November 07 - Noteworthy New Releases
Our favourite releases of the week.
Caressa – ‘Blue’
Tarot-rock five-piece Caressa have released their debut single ‘Blue’. The band bottles golden-hour Americana, taking you on a cinematic journey down Route 66. It’s the soundtrack to a summer road trip with the destination unknown and a love letter to the greats, with Fleetwood Mac DNA pumping through its veins. When singer Jade Soderstrom, guitarist Will Healy and keyboardist Katalina Teumohenga harmonise, it’s the kind of raw chemistry that gives you goosebumps. The lyrics of ‘Blue’ duel against each other in this easy-to-connect-with tale of love, spoken from two opposing sides of a troubled relationship. The production has this polished shimmer to it like it’s coming from a band already deep into their discography. It’s a confident and mesmerising debut from a band that we’ll surely see more of.
Sounds like: If Fleetwood Mac drank Farmer’s Union.
By Thomas Jackson
Sons of Zöku – ‘Hōō’
It’s no surprise that ‘Hōō’, the frustratingly difficult-to-type new single from psych rock merchants Sons of Zöku, is dosed up with enough modulation to kill a horse. This wavy, sonically italicised joint is more than just the mirage in the desert it presents itself as: the more the listener focuses, the more they realise that there is much to engage with beneath the stained-glass surface. The synth-padding and clarinet acrobatics aid and abet the band in their mischievous games. The song is lined with magic; its production folds the mystical into the mundane, enabling the music to take you to a place just around the corner, where shadows dance across the faded brick of boring old housing blocks.
Sounds like: A common miracle.
By Jack Paech
Molly Rocket – ‘Breathing Lead’
The songwriting chops of Ben Main are in full display with Molly Rocket’s track ‘Breathing Lead’, a cryptic, grungy anthem, tackling themes of OCD and lead pollution in Port Pirie. Unbridled and unparalleled, the lyricism unveils Main as a once-in-a-generation writer. ‘Breathing Lead’ captures the livewire energy of this supergroup, with a distorted, uplifting and rough-around-the-edges feel. Every element of the track drips nicotine-filled adrenaline and slots in just right. From the smooth harmonies of Georgie Evans that perfectly complement Main’s vocals, to the disgustingly euphoric guitar solos that pumps through the track’s body, ‘Breathing Lead’ is all addiction and obsession. We’re coming into a new era of Molly Rocket that feels mature, refined and is so goddamn exciting. This track will not only leave you feeling that Aussie alt-rock is in safe hands, but also with “He’s my man” stuck in your head for weeks.
Sounds like: A song MTV would have rinsed in the ‘90s.
By Millah Hansberry
All Absurd – ‘Parallel Lines’
Emotionally charged from the get-go, ‘Parallel Lines’ is brimming with the passion of a young band looking to make a statement. Binding soulful vocals with wide, reverb-dripped guitars, All Absurd craft a sound closely reminiscent of modern Aussie-rock stalwarts The Vanns. A fluid structure is utilised to great effect; the tempo races and reels as layers drop in and out, serving as exclamation marks on a tale of impractical love. Written during a stint living in London, the band draws on a worldliness rare to find in a group so new, whilst proving that in an ever-evolving indie rock scene, there will always be a place for heartbreak and guitar solos.
Sounds like: Romanticising your regrets.
By Finn McCole
Take Me Time Machine – ‘Higher’
Take Me Time Machine’s ‘Higher’ is a pop punk earworm with high energy from start to finish. The track radiates the nostalgic feeling of walking home after school, headphones in, volume up, shutting out the outside world without a care in the world, with a naughties twist. The verses are packed with low thoughts and questioning, and the chorus is simple, light and playful. Take Me Time Machine’s harmonies are on point, and like any good pop punk song, there’s a guitar solo, unveiling the pure skill of guitarist Jack Bilney. This leads into a bridge which completely switches up; stripping right back to focus on the lyrics, then building up into a strong finishing chorus. You’ll be listening to this ‘Higher’ on repeat!
Sounds like: Discovering your new favourite sweet escape.
By Jannah Fahiz
Greasy – ‘Be Just Fine’
For a band who have only been on the scene since 2024, Greasy have managed to ensure there’s no wasted time in their careers thus far. Describing themselves as an “atypical quintet” who collect their influences of indie, folk, soul, and jazz to craft something unique, the first taste that fans had of recorded music from Greasy was March’s ‘Never Out Of Mind.’ Last month, however, the group backed it up with another heater, proving it wasn’t a fluke by sharing ‘Be Just Fine’. Anchored with a steady beat and a recurring riff, ‘Be Just Fine’ ebbs and flows as Greasy show off their chops, harnessing supportive lyrics, a soaring chorus, and an emotional crescendo which will stay with you for hours like a comforting hand on the shoulder. There might be fears that indie rock is in danger of growing stale, but it’s clear that with Greasy at the helm, it’ll be just fine.
Sounds like: Pure euphoria.
By Tyler Jenke
