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Showing posts from 2017

Parsnip - Health

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I'm tellin' you, there's just something so wholesome about Parsnip!  It's in the handclaps, the group vocals & the wobbly guitars; and it just makes this 7' so much fun to listen to! It's a strong first release from a band that have spent the last 12-18 months gigging around consistently, earning themselves spots on bigger and bigger lineups. The group are booked to play on the main Gizzfest lineup, touring across the country in the coming month. If you've had the chance to see this four piece playing around town - and you've had plenty, it's not my fault you missed out - you'll probably know most of the songs on this record. It's just so nice to finally hear them recorded!  The fun starts with "Health", and this is such a boppy tune. You've got the drums and guitar propelling each other forward perfectly, making it hard not to nod your head. Boasting probably the most memorable melody on the EP, this would

Phaedo - Osmosis

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Sharp and lo-fi like those that came before them,  Phaedo  have birthed an EP that is tough, rough and lively. Osmosis stops just short of 30 minutes in length which is pretty long considering it's comprised of 7 tracks, but time doesn't work against the Geelong 5-piece psych rock kids. The songs are feisty but the band manage to hold the aggressive song-writing back to give the songs a natural cadence where necessary.  Kicking off proceedings,  Morals  garners all of the band's intensity and channels it straight into your breadbasket.  Behind You  offers little reprieve, incorporating a really dancey riff - you know what I mean if you've heard it. That riff just dances over top of the rhythm to give you some groove and some passion. Most good songs are made of either groove or passion - definitely a step in the correct direction. It's quite a  refreshing track due to the effervescence of that riff.  Pathway to Virtue  is a pretty Geelong sounding track,

Guffman - Harold Holt Swim Centre

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Pete, Mack, Rhys and Dan comprise new Melbourne group, Guffman. It really didn't take long for the lads to drop a full length release at all, lighting it up with 15 tracks packed with both absurd lyrical flair and ridiculously catchy hooks. Clocking in at around 28 minutes,  Harold Holt Swim Centre  is fun,  fuzzy and pretty fuckin' loveable. The album hits it's stride from the get-go with tracks  George  and  Alleyway Hunta,  both of which   display their ability to pair solid songwriting with playful lyrics (" I've been thinking I should write that new bible - father, son, holy mackerel" ) Further down the tracklist tracks like  Garbageman ,  Team Effort  and  Cash Only  fly the flag high for Guffman. The album more than compensates for the lack of production value with a huge amount of catchy riffs, seriously, pretty much every song is incredibly infectious and has such a sense of fun about it. Essential Listening: George ,  Team Effort ,  Guffma