Hello Again, Summer Flake

Steph Crase continues to bewitch and beguile as Summer Flake on her new album, Hello Friends. Here she is aided and abetted by friends (fellow Batrider Sarah Mary Chadwick features on the album, alongside bandmates Joel Carey (Peak Twins) and Antony Bourmas (Antony Of The Future)), but the end product is solely her, her wistful, languid take on bluesy shadow-tinged pop inflected with her glorious vocals and guitar riffs. From the noir lurk of 'Shoot and Score' that crashes into sonorous languor in 'So Long' to the 90s indie throwback fuzz of 'Wine Won't Wash Away', this album is littered with shimmering gems of soaring inflection and sundrunk daydreams of half-chances, wishes and regrets. Even when taking the acoustic route, like on the sparse haunt of 'Tumbling Down', Crase holds you in thrall. Her vocals offer harmonies that pierce the heart, regardless of their notes of chagrin, weary acceptance or steely resolve. The warmer production here augments her growing confidence in her songcraft and existence at the front of the stage. You probably don't need to hear this from me - bloody Henry Rollins is vocally on board for Chrissakes! - but take it from me, this is a fantastic record. Australia is blessed with some truly stunning and idiosyncratic singer/songwriters - and Hello Friends is proof that Summer Flake is the cream of the crop. Pre-order the album here in lipstick-smeared red vinyl through Rice Is Nice - it is a beauty in every sense.

No Home For Mere Women

I stumbled across Sydney's Mere Women through true global sonic seeker of truths, Tenzenmen Records, in 2012 (along with Hira Hira and a bunch of other Australasian acts I couldn't believe I lived without before then). That album, Old Life, was pretty good, an edgily awkward post-punk slanging match of a record that showcased a trio of young people agitated yet rudderless - like Batrider, but with the lower-intestine bile and overt angst. Fast forward to now. Mere Women know what they are doing now - at least I think they do. The ten tracks that grace Your Town are spirited eve as they languish in a quagmire of reverb and missed chances, airs and graces, rolled eyes and fraught thoughts. The mood that pervades the album is something akin to being forever caught in the shade, behind the 8-ball, gripping barbed wire, seeing the greener pastures wither and die whilst the wheels continue to futilely spin. Despite this melancholia that emanates from the tracks, there is a forcefulness that underpins everything; the baring of teeth; the wanton brandishing of sociopathic disdain (something they share with another great Aussie band, Bare Grillz). 'Heave Ho' even has a bit of the Zola Jesus about the vocal delivery - no easy task. Your Town isn't happy, but it potentially will make you happy, even as you like sliding down the razor blades of oblivion.

Poison City Records keeps hitting home runs, picking these guys up. It's a great release.

Shanghai Grows A Pair(s)

 

Got this self-deprecating email last week from Pairs, an intense two-piece based in Shanghai. The band is one of opposites – boy/girl (Xiao Zhong on drums and vocals, F on guitar), Australian/Chinese, nihilistic/silly, angular/pop “that goes alright sometimes.” At times Xiang’s vocals are droll, a plaintive Australian drawl a la Brendan Suppression, whilst the musicianship hinges on F’s gunshot switches from slacker strumming to squalls of white noise, Zhou’s drumming hovering between a tight metronome and a sledgehammer.

Pairs have been fairly prolific, putting out a live recording, an eight track album and a double LP in the past few months, whilst they have dabbled extensively in videos and various formats (vinyl, cassette, CD, DVD, USB). They have come close to Aussie shores, having toured New Zealand thanks to SM mates MUZAI Records, whilst spreading their wares to much of Asia. They are intrinsically tied to China though, being part of a dun Shanghai that may be small but with enough bouncing off the walls to constantly refill the creative well.

But what do they sound like? Well, in the past the band have slated influences such as Royal Headache, Die! Die! Die!, Batrider, Kes…and Jason Molina. Seriously. And to be honest, there are moments on tracks such as ‘Cat Food’ from their If This Cockroach Doesn’t Die, I Will double album that I can take the bait. There is lo-fi slacker pop requiems to be taken, but in the main this is zany art noise with extra crunch (like those moments in Shooting At Unarmed Men when Jon Chapple nailed it – that was hit and miss, but Pairs get it closer to the mark) – which is built into my lifeblood.

Head over to Pairs’ Bandcamp to sample/buy any/all of their releases. Sonic Masala would love to get these guys to come to Australia for a tour – leave a comment or email them me if you agree!

Pairs – Gig Of The Week (from Grandparents)
Pairs – Mean Buzz (from If This Cockroach Doesn’t Die, I Will)

Friday Cover Up - Double Lives Crumble In One Fell Swoop

Because I missed last week, here are two excellent covers to round out a full on week. First we have this dark and morose cover of The Cars' 'Double Life' by typically dark and morose LA heathens Cold Showers. It features the Vivian Girls' Katy Goodman lurking in the background, and can be found on the Decay 7" out now through Art Fag - buy it here.

Cold Showers - Double Life (The Cars cover)

Sarah Chadwick has stepped away from Batrider for a bit to do some solo work - you can hear some other tracks on her Bandcamp - and this cover of Chris Knox's 'One Fell Swoop' is bloody ace. She can do no wrong in my eyes. She is bringing out a release called Eating For Two in August on Brisbane's fine Bedroom Suck label - I'll keep an eye out for that one, as should you.



Have a good weekend folks!

Sink Shit

A few weeks ago I went to Woodland to see "local" (they are predominantly Kiwi, with one Aussie - and live in Adelaide) act Batrider. They were fucking ace. Sarah Chadwick is the best. But I was equally taken aback by the first act, Nite Fields - so much noise from such a small number of people! And when I heard it was only their third show EVER, I was sold.

Now Danny from the band is organising his own shows - and this one is a doozy. Boat cruises are fun at the worst of times, but when you throw a Springtime evening, copious amounts of booze and radtastic live music, what can go wrong? lots, to be honest, hence why Danny's calling the show Sink Shit, and is (half-jokingly) telling people to get their wills sorted. Lucky for me, I have nothing, so that crisis is well and truly averted...

The bands are Nite Fields (of course), Cobwebbs, Blank Realm and a mystery Sydney band going under the name Yes Television. Never heard of em, you say? Well, check them out over here and then see what you think...

Sink Shit is now on sale here. There are only 100 tickets to be had at$14.90 +bf, which also includes entry to an after party set up at Woodland. Sorry no door sales to save from hiring security, which is fair enough. Get there - it's gonna be pretty amazing...

NITE FIELDS from heidi cutlack on Vimeo.