June 19 - Noteworthy New Releases
Our favourite releases of the week.
Any Young Mechanic – ‘Captain And Compass’
Like a story uttered by wax candlelight from a grandparent’s mouth to a child’s ear, Any Young Mechanic’s ‘Captain And Compass’ feels weathered, rooted in folklore and like a tale of yore. Rather than existing to warn us of greed or danger, it instead invites listeners to lean in and remind themselves that they are human – breathing, imperfect and a mere brushstroke on the canvas of earth. Through plucking stabs of banjo, restrained percussive taps and drones of hopeful violin, paired with soft climbing bass, steady acoustic strums and Sam Wilson’s warm vocals, Any Young Mechanic craft a whimsical story, with hooting owls, shipwrecks and blurry familial scenes beating at the heart. If the world can’t cope with a quiet revolution of hope, then who the hell let this five-piece pick up their instruments?
Sounds like: Linking arms with an old friend at a run-down folky dive bar.
By Millah Hansberry
The Hazys – ‘Not Perfect’
Surrounded by chirpy electric guitars and drowned in swirly chorus effects, The Hazys’ ‘Not Perfect’ is a love letter to a partner who has helped them grow and heal. Though the song is wrapped in gratefulness and hope, there is an unmistakable lingering melancholy in Asher Hammat and Will Healey’s husky vocals, which convey the real emotion packaged into the track. Daniel Heath’s chorus harmonies contribute to this, adding a deeper tone which anchors the lyric’s heaviness into the song’s bright atmosphere. With a beat you can’t help but sway your hips to, ‘Not Perfect’ simultaneously fits in with the rest of The Hazys’ discography and stands out as a crowd favourite when performed live.
Sounds like: An Australian summer festival.
By Ella Bruce
Pomegranates – ‘Ballad of a Groupie’
Pour yourself a stiff drink, slip into something a little more “comfortable,” and introduce yourself to Pomegranates. The blues-rock power ballad closer from the quartet’s debut EP Taste, ‘Ballad of a Groupie’, follows the partner of a deadbeat rocker, stripping away the perceived glitz and glamour of dating a rockstar. Tales of empty promises, whiskey-soaked compliments, and a precariously wandering eye flow out of powerhouse vocalist Charley, blending a seductive lullaby with raw feminine rage. Boasting classic rock influence, the band stick closely to what they know. No flashy production tricks, no 15-layer vocal harmonies or shiny synth pads; what you see on stage is what you hear on the record. It’s a refreshing approach, and it makes for a unique listen in today’s music scene.
Sounds like: Joan Jett sits in on a sexy blues bar jam.
By Daniel Heath
PINES – ‘Chosen Ones’
By fusing groovy backbeats, layering synth lines and stacking vocal samples, electronic duo PINES let listeners’ minds wander into the atmosphere of their music with their first track of 2026, ‘Chosen Ones’. The single, featuring CLYPSO on vocals, already sounds like a piece made for a festival; walking through the gates and jumping into the crowd, this song comes on and you’re right where you’re meant to be. Coming off many successful albums, EPs and tours, PINES are looking to do it all again, with their forthcoming EP DANCER set to release on June 26. Judging from this latest offering, it’s safe to say we can expect a big year from this duo.
Sounds like: Pres in the car on your way to watch your favourite artist.
By Asher Hamma
Swapmeet – ‘Sand’
Swapmeet’s second single from imminent debut album Mount Zero is a song called ‘Sand’, which actually isn’t a song as much as it is a little dust storm sending up autumn leaves in a flittering circle. The sharp jolt of nostalgia the song evokes comes courtesy of a host of ‘90s touchpoints (Mazzy Star, Broken Social Scene), but the band keeps it squarely in the 21st century with the loose, interweaving vocals that are fast becoming the four-piece’s signature. The track’s temporal tightrope walk will make you feel like you’re brushing up against eras you never got to experience.
Sounds like: An angel in the algorithm.
By Jack Paech
Ledfly – ‘Frostbite’
‘Frostbite’, the debut single from punk three-piece Ledfly, provides just under two minutes of manic, punk-rock carnage for your listening pleasure. It’s fast, it’s loud and direct, and it rips (like a pair of skinny jeans). The track opens with noisy, chaotic guitar work over a wicked half-time groove that immediately grabs your ear, with a brief relief from the mayhem before jumping straight into the fray of classic, quick punk-rock riffage. There’s no fluff in its raw energy and delivery. The lyrics discuss punk dress style and the eternal conflict of never being able to dress just right for the gig; going from absolutely cooking in the mosh to freezing in the beer garden is a rite of passage for all gig-goers.
Sounds like: Getting eaten alive in the mosh.
By Callum Turner
