Classically cool, Melanie De Biasio has effortless swagger. Gold Junkies jives on this real hushed pulse drawing you in as De Biasio vibes over the top. It’s simple and full of soul, an interlude between beatniks and The Temptations. (Nick Rodwell)

The Range: New Lots (Single) (Domino / EMI)
- New music from James Hinton is a welcome thing. Here it's in collaboration with producer Jim-E Stack although it's still under Hinton's usual moniker, The Range. This single, half of a double a-side (which, hey where's the other half??), has speeding beats that work quietly, efficiently away under the cloudbursts of luscious, ambient synth and the almost manipulatively emotional vocal. According to Hinton they were trying to channel the intensity of early rave; well, tick. (Chris Cobcroft)

Sudan Archives: Come Meh Way (Sinlge) (Stones Throw / Inertia)
- Another left-field one from Stones Throw. Sudan Archives (real name, er, Sudan Archives) out of LA makes beats and works with a violin and loop pedal. To the uninitiated the results are not dissimilar to French Cuban group Ibeyi, though Sudan's influences are -you guessed it- Sudanese, rather than Nigerian. Her debut album should be out sometime soon - looking forward to it. (Chris Cobcroft)

Zola Jesus: Exhumed (Single) (Sacred Bones / Rocket)
- The first single from Zola Jesus' new record seems to be heading back in the direction of her old stuff. Instead of the poppier goth of recent years the surging synths and strings sound ferocious, as does Jesus' voice, flying over the top. The percussion too moves along at an alarming clip rocketing everything forward till Jesus jams on the breaks -a brief pause, full of ghostly backing vocals- then right back into the fracas. This is the Zola Jesus I used to know: tuneful but terrifying. (Chris Cobcroft)