Weekly News - April 20th

• Violent Soho have finished recording their debut album and plan on releasing it in June. While they've yet to title the LP an upcoming national tour will give them some time to think of one.

• Hot Liquid Sex have also just finished recording, however in their case its in the guies of an EP bearing the title Unexpect The Expected. Keep an eye for its release next month.

• At Sea continue the recording theme, but in their case they're only getting started. The band are recording their first release.

• Teeth Lost, Hearts Won is the confirmed title for The Grates' sophomore album. They're currently recording in Connecticut with a release slated for August.

• New Music: Scul Hazzards have got the killer 'Counter Empathy' of their LP (I know they're in France now, but we'll claim them like the Bee Gees), To The North go nuts on 'Harms Way', The Gifthorse deliver some pop-punk-pop in the guise of 'Passed The Break', Do The Robot's 'Audrey' off their debut LP Amp On Fire (released last week), and Jim Grundy has a number of cool beeptronica tracks going.

• Finally some news only vaguely music related, Brisbane has two fine new establishments you should know about. The first is Alibi Jr, a cafe located next to The Outpost (Winn St, The Valley) run by the brainstrust behind the Alibi Room. The second is Tym's Guitars who have moved to 715 Ann St. Make sure to check them both out.
  

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Weekly News - April 6th

• Robert Forster is set to release his latest album, The Evangelist, on April 21. From all accounts (5 stars in Uncut, 4 stars in Q) it's an album on par with his best work. Have a judge for yourself here where you can listen to The Evangelist in full.

• Singer-songwriter Madeleine Paige is set to release her debut EP this month. You can pick up a copy of Angels In The Architecture this Thursday at The Globe where Madeleine will launch the EP.

• I Heart Hiroshima are working on some sort of remix album for Tuff Teef, to be released on Valve Records later in the year. I'm a little bit short on details for this one so I'll keep you posted.

• That's not all Valve are up to at the moment. Apart from debut albums from Del Toro, Do The Robot and An Horse this month, they also have Jane Woody's (Formerly of I Heart Hiroshima and Kicks) first LP, Big Breaths Little Lungs, coming out in May. To top this all off they are going to be the local distributor of the Scul Hazzards' Let Them Sink. Hats off to Valve for being such a cornerstone of Brisbane music.
  

• Loud In The Library is an initiative by the Brisbane City Council in support of National Youth Week (as in this week). Held at libraries around Brisbane, they have some pretty sweet programs set up (Learn how to krump!) as well as a number of bands playing for free. Have a look at their website for more information.
  

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Weekly News - 25th March

Not much happening this week, but seeing as I'm endavouring to keep this somewhat weekly I guess i should write something. So for posterity's sake I'll give you a rundown of local releases to expect in April. As I mentioned in the previous article Yves Klein Blue are launching their debut EP on the 5th. Valve Records are also upping the ante with a trio of releases. Del Toro's Hydra LP, Do The Robot's Amp On Fire LP, and An Horse's Not Really Scared EP will all come out on the local imprint in April. Transport, who've been overseas for the last 12 months, will also release their first album, The Inner Chimp. Wind&Brackets are also planning on dropping their as yet untitled debut EP, and, if you're in the vicinity of Paris, see if you can get hold of Scul Hazzards debut LP, Let Them Sink.

And don't forget to check out The Rational Academy's A Heart Against Your Own, after a couple of listens I'd have to say it's probably my favourite album of 2008 so far.

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Weekly News - February 27th

Okay, maybe not so weekly news. I've been without internet for the last three weeks or so, but I'm connected again so no excuses. Thankfully not much has occurred in that time, but here's the important bits.

• Screamfeeder are gigging again, with original drummer Dean returning to the fold. The band have scored the support slot for Buffalo Tom next month.

• The Scul Hazzards have now departed Brisbane for France. While he band will release their debut album later in 2008 via local imprint Valve, you can have a sneak peek at one of the new songs, 'Greater Good', on their myspace.

• The venue and date for the third installment of the No Culture event have been announced. This time round it will take place over two days (30-31st May) with the first day occurring at Lofly Hangar and the second at Ahimsa House.
  

• Stacks more new music to report. Wind & Brackets, Tragic/Athletic, The Black Market, The Rocketsmiths, and The Wells all have new tracks posted on their myspace sites.

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Scul Hazzards - Last Few Bucks

This is from last Thursday at The Zoo, where they played their second last show in Brisbane before leaving for Europe. You can also check out some pictures from their set, as well as the support acts the Secret Birds and Nikko here. There should be a review of the night forthcoming from Cam.

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Weekly News - January 26th

• The Brisbane Sound is the latest event to showcase Brisbane's musical heritage. Taking place over three days (7-9 March), the Brisbane Sound is touted as an insight into Brisbane's music and art scene from 1978 to 1983. The three nights will see performances from local luminaries such as Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens), Ed Kuepper (The Saints, Laughing Clowns), The Apartments, and The Deadnotes. The exhibition will be held at the Institute Of Modern Art (The Judith Wright Centre to some) and tickets are available now.
  

• The Scul Hazzards have finished recording their new 7" which will be sold during their tour of Australia next month. The release will feature the excellent track 'Last Few Bucks' which you can listen to now on their myspace.
  

• Another Invasion Day, another year of under-representation of Brisbane bands in Triple J's Hottest 100. Even perennial favourites Powderfinger only managed two spots ('I Don't Remember' at 66 and 'Lost & Running' at 15), while The Butterfly Effect made it in at 70 for 'Reach. Gold Coasters Operator Please also scored two entries. Thank god for 4ZzZ's Hot 100.

• And unfortunately this week will see the last performance of two of Brisbane's most promising bands, The Night Crash and Shakes (Which doesn't bode well for my bands to watch list). Both bands are playing at The Zoo on Friday so make sure to catch them one last time.
  

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Review: Scul Hazzards - Count Less Dead EP

I am a big fan of the Scul Hazzards' House of Heads EP, and an even bigger fan of their live performances, so I was a little skeptical approaching Count Less Dead following the departure of the original vocalist and drummer. The band is now a three-piece, with Steven Smith taking on vocals and guitar antics, Tiffany Milne handling bass, and new recruit Leigh (also of Night Crash and Shakes) rounding up with drums.

My skepticism was misplaced however, and Count Less Dead builds on the Scul's previous sound, providing the mess of noise with a rudimentary structure that propels the songs forward. First track, 'Lines In The Dirt' couples a D.C.-punk riff with Leigh's frantic drumming before blending into an arresting noise-punk chorus. On 'Junket' the Scul's channel early Sonic Youth without resorting to being a carbon-copy of their heroes. 'Copicats' expands on the formula utilised on 'Lines In The Dirt', albeit with less effect, with a droning riff driving the song along before decaying into white noise and distorted snare hits. Final track, 'Vague Dream', juxtaposes a repetitive grunge bass riff from Tiffany with scattered drumming and ghost-like guitars before ending with a beautifully messy wall of guitar sound. 'So Long' was the only track on the EP which i found myself disliking, with its dirge-like bassline reminiscent of 'I Choke' off the debut EP with different lyrics over the top.

Count Less Dead is another impressive effort from Steven Smith and co., and is a promising precursor to the Scul's debut album set to be released in August.

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