May Playlist

The next lot of new Aussie music is here:

Against the Glass - Goodbye Pola

Astronaut - Valar

Beware - Leo Rose

Elemental - Willow Beats

Encounters - Pigeon

Hold On - Sons of the East

Make It Right - Lila Swain

Meet You There - Winters End

Soldier - Kashmere Club

This Last Year - Palms

DCS May Playlist from dresscirclesounds on 8tracks Radio.

Dune Rats - Smile (EP)

Released: April 19th, 2013

Producer: Inertia Access

Members: Danny Beusa (Guitar/Vocals)
                BC Michaels (Drums/Vocals)

Fresh from their American and Australian tours Dune Rats, a Brisbane based garage surf-rock duo have released their third EP entitled 'Smile.' This EP is packed full of variety and flare and most of the tracks are found to have a 'I don't care' kind of attitude which Dune Rats have always portrayed in film clips and songs in the past. 

The first track off the EP is called 'Red Light Green Light'. 'Red Light Green Light' starts the EP off in a great manner with the well-known up-lifting beat that dune rats always produce and are known for but this track definitely has more of that vibe packed in it then there songs in the past. This is definitely the song that you can tap your foot too or sing along too no matter how many times you give it a listen.

'All You Do' is the second song off the EP and starts off with a slower surfy-pop guitar strumming sound that everyone is familiar with. It transitions into Danny's and BC's smooth vocals. I felt at first that this song was the one too skip when it plays but over time it grew on me and I like the rawness and jamming vibe it has with endless guitar with the little riffs it has here and there.

I really enjoyed the intro and the first verse that leads into the chorus in the next track, 'Burning Bridges.' Sadly the chorus really blew this song for me, I thought that it was draining and wasn't meant to be there, although saying that it's a little bit different from the other songs on this EP which is a positive thing and means that there is something for everyone.

'Fuck It' or ''eff It' is the 4^th song on the EP and is by far my favourite. It starts off with the repetitive drum beat which can be heard throughout the song and leads into a smooth transition of vocal pleasure by both members of the band. Another reason why this song did it for me was it went so well with the film clip, the song is about not caring and I think the film clip portrays the song really well.

The last track off the EP is 'Stoner Pop' this song is the definition of garage surf-rock with a hint of alt punk. It starts off slow and gets faster and faster and is so unpredictable and raw the first time you play it. This song is packed full of good vibes and is a perfect song for summer. This was definitely the song too wrap up an amazing EP which had loads of variety.

All in all this EP delivers in the garage stoner pop you'd expect from these two. If you enjoy Dune Rats I would also recommend Bleeding Knees Club and DZ Deathrays as they offer the same style and the 'I don’t care attitude' which everyone enjoys. Definitely check these two dudes out if you're planning on heading too Splendour this year!

Websites:
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Unearthed

Chris McAnulty

Vance Joy - God Loves You When You're Dancing EP

Hello People.

William Wu here. You know, that photo guy that takes the photos. Now normally I try to avoid writing at all costs, especially creative and descriptive writing because as a photographer I am much more of a visual creator rather than a literary expressionist. However, I will attempt to give this a try because what’s life worth in the comfort zone (rhetorical question – don’t answer that)?

And with that in mind I give you Vance Joy’s EP – God Loves You When You’re Dancing. Vance Joy, an emerging artist from Melbourne, blends together folk and beautiful harmonies to create this masterpiece of musical genius. If you’re a fan of ukuleles, acoustic guitars, airy, what-I-believe-to-be tenor vocals, and soul-soothing slow BPM’s then this might just be for you. But before I delve into the music and give you a quick, on-the-run review, I’ll just get the formalities out of the way first.

Artist: Vance Joy
EP Name: God loves you when you’re dancing
Release Year: 2013
Tracks: 5 - "Emmylou", "Riptide", "Playing with fire", "Snaggletooth" and "From Afar"

On being given that EP name, I envisioned upbeat shire music. However, as someone who had not previously heard of Vance Joy, I was (happily) surprised when a strong male voice began to sing, accompanied by a melodic acoustic guitar. And finally I realised that the EP name was truly fitting – God loves you when you’re (slow) dancing. Now, I understand that the word ‘slow’ has some negative associations with it but rest assured that I mean it in the best possible way here.

The first track on the EP, ‘Emmylou’ is much like a novel: best enjoyed in a quiet room on your own. This smooth, emotional song from Vance Joy is a great example of why Australian music is awesome. As previously mentioned, the track begins with a simple vox/guitar combination, and about midway the layers build up, giving the listener a shiver down the spine. ‘Riptide’ is the next song, and it contrasts quite well with ‘Emmylou’. Instead of the gradual increase of instruments, we are given an up tempo ukulele to bring us straight into the song. Definitely more of a folk-ey song rather than anything else. 'Playing with fire' kind of reminds me of "Santa fe" by Beirut, and the final two tracks "Snaggletooth" and "From afar" create a powerful and dramatic finish to the EP.

Now, it's quite hard to describe the EP without giving away every song, blow by blow. But drawing on my visual nature, this is how I would make a film based on this entity: We begin with a slow, sombre opening of a man who is in a depression. From there, we see the uplifting story of a man finding love, enjoying life, and then realising that the love he has will never be reciprocated but finds closure none-the-less. Yes, that is how I'd make the movie. And I'd enjoy that movie, because it would be a movie based on this EP, and this EP tells a great story, and sounds great, and has a weight that many modern artists can not produce.

I think that if you like folk-ish music with a great vocalist, and subdued melodies, this is the album for you.  If you want to have a preview of the EP before you buy it, Vance Joy has kindly uploaded all the tracks to Soundcloud. You can listen to it over and over again. And then some. Trust me, I've listened to this EP 5 times in the last 2 days, and I can assure you that I enjoyed every moment of it.