March 14 - Noteworthy New Releases
Our favourite releases of the week.
Junk Harmony – ‘From April To June’
Junk Harmony’s Tom Matheson says ‘From April To June’ comes to us “immersed in a dreamlike state”. However, we’d like to offer a slightly different appraisal: this new single thrashes on the edge of sleep. It’s the desperation of trying to enter a dream on a hot night; the confusing smudge of borders. The song’s coda sees Junk Harmony shed their lo-fi skin, but the transition feels like waking up at three in the morning, grasping at the darkness as your consciousness grinds against reality. There’s a sort of violence to it – a reminder that the dull ache of loneliness will press at your insides until time lends you the means to fight back. ‘From April to June’ is a wintry song, but it dreams of summer.
Sounds like: Post-credit white noise.
By Jack Paech
Storm the Crown – ‘Riot’
Metalcore has progressed immeasurably since it became a hybrid fusion of ‘metal’ and ‘hardcore’. Adelaide’s Storm The Crown time travel back to the noughties with their take on the genre. However, their latest effort, ‘Riot’, is the band at their most adventurous. The static bass by Shane Munro after 30 seconds is striking; an imposing melodic guitar and thrash expansion calls upon Austria’s The Sorrow; the slowing of the ‘chugga-chug’ breakdowns brilliantly build the song’s intensity. Lyrics like “in our hearts we RIOT!” are undeniably memorable, too. This could be the quintet’s piece de resistance.
Sounds like: The Australian cousin of California’s Catherine.
By Will Oakeshott
Ned Baulderstone – ‘A Place for Us’
Ned Baulderstone’s ‘A Place For Us’ is a sharp and compelling introduction for those who have never seen him perform. He wants us to know that this song is the dirt under his fingernails – an honest product of hard work and proof of his connection to the world. Indeed, this single is sincere in a way we don’t see often anymore. Its lyrics are elegantly phrased and the open acoustic chords amble along like the best Neil Young or Bob Dylan numbers. However, with ‘A Place For Us’, Baulderstone carves out his own niche. Luckily, it seems to be an inclusive one – look no further than the song’s title for proof.
Sounds like: Feet on the dashboard, head in the clouds.
By Jack Paech
War Room – ‘Shuffle’
A rollercoaster that bounces between textured adlibs and jagged rhythms, ‘Shuffle’ casts a spell from the first line, pulling listeners into a whirlwind of playful unpredictability that lives up to its name. One moment, you’re sonically sitting at an intimate poetry slam; next, you find yourself in a bougie jazz club. Different, bold and so damn refreshing, War Room dare the listeners to keep up with their authentic groove and controlled chaos. Unafraid to flip the script on the mainstream, War Room confidently carve out their own lane and come out well on top.
Sounds like: A song that would fill the Cranker band room on a Wednesday night.
By Hannah Louise
Emerauld – ‘In the First Place’
Five years after the release of her first original track at 14, Emerauld’s latest single, ‘In the First Place’, is another powerful dose of indie joy.
Inspired by her high school graduation, the singer-songwriter encapsulates the feeling of venturing into the unknown on this track. Emerauld’s soaring vocals are accompanied by a vibrant guitar lick, with ‘In the First Place’ reminiscent of the early ’00s indie scene (in the best possible way). The song is another example of the artist’s tremendous talent – we’re not surprised she earned a triple j Unearthed High spotlight and an Australian Idol golden ticket.
Sounds like: A celebration.
By Tobias Handke
The Empty Threats – ‘Phone Call’
No one is doing it like The Empty Threats. The post-punk/noise-rock hydra return with ‘phone call’ – the lead single off their hotly anticipated sophomore album happy birthday – to remind us why they’re one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from this city.
Condensed and chaotic, the track takes shards of the Empties sonic formula (think frenzied guitars, tightly-wound percussion and frustrated spurts of clarinet) and look inwards, examining our short-circuited attention spans and melting prefrontal cortex. “I wanna think about it / I wanna learn about it / I want to watch TV,” says frontperson Stu Patterson, verbalising an internal tug-of-war that’s all too familiar. Are we the digital generation or the brain rot generation? Will we continue to be moths to the blue light of the internet? Time will tell. At least there’s an anthem to soundtrack our soon-to-be dystopian future.
Sounds like: Doom scrolling.
By Zara Richards
