4ZZZ Music Dept.Best New Arrivals For The Third Week Of July

Local Artists:

Moses Gunn Collective: Dream Girls (Single) (Indie)
- The new single from Moses Gunn Collective reminds me of Ariel Pink's Only In My Dreams, like, a whole lot. In the end that only makes me like it more. Synthy psych full of cutesy weirdness, but every bit underwritten by great pop songwriting. (Chris Cobcroft)

Undead Apes: Landfill (Merenoise)
- Unsurprisingly tight shotgun spread of minute long punk songs from these seasoned veterans of the Brizzie scene. There's a range of influences from the obvious Bad Brains and Ramones to quite poppy licks that Weezer (on a good day) or Regurgitator could've churned out. These guys are all grown-ups now and the stoner-vibe is delivered with a big wink and a fond sigh for the punk of a few years ago. Pretty good memories. (Chris Cobcroft)

Australian Artists:

Alex The Kid: Skate or Lie (Single) (Habit Music Company)
- Punk rock’s poppier inclinations can often bring cringe-inducing melodies and song structures. But here in Perth’s Alex The Kid, you get the resilience of Bodyjar mixed with the bravado of The Bronx. Tough and approachable. (Nick Rodwell)

Agency: I Know I'm in Flames (Sonic Masala)
- The second EP in a couple of months from these busy post-punks. With jazzy inflections and ambient atmosphere washing around the snarling guitar and bitten off vocals Agency have a wide-ranging sound that should please fans of everything from Fugazi to Big Black to Deerhunter. (Chris Cobcroft)

Dreller: A Signal That Comes Back (Single) (Goodbye / Terrible)
- From the haunting slink of the opening groove through to the rousing outtro, Dreller’s Alt-pop is a world unto its own. His dark funk is full of desire and despair, both a sound and a state of mind. (Nick Rodwell)

friendships: It's Vermentino Dickhead: Edits, Cuts and Tools (Remote Control)
- friendships continue to develop their bizarre playground of electronic dance as this compilation delves deeper into their flair for the weird and wild. Featuring the recontextualised presence of Kirin J. Callinan and Milwaukee Banks this is a resoundingly enjoyable party. (Nick Rodwell)

GL: Touch (Midnight Feature / Plastic World / Inertia)
- The duo takes in Graeme Pogson's beats, Ella Thompson's sweet vox and does a masterclass in electro-boogie. In case you were wondering just what electro-boogie is (or even if you weren't), it's just about everything you could shake your butt to from the end of disco through electro funk, modern r'n'b, new wave and electro-pop on to early '90s house. GL can do them all and do them well. A record that's both a history lesson and a bunch of fun at the same time. (Chris Cobcroft)

Jagwar Ma: OB1 (Single) (Future Classic)
- Sooo ‘90s! Heavy beats thunder and fuzzy synths leer out of the darkness before the classic Madchester psychedelia pokes its head in. Fans of Primal Scream, Death In Vegas and Spaceman 3 eat your hearts out. (Chris Cobcroft)

Late Night Hysterics: Dreams Too (Single) (Blue Grey Pink)
Late Night Hysterics have crafted a single that is cleverly attuned to its thematic atmosphere. Dreams Too is an electro-pop slower burner, offset with call and response vocals and textures that will intrigue you, lull you and confront you with the subterfuge of your subconscious. It’s certainly no nightmare, though. (Nick Rodwell)

The Laurels: Reentry (Single) (Rice Is Nice)
- On the first single taken from their new full-length The Laurels have bolstered the power of their shoegazing a little. The Mancunian psychedelia bonds with the rising fuzz and it all sounds a little bit like Spaceman 3, but a lot like Ride and... good! Easygoing, poppy shoegaze, we need more of it! (Chris Cobcroft)

Lost Animal: Do The Jerk (Single) (Dot Dash / Remote Control)
- I’d guess I’m far from the only person who’s been hanging out for this forever. Jarrod Quarrell’s moaning, whining croon is as unmistakable as ever, snaking its way in amongst the morally dissolute sounding hammond organ and pounding drums. In the chorus the synths and sax just burn it down. Bodes very well for the forthcoming album, as if there might have been space for any doubt. (Chris Cobcroft)

Lupa J: My Right Name (Indie)
- Young electro-pop star Lupa J puts out another fairly immaculate EP. It's actually not very different from the first one: cold, dark, brittle and full of themes of claustrophobic self-doubt, but then both EP's are just really good, like two halves of a great LP. This is more than welcome. (Chris Cobcroft) 

Mantis And The Prayer: Butterflies And Demons (Indie)
- Mantis makes a brooding frontman for these gothically tinged rockers. Elements of country and Americana fold into an appeal that's something like Nick Cave, mixed in with Henry Wagons, mixed in with Barry Manilow. Tasty ghost cheese. (Chris Cobcroft)

No Sister: Overpass (Single) (Indie)
- The ex-Brisbaneites serve up more stylish post-punk. Overpass packs a lot more firepower than many limp-wristed postpunks can unleash too. The guitars roar in a barrage before the bitten off vocals snap in. It's kinda like a more thunderous version of Bull In The Heather, which is good. (Chris Cobcroft)

Silent Jay: Tides Feat. Jace XL (Single) (Twnty Three)
- Slinky future soul and a bit of hip hop from Melbourne producer Silent Jay and Hiatus Kaiyote's Jace XL. It's the lead single for Plastic World Volume 1, a collection celebrating three years of the cutting edge Australian beats label. Plenty more like this within from Sampa The Great, Vulture St. Tape Gang and Tim Shiel among others. (Chris Cobcroft)

Sophie Hutchings: Wide Asleep (Preservation Records)
- Sophie Hutchings' classical compositions are as delicate and graceful as the flickers of REM sleep. Her album, Wide Asleep does play nicely off of Max Richter’s Sleep in its contemplation and exploration of the rejuvenating and somewhat mystical realm of rest. (Nick Rodwell)

Totally Unicorn: Dream Life (Farmer & The Owl / Inertia)
- Whether you want to focus on its punk destruction of song, it’s hardcore intensity or its metal heaviness, Totally Unicorn’s latest album is a bludgeoning execution of norms and they make it sound rad. (Nick Rodwell)

Travis Jenkins: Pieces for Glass Houses: Portrait of a River City (Green Chimney)
- Rustic in his approach to both production and content, jazzer Travis Jenkins album presents great scope for Brisbane and for young composers. It’s generous in its time given to motifs and harmony, allowing for many points of musical and physical history to converge in this dramatic representation of his hometown. (Nick Rodwell)

Twelve Foot Ninja: Invincible (Single) (Volkanik)
- Damn, Twelve Foot Ninja have returned with a hardhitter that is full of both bombast and drama. The pre-choruses are gripping enough let alone the breakdowns and growling guitars. Damn. (Nick Rodwell)

Two Steps On The Water: A Little Bit Scared (Single) (Indie)
- Definitely one of Australia's most interesting bands. A deliberately DIY mixture of folk-roots, alt-country and surging rock is the backdrop for frontwoman June, who deals head-on with, in their words: "trauma, transness, sex, sadness, violence, and queerness". It could all be a bit too much like slitting your wrists to a Tod Solondz film, but, like Solondz at his best, June brings a humour and poetry that is incredibly engaging. New album very shortly. (Chris Cobcroft)

Overseas Artists:

-(16)-: The Lifespan of a Moth (Relapse)
- There’ something fundamentally heartwarming -or maybe just gutwarming- about good sludge metal: the way it just vibrates through your innards. Classic metal riffs delivered at a measured pace with the timbre of a chainsaw. It bonds just fine with the mood of roaring inner turmoil.  Cali-sludgers -(16)- have been going since 1991, they should know how to do it by now and they do. (Chris Cobcroft)

De La Soul: Royyalty Capes (Single) (Thinking Loud)
- De La Soul’s long awaited return is boom-bap-tastic, self-assured and head-noddingly cool AF. (Nick Rodwell)

Justice: Safe & Sound (Single) (Ed Banger / Warner)
- That ridiculous bassline! Oh France, don’t ever change. Synths squelch, a soul-choir throws its jazz-fingers to the heavens, strings sing and the glitter ball glitters. It’s been a while between drinks for the French duo and it feels like forever since I even heard a Kitsuné compliation, so this deliciously cheesy nu-disco couldn’t be more timely. (Chris Cobcroft)

Lakuta: Bata Boy (Single) (Tru Thoughts)
This is how you get people to rally, via dance. Lakuta have a seriously bumpin’ single here with an even more poignant message. So while you’ll get caught up in the afro-rhythms and slammin’ horns, you also have a righteous hook to sink your teeth into. (Nick Rodwell)

Margo Price: Midwest Farmer's Daughter (ADA)
- Jack White and Third Man Record’s commitment to the sounds of yesteryear is always on point. This charming record from Margo Price has me swept away on slide guitar and a distinct longing for Pa’s dusty ranch and I was raised by a public servant in a coastal town… (Nick Rodwell)

MJ Guider: Precious Systems (Kranky)
- New Orleans resident Melissa Guion makes dreamy, goth-tronic sounds that should have fans of Chelsea Wolfe, Cocteau Twins or School Of Seven Bells twirling in their black velvet dancing shoes. Hell even HTRKers should be standing around looking morose but secretly enjoying themselves. (Chris Cobcroft)

Trust Punks: Double Bind (Spunk Records)
- Brand new LP from the Kiwi post-punks. Makes all the right references to the oldschool, from Big Black through Hüsker Dü, the Minutemen and even Archers Of Loaf. They put their own very trans-Tasman twist on those sounds in a record that is diverse, arty, but in the end, just full of some good songs. (Matt Hall & Chris Cobcroft)

Zammuto: Veryone (Temporary Residence)
- The Books may have called it a day, but that’s not going to stop Nick Zammuto churning out exactly the kind of tuneful but highly conceptual electronic pop you know him for. Two of these three rhythmically bouncing, harmonically swelling cuts are based around lightly autotuned takes of some very touchy-feely children's’ book and a kinda new-age spirituality tape (yikes - but I swear you’ll catch yourself grinning along). The third is math-pop that sounds like some Battles tune you’ve never heard before, and a pretty nice one to boot. More of this Mr. Zammuto, please. (Chris Cobcroft)

4ZZZ Music Dept.Best New Arrivals For The Third Week Of July

Chris CobcroftNew Releases Show

Slowdiveeverything is alive

Schkeuditzer KreuzNo Life Left

Magic City CounterpointDialogue

Public Image LimitedEnd Of World

SejaHere Is One I Know You Know

DeafcultFuture of Illusion

CorinLux Aeterna

FingerlessLife, Death & Prizes

Jack LadderTall Pop Syndrome

LIVE
100