Just Released - 2013 [Ep.31]

“They call me the breeze,

  I keep blowin’ down the road…”

                                 “Call Me The Breeze” [JJ Cale 1972]

The laid-back shuffle that immediately identified the songs of JJ Cale underscored the Tulsa troubadour’s entire career beginning with “Call Me The Breeze”, the opening song on his 1972 debut album, ‘Naturally’. In California, late last month, ‘the breeze’ finally stopped when JJ Cale died in a Santa Monica hospital, aged 74. His music had inspired many other guitarists, including Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler. That inspiration now extends to John Mayer whose latest album, ‘Paradise Valley’ includes a faithful version of “Call Me The Breeze”. In the wake of medical issues affecting his vocal chords during 2011, John Mayer was forced to put his career on hold to ensure his full recovery. His return last year with the album ‘Born And Raised’ indicated a shift towards Americana. As you’ll hear in this edition of JR, that trend continues with his new album.     

There’s plenty of new Aussie music in this edition as well, with previews from forthcoming releases by Queensland duo Busby Marou (ahead of a major tour coming in October/November) and a sixth album for Western Australia’s Eskimo Joe. We also welcome the return of Wendy Matthews with the release of ‘The Welcome Fire’, her first album of new songs in more than a decade and, thanks to the JR Corporate Credit Card, we have a preview from a forthcoming tribute album to one of Melbourne’s greatest bands, Hunters & Collectors.

The big story in Australian music this week has been the arrival of the Sydney Electronic trio RüFüS whose debut album has entered the ARIA chart at #1. After just a handful of previous EP releases, RüFüS caused enough of a buzz to be confirmed in the lineup for the next round of Big Day Out concerts before their album was released. The band will commence touring in support of the album in September/October prior to appearing at The Falls Festival in December. In the meantime, we have an entrée to ‘Atlas’ in this edition of JR.

On the Comeback Trail this week was veteran UK Reggae collective, UB40 with a preview of their 18^th studio album, due early next month. Emerging from some major financial issues which bankrupted the band and instigated the departure of lead singer, Ali Campbell, UB40 makes its return with the aptly-titled, “Getting Over The Storm”. If that were not achievement enough, UB40 have fused their easy-going Reggae rhythms with (wait for it) Country music.  

 

     

John Mayer: “Call Me The Breeze” (from the album, ‘Paradise Valley’)

Busby Marou: “Get You Out Of Here” (preview from the album, ‘Farewell Fitzroy’)

Eskimo Joe: “Got What You Need" (preview from the album, ‘Wastelands’)

RüFüS: “Sundream” (from the album, ‘Atlas’)

Wendy Matthews: “Feel Like Taking Your Man”/”Little Boy” (from the album, ‘The Welcome Fire’)

UB40: “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain” (preview from the album, ‘Getting Over The Storm’)

Money: “Bluebell Fields” (preview from the album, ‘The Shadow Of Heaven’)

RüFüS: “Desert Night” (from the album, ‘Atlas’)

Tedeschi-Trucks Band: “Part Of Me” (from the album, ‘Made Up Mind’)

Birds Of Tokyo: “Talking To A Stranger” (preview from the album, ‘Crucible: The Songs Of Hunters & Collectors’)

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 4pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  

You can also listen to JR during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays @ 2pm, Wednesdays @ 8pm & Thursdays @ 11am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, simply connect to our web pages via the hot links above. …(or even the shiny beast below): 

                                           Find 'Just Released' here. 

                    ♫

    ♫   {](-_-)[}   ♫         Thanks for listening.

Just Released - 2013 [Ep.30]

“They shut it down,

 They closed it down,

 They shut it down,

 They pulled it down…”

             “Streets Of Your Town” [The Go-Betweens 1988]

Unless your hometown is someplace like New York, Paris, or Chicago it probably hasn’t been celebrated all that often in popular song. But in 1988, The Go-Betweens paid tribute to Brisbane in “Streets Of Your Town”. It was the perfect Summer song, an example of what was known in Brisbane as “that striped sunlight sound”. (The “striped sunlight” alluding to the glare of the Queensland sun, broken by the shade of Venetian blinds.) Fortunately perhaps, the song didn’t mention Brisbane by name. It’s otherwise light and bubbly melody barely concealed a darker underside to its lyrics pointing to “battered wives” and the arbitrary demolition of local landmarks. The city of Brisbane would later acknowledge the band’s contribution to local ‘kulcha’ by naming a toll bridge in its “honour”. Since 2010, The Go Between Bridge has offered locals a means of traversing 100 metres’ distance for a cost of around $2.50. Another tribute to The Go-Be’s has been made by emerging Brisbane Indie band, We All Want To, with their faithful re-creation of “Streets Of Your Town” just released as their new single.    

Other Aussie bands you’ll hear in JR this week include Sydney’s The Preatures merging elements of ‘60s Pop, ‘70s New Wave and ‘80s Dance beats all into one song. Blue Mountains band, Cloud Control also feature, with the follow-up to their acclaimed 2010 debut album, ‘Bliss Release’. And representing Melbourne are the Indie Folk/Pop band The Paper Kites, along with a new EP for soulful Rock group The Hello Morning.

While we busied ourselves on the domestic front this week, the JR Radar was sweeping further afield, alerting us to albums on the horizon for Blues/Rock trio The Rides (featuring Stephen Stills) and JR favourite, Black Joe Lewis with his raucous brand of Funk, Soul and Texas Blues.

English singer/songwriter Jake Bugg has just has been working on his sound and recording with renowned American producer, Rick Rubin and promises a new album by the end of this year. The first fruit from their partnership is the re-recorded version of “Broken” from Jake’s debut album, which you’ll hear in this edition. And staying in America for a moment, we have a preview from the Philadelphia Pop/Rock band Man Man, whose 5^th album, ‘On Oni Pond’ is out early next month.

Blowing in with the dust from the Comeback Trail this week was news of imminent returns: of a synth-Pop trio from Brooklyn, New York, called Au Revoir Simone and English Rock trio, Placebo. Both released their last album four years ago. Both have new albums arriving next month. Both are previewed in this edition. (Apart from that, they share no similarity whatsoever.)

  

 

     

We All Want To: “Streets Of Your Town” (new single)

Black Joe Lewis: “Come To My Party” (preview from the album, ‘Electric Slave’)

The Rides: “Roadhouse" (preview from the album, ‘Can’t Get Enough’)

Au Revoir Simone: “Somebody Who” (preview from the album, ‘Move In Spectrums’)

The Preatures: “Is This How You Feel?” (from the EP, ‘Is This How You Feel?’)

The Paper Kites: “Young” (preview from the album, ‘States’)

The Hello Morning: “Tie That Binds” (preview from the EP, ‘Tie That Binds’)

Cloud Control: “Scar” (from the album, ‘Dream Cave’)

Man Man: “Head On” (preview from the album, ‘On Oni Pond’)

Jake Bugg: “Broken” (from the album, ‘Jake Bugg’)

Placebo: “Loud Like Love” (preview from the album, ‘Loud Like Love’)

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 4pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  

You can also listen to JR during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays @ 2pm, Wednesdays @ 8pm & Thursdays @ 11am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, simply connect to our web pages via the hot links above. …(or even the shiny beast below): 

                                      Find 'Just Released' here. 

               ♫

    ♫   {](-_-)[}   ♫         Thanks for listening.

Just Released - 2013 [Ep.29]

“Well I’m sittin’ in the bar doin’ lift home deals,

  With the last two drinkers in a skirt and high heels…”

“Sitting In A Bar” [Don Walker 1993]

No, we’re not calling it a comeback. He may not have been in the spotlight lately but Don Walker has never really been away. His last solo album was released 7 years ago and prophetically titled, ‘Cutting Back’. Well, may have cut back in his solo work but the reunion of Cold Chisel certainly kept him busy, writing (or co-writing), most of the band’s ‘No Plans’ album. Now, with the good ship Chisel at anchor once again, Don Walker returns with his 3^rd solo record, ‘Hully Gully’, which we preview in this edition of JR.

John Mayer is also set to return later this month with his new album, ‘Paradise Valley’, continuing in the same Folk/Americana style of last year’s ‘Born And Raised’. Meanwhile, Sydney’s multi award winning Boy & Bear have a new preview song from their ‘Harlequin Nights’ album, released ahead of a national tour in October. The London-based Icelandic singer/songwriter Emiliana Torrini releases her 6^th long player, ‘Tookah’ next month, from which we have a preview.

The Las Vegas Pop Rock band, Imagine Dragons released their debut album ‘Night Visions’ some months back and interest from Australia continues to grow with the record’s 3^rd single just released. Imagine Dragons will make a brief visit to Australia in mid-October for gigs in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Also in this edition we have some great examples of new and emerging artists from Australia and beyond. Among them is Melbourne’s Kieran Ryan whose adventurous self-titled debut is not so much an introduction but a sweeping manifesto. Kieran Ryan’s songs are bold statements and his debut album stands as one of the strongest local releases of the year. Also emerging from Melbourne (via Brisbane) is singer/songwriter Dan Parsons. With true indie resourcefulness, Dan played almost every instrument and recorded the album himself.

Looking to the other side of the world, the JR Radar alerted us to previews from two new albums on the horizon by American singer/songwriter Lissie (channeling her inner Stevie Nicks) and a young Irish Blues/Rock band called The Strypes. Despite all its members being aged under 20 The Strypes sound like a band from another era, with their greatest influence coming from the days of the ‘60s British Blues Boom which spawned early innovators like The Yardbirds, The Animals, Manfred Mann, The Rolling Stones and Them.

Imagine Dragons: “On Top Of The World” (new single from the album, ‘Night Visions’)

Boy & Bear: “Three Headed Woman” (preview from the album, ‘Harlequin Nights’)

Emilíana Torrini: “Speed Of Dark" (preview from the album, ‘Tookah’)

Kieran Ryan: “Red-Eyed Birds”/”Are You A Conspirator?” (from the album, ‘Kieran Ryan’)

The Strypes: “What A Shame” (preview from the album, ‘Snapshot’)

Lissie: “Further Away (Romance Police)” (preview from the album, ‘Back To Forever’)

Dan Parsons: “Close Your Eyes, Let It End” (from the album, ‘Dan Parsons’)

John Mayer: “Wildfire” (preview from the album, ‘Paradise Valley’)

Don Walker: “Young Girls” (preview from the album, ‘Hully Gully’)

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 4pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  You can also listen to the show during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays @ 2pm, Wednesdays @ 8pm & Thursdays @ 11am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, simply connect to our web pages via the hot links above. …(or even the shiny beast below): 

                                      Find 'Just Released' here.

               ♫

    ♫   {](-_-)[}   ♫         Thanks for listening.

Just Released - 2013 [Ep.28]

 

“I said, I know it’s only Rock ‘n’ Roll but I like it,

 Like it, yes I do…”

                  “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)” – The Rolling Stones (1974)

When The Rolling Stones played London’s Hyde Park on the 5^th of July 1969 it was their way of paying tribute to founding member and fallen comrade, Brian Jones. It was also an opportunity for them to introduce their new guitarist, Mick Taylor. The concert was free and the fans came in thousands. 44 years on, and almost to the day, The Rolling Stones returned to Hyde Park for two more shows as part of their celebratory “50 & Counting Tour”. And again, fans turned up in their thousands. In this edition of JR as we pay tribute to the band’s longevity with a taste of their digital album, ‘Hyde Park Live’ we find the Stones are still a formidable presence on stage.

Also winding back the clock in this edition is Western Australian music mainstay, Dom Mariani, whose 3^rd album with The Majestic Kelp revisits the golden age of Surf music. Far from simple pastiche, ‘Turn Up The Sun’ is a genuine attempt to recapture the sounds of an era changed irrevocably by the tide of Beatlemania.

Meanwhile, back in the present, we check the pulse of Australia’s musical youth with new releases from Sydney band The Holidays, a Dream-Pop band from Melbourne called Snakadaktal and Brisbane group, The Trouble With Templeton.

Spotted on the Comeback Trail this week is Sydney singer/songwriter, Alex Lloyd. After living in the UK for the past 5 years, Alex is returning to Australia for the release next month of his album, 'Urban Wilderness'. We have a preview of it for you in this edition in the song, "Better The Less You Know". Expect to see Alex touring again later in the year.

The JR Radar this week alerted us to the debut album by the English Electro-Pop duo of vocalist Aluna Francis and producer George Reid, collectively known as AlunaGeorge - as well as a preview from the 3rd album by one of New Orleans' favourite sons, Trombone Shorty and his Jazz, Funk 'n' Soul band, Orleans Avenue. Through their appearances at Bluesfest along with sold-out shows in Sydney and Melbourne on their two Australian visits thus far, Shorty is winning many fans here as well. 

     

  

Trombone Shorty: “Fire And Brimstone” (preview from the album, ‘Say That To Say This’)

AlunaGeorge: “Just A Touch”/”Lost & Found” (from the album ‘Body Music’)

The Holidays: “Voices Drifting” (new single)

Alex Lloyd: ”Better The Less You Know” (preview from the album, ‘Urban Wilderness’)

The Trouble With Templeton: “You Are New” (from the album, ‘Rookie’)

Snakadaktal: “Too Soon” (from the album, ‘Sleep In The Water’)

Dom Mariani & The Majestic Kelp: “Goin’ Back To Surf City”/”Where In The World” (from the album, ‘Turn Up The Sun’)

The Rolling Stones: “Brown Sugar” (from the digital album, ‘Hyde Park Live’) 

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 4pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  

You can also listen to JR during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays @ 2pm, Wednesdays @ 8pm & Thursdays @ 11am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, simply connect to our web pages via the hot links above. 

…(or even the shiny beast below): 

                                      Find 'Just Released' here.

              ♫

    ♫   {](-_-)[}   ♫         Thanks for listening.