Friday Favourites: The Best New Tracks of the Week 04/09/26

There's so much new music being released in the world these days that it's hard to keep up. Even if you consider yourself a music nerd, it's impossible to listen to the hundreds of new tracks dropping every week. That's why we're here to help.

The crew at The Note are constantly turning up the volume in the office, checking out all the latest tunes from local emerging artists right through to your favourite global superstars.

We want to make sure you stay ahead of the curve, so every Friday we are bringing you our favourite tracks of the week.

This week’s list features new music from Jake Bugg, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Ladyhawke, The Hazys and more.

Jake Bugg – 'Never Can Tell'

It seems like everyone is going country these days. UK indie rocker Jake Bugg, who rose to fame in 2012 with his self-titled debut album, returns with new single 'Never Can Tell', a country-leaning track dissecting how friendships can change when one person finds success.

There's a bit of the Allman Brothers' 'Jessica' to this one, with 'Never Can Tell' the first taste of Bugg's forthcoming seventh album, Alamo.

Produced by Bugg's good friend Jimmy Hogarth (Amy Winehouse, Paolo Nutini) and Steve McKewan (Chris Stapleton, Eminem), the album is being touted as Bugg's most vulnerable release yet.

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – 'Juice A Jumbo Jet'

There have been several singles released by Perth's Psychedelic Porn Crumpets this year, so it's safe to say a new album is on the way.

The band's latest, 'Juice A Jumbo Jet', is all distorted vocals and hazy guitars with a killer riff that won't quit.

If this is a sign of what's to come, we can't wait to hear more.

Club Halifax - 'Bee Sting'

Following July's 'Blah Blah Blah', NSW indie group Club Halifax return with the cruisey 'Bee Sting'.

A breakup song about what happens when it all goes to shit; you can feel the pain in Brianna Greasley's vocals, with Club Halifax showing their vulnerable side on this one.

"'Bee Sting' is about the aftermath of a breakup and feeling destined to absorb pain to maintain normalcy and keep the peace," explains Greasley. "Making the song felt like showing the cracks instead of hiding them and sitting in the anger and rawness instead of resolving it neatly. Ultimately, the process meant learning that the pain means it mattered, but it isn’t a reason to stay somewhere wrong."

Ladyhawke – 'Bad To The Bone'

No, this isn't a cover of George Thorogood and the Destroyers' classic '80s rocker – it's the latest electro banger from Ladyhawke.

After a period of inactivity (it's been five years since she last shared new music), Ladyhawke has made her presence felt with this electroclash club hit with echoes of The Chemical Brothers.

New album, anyone?

Druid Fluids – 'Needles In Strawberries'

Local psych-rockers Druid Fluids take fans on a pulsating trip with new six-and-a-half-minute odyssey 'Needles In Strawberries'.

The track is inspired by the 2018 news story about a woman accused of putting needles in strawberries, with the band sharing via Instagram that "the song's central image becomes a metaphor for what lies beneath Australia's relaxed, easy-going exterior. Hidden within Australia’s sweet 'no worries' attitude lie the sharper realities of its colonial history and the ongoing exploitation of land in ruthless pursuit of economic gain."

If you dig King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, you'll love this one.

effie isobel – 'Honey Drunk'

Taken from effie isobel's just-released debut EP Libra Rising, 'Honey Drunk' is a stirring song about exploring queer love.

The track features the use of vocoder, swirling synths and an energetic beat, with isobel crafting a feel-good pop song that anchors the EP.

Grub – 'The Floor'

WA pub rockers Grub dropped not one, but two new tracks this week. 'The Floor' is a melodic motivational number written by vocalist Matilda Beales while she was undergoing chemotherapy in 2021, while 'Stability Please' is a crushing anthem Beales says is about "getting off the grog."

Both songs are terrific, but if we were to pick one, it's 'The Floor' that hits hardest, combining Beales familiar Aussie twang with male/female harmonies and a steady, hypnotic riff.

Phantogram – 'Hang Me Out To Dry'

Here's something unexpected: New York dream-pop duo Phantogram covering Cold War Kids' breakthrough hit 'Hang Me Out To Dry'.

Considering the album it comes from, Robbers & Cowards, turns 20 this year, it's safe to assume this track will appear on some limited-edition version of the record.

Whatever the case, it's a welcome interpretation that puts Sarah Barthel's vocals front and centre over less brooding instrumentation, turning the original into a contemporary synth-pop delight.

The Hazys – 'Provoke'

The Hazys do emotional rock like no other. New single 'Provoke' is a tasty morsel that captures the essence of what makes this band so beloved.

Recorded at TreeTop Studios by Matt Cooper, it ticks all the boxes, with the band's upcoming EP Guessing Game one to look out for.

LATE 90s – 'Millington'

The number of alt-rock bands emerging from Perth is hard to comprehend, but one that continues to deliver is LATE 90s.

The quartet find that sweet spot between nostalgia and contemporary rock tropes on 'Millington', a nice slice of heavy music toast. Tasty.

The Kid LAROI – 'SLEEP'

Crooning over an acoustic guitar and simple beat, 'SLEEP' finds The Kid LAROI channelling early '00s R&B trends.

The Sydney rapper-turned-pop star has certainly evolved since releasing his first single, 'Blessings', in 2018.

'SLEEP' continues his ascent towards pop superstardom and is hopefully a sign of what's to come.

Large Mirage – 'Wildfire'

Remember Stonefield? Well, regional rockers (now based in Sydney) Large Mirage are very similar in sound, taking influence from the psych-rock bands that emerged during the '60s and '70s.

The band's latest, 'Wildfire', is a bombastic salute to old-school revelry recorded by Michael Badger (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Amyl & The Sniffers, You Am I, Full Flower Moon Band). This one has a swaying guitar riff that drives the song forward, with Kolya Chan's pure vocals perfectly matching the melodic instrumentation, with lyrics inspired by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20.

"This one is very introspective for me. It’s about seeing how bushfires affect communities and in turn, how communities rebuild after, it is about banding together and being able to overcome almost anything," explains Chan. "It is about the power people have and never giving up, and even without a bushfire, it exudes the spirit of CARPE DIEM and to seize the day and make the most of your life."