Young Liar – Young Liar
Young Liar are an atmospheric post-rock band that aren’t dark and brooding. They produce soaring walls of sound that build effortlessly to great heights. At around five minutes each, these songs are perfectly formed. Young Liar achieves great drama while maintaining moments of restraint, which is not only lovely but a rarity for the genre.
Batrider – Piles Of Lies
Originally from New Zealand and now based in the Australian city of Adelaide, Batrider is a rock band that combines the late 80’s dirge from Seattle with lo-fi indie influences. At sixteen tracks, there is plenty to consume here. From reflective washed out numbers (the aptly titled “Come Down” and the beautiful “Stacked in the Corner”) to fitful songs of visceral screaming and dirty guitars (“Things Are” & “Chunk”).
The Frowning Clouds – All Night Long/Dame A Dozen
Undoubtedly a product of The Black Lips-led explosion of jangly pop-punk bands, The Frowning Clouds are ridiculously infectious exponents of the sound. They achieve a retro sound that proves to be timeless instead of tired. These two tracks are highly combustible party starters that feature all the best components of good ol’ rock and roll. “All Night Long” sounds very much like Hamburg-era Beatles, while “Dame A Dozen” is closer to mid 60’s Stones. The Frowning Clouds are the answer to rock’s eternal question; both.
