Jones jnr.

If you haven't yet been introduced to the amazing weekly segment 'Like A Version' hosted by Australian alternative youth radio station Triple J than do yourself one of the biggest musical flavors of you lifetime and chase it down on YouTube!  Each week an an artist will perform an original track followed by a cover live to air, no seconds takes, just straight up.  Honestly some of these covers are very firmly cemented in my favourate live tracks of all time.


Recently 'Thundamentals' took to the Triple J studios to perform a cover of Matt Corby's brother, Ev Jones was invited by the Hip Hop crew to performs the vocal harmonies on that track that blew all of the listener's away.  Have a listen to this before we go on.....

Now that you have an idea who Ev Jones is, it's time to introduce you all to his latest musical venture 'Jones Jnr'.  Teamed up with Thundamental's 'DJ Morgs' this unlikely duo has ventured into an even more so unlikely genre 'Gospel/soul'.      There is no question, Ev Jones has a voice that would melt the heart of a concrete statue, but combine that with a twist of a subtle beat and you have Jones Jnr!

The tracks are short but oh so sweet, soft harmonies that wouldn't be out of place in the hands of any gospel or soul greats of years gone by.  This is not an album that your going to put on before you cut loose on a night out but as a sound track romance it would have Barry White being pushed to the side of my record collection.

The album is called 'Soultape' and if you were to judge this book by it's cover I reckon you would get it just about spot on, the icing on this sugary little treat is the cost of the album - It's free!

Follow this link to your free down of some very sweet new tunes...
http://jonesjnr.bandcamp.com/album/the-soultape-2

Check out the track 'Do you really feel the way I do'.

Sticky Fingers

After a couple of weeks swimming in the blissful depths of the folky acoustic singer-songwriter pools I felt it may be time to turn it up just a little.

Sticky fingers is an eclectic four piece out of Sydney that could be labeled with as many genres as you can put together in one sentence, indi pop, surf dub, with a hint of soul, funk and reggae would be a start.

These crazy mofo's made their mark at the Woodford Folk Festival over the 2012 new year with a performance that was apparently show stopping.  Independent and hard working these guys are a stable piece of furniture among the pub and back street live music scene's in Sydney.  They and have used all that practice to glue together a sound that is vaguely familiar yet totally original, add to that the mere fact their tunes are as catchy as a cold and you have a combination that works, somehow!

You get the feeling from their appearances they could break up and go their separate ways as quickly as they have come together,  they come across as a grunge band from the early 90's yet the underlying certainty here, while they are together we will see some special things come from their stable.

The track I am featuring has been around for a couple of months and every single time I hear it it grabs me instantly with it's romantic opening vocal before it perfectly morphs into a sweet reggae like rhythm that is unstoppable. 

Caress my Soul is the first release from this awesome new Australian band's debut album due in early 2013, if it is any indication of the rest of the record these guys might need a rather large box when returning from the ARIA's in 2013...

Hayden Calnin

I'm not usually excited by an artist that draws comparisons to others however in this case I'm eating my words.

Big call I know, comparing a young inexperienced kid from Melbourne to an international musical genius such as Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and one of Australia's biggest names at the moment Matt Corby BUT, before you scoff, have a listen and judge for yourself!

The refreshing and reassuring part of this story is it's individuality.   Hauntingly sparse at times yet  powerfully and emotionally intense, Calnin blends the two extremes of the spectrum seamlessly. 

Lyrically he paints his pictures beautifully and his use of empty air space and all the technology of the day (loops of voice, keys and beats) enables him to create his own pidgeon hole to sit in.

Hayden Calnin is an unassuming kid who's talent that is almost incomprehensibly, for someone so young to understand the use, or even more so the deliberate abandonment of sound is something to behold.

Find a quiet place with some quality speakers then immerse yourself into the blissful space that Hayden Calnin has left for you in his music.  This song is called Summer, perfect for us here in Australia as our spring has just sprung and just long enough still for you all on the other side of the globe to bask a little longer.

Just another exaple of this amazing artists skills.....

Jordie Lane

This week is a little different, while the artist is not new to the industry I think he may be new to most of you.
I am also choosing a song this week that is not technically 'new', it is in fact  a cover, but in saying that I think it will still be a track that you have not yet heard as for some reason it failed to gain any significant airplay.   So here goes nothing, have a read then lend your ears the the beautiful sounds of this wonderful Australian artist.

Jordie Lane is an amazing Australian singer songwriter in his own right with a much celebrated career spanning 3 albums so far.  He pens his songs in a style sometimes compared to Billy Bragg and Bob Dylan, at times almost reverting to spoken word to accompany his range of guitars. 

It was however his voice in full melody that demanded my attention driving home from work late one night.  Within seconds I had my phone out attempting to 'Shazam'  a piece of musical mastery that had graced my ears.

Upon further research I discovered the song was actually a part of a tribute album dedicated to the late Jesse Younan, an Australian artist who in 2008 finished his last album 'Good day for a Migraine' only days before he tragically passed away of acute myeloid leukemia aged only 35.  The album is called 'Take Something Beautiful: The Songs Of Jessie Younan and hosts artists including Jordie Lane, Abbe May and many other Australian musicians.

Jordies' version of 'Swing' is a dead set masterpiece, it takes a few seconds to kick off but when it does you will be told a story through song that will have you enthralled. A heartbreaking tale of the pain addiction can have on ones self, friends and family, beautifully presented with a tender resignation.  Jordie will have your eyes closed and head swaying,  maybe with a tear in your eye if you've been unfortunate  know this pain.....

There is no clip for this song but once again a picture painted in your mind is the best kind, so close your eyes  and take the journey,    Por favor disfrute.....

http://soundcloud.com/takesomethingbeautiful/swing-jordie-lane