01 Barbra Streisand with Michael Buble. It Had To Be You
Khan / Jones (Sony/ATV) From the album ‘Partners’ (Sony)
Barbra Streisand’s PARTNERS album, features 12 inimitable new Streisand duets with the world’s greatest male vocalists. The inspired musical pairings include Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble?, Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Jason Gould, Josh Groban, Billy Joel, John Legend, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Blake Shelton and Stevie Wonder. Among the songs included are ‘New York State Of Mind’, with Billy Joel ‘Come Rain Or Come Shine’, with John Mayer, ‘Love Me Tender’, with Elvis Presley, ‘The Way We Were’, with Lionel Richie, ‘People’, with Stevie Wonder, and featured on this volume of SoundsLikeCafe ‘It Had To Be You’, with Michael Buble?,
02 Fiona Bevan. Pirates & Diamonds
Bevan (Proper music) From the album ‘Talk To Strangers’ (Navigator)
‘Rebel Without A Cause’ is the stunning new single from UK Artist Fiona Bevan. With its title referencing the classic James Dean film about alienated youth, ‘Rebel Without A Cause’ is a love song about escape, or as Bevan puts it, “It’s a let’s go somewhere else sort of love song”. The track is lifted from her debut album ‘Talk To Strangers’. The album is full of beautifully constructed, literate, alt-pop nuggets, each sung in Fiona’s distinctive, sweet voice.
03 FourPlay. This Machine
Goodridge/Hollo/Hollo/Gregory (Control) From the album ‘This Machine’ (Ind)
FourPlay String Quartet return from wowing audiences at New York’s Carnegie Hall and London’s Barbican Centre with their new album, This Machine. Australia’s favourite electric string quartet, FourPlay began life playing mostly covers. This Machine is their first album of 100% original material, and arguably their finest, most intriguing long-player to date. The four members (Peter and Tim Hollo, Lara Goodridge and Shenzo Gregorio) have played at some of the world’s most famous venues and festivals, and spent countless hours writing and jamming together. FourPlay’s sound and musicality has matured and evolved, resulting in a truly original album, which will cement their growing national and international reputation as an eclectic and diverse musical tour de force.
04 The Griswolds. 16 Years
From the album ‘Be Impressive’ (Chugg Music)
THE GRISWOLDS’ first bio simply read: ‘The chameleons of pop’. That description holds true for the Sydney indie pop group, formed almost two years ago by singer/guitarist Christopher Whitehall and lead guitarist Daniel Duque-Perez, as they look to become a globally known act. Recorded under the guidance of legendary American producer Tony Hoffer (The Kooks, Beck, M83, Ladyhawke), BE IMPRESSIVE is the band’s debut full-length album.
05 The Black Sorrows. Devil Came Knocking on Sunday
Camilleri/Smith (Mushroom/ Jesharo) From the album Certified Blue (Head Records)
‘These are some my favourite blues based songs I’ve recorded. I’ve aways loved this form of the blues, but somehow manage to work around it. Listening to the blues all through my musical career it’s deceivingly simple and uncomplicated. But like all things simple the blues don’t come to you in a package Elmore James, John Lee, Muddy Waters and all the greats lived it – ate it with their breakfast and dinner. I tell tale of woe and sorrow always going back to find something I might have missed.’ Joe Camilleri
06 Carl Wockner. Crayon Days
Wockner/Stokes (Control) From the EP ‘Crayon Days’ (J Music)
Instantly captivating, Carl Wockner’s beautifully crafted debut album Crayon Days, is like a breath of fresh air. It reminds of you of how music is meant to be played. It only takes one listen to Crayon Days for anyone to attest to Carl’s stellar songwriting abilities, but it’s his live performance skills that are quickly becoming highly acclaimed. It’s rare these days for an artist to sound as good live as he or she does in studio, but Crayon Days more than delivers on both fronts. Crayon Days available now on iTunes
07 Fleur Wiber. For I Once Was A Child
Wiber (Control) From the forthcoming EP (Ind)
Fleur Wiber is an up and coming singer-songwriter who released her successful debut EP ‘Orderves’ at the beginning of 2013. Fleur’s individual style of music has a dark dreampop, folk and country noir feel. She has played at numerous venues in Sydney as well as at the Gulgong Folk Festival and This Is Not Art Festival in Newcastle. In 2013, Fleur embarked on an international tour, performing at Singer Songwriter Cape May (New Jersey), the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as well as gigs in Brighton, London and Munich.
08 Hooray For Earth. Keys
Heroux (Control) From the album ‘Racy’ (Dovecote)
An audacious debut album packed with the type of songs that make you want to sing along and dance. In 2012, Hooray for Earth made their maiden voyage to the UK and saw their single “No Love” reach the A list on BBC Radio 1. With Chris Coady (Grizzly Bear, Beach House, Future Islands) in the coproducer’s seat, the sessions for Racy took place at Dreamland in Kingston, NY and at DNA Downtown in NYC in 2013. Racy is very much a rock album. Featuring nine finely etched songs rendered to life by Coady’s crystalline production, Racy represents a bold and beautiful step into the light for Hooray for Earth.
09 Daxton. Highway One
Monaghan (Control) From the forthcoming EP (Foghorn)
Daxton has appeared at major festivals including the Sydney Blues and Roots Festival and Tamworth Country Music Festival where he supported artists such as Kasey Chambers and Beccy Cole. Following the release of his debut album, the track ‘Moody Liz’ was featured on a popular TV series Doll House. He spent time in Nashville, playing shows at the Douglas Corner Cafe and the Blue Bird Cafe?. Making the most of the songs written in Nashville and LA, Daxton recorded the album ‘Thin Tall Lily’. A heavy touring schedule and support from Blues oriented radio has seen Daxton develop a strong following. The new release was inspired by Daxton’s love of the TV series Sons of Anarchy and delivers the intense Blues/Rock style that has developed through his live shows.
10 Sunset Blush. Purple On The Inside
White (Control) From the EP ‘The Purple Scandal’ (Ind_
Sunset Blush is all about blowing the roof off the dump and great music.He isn’t a Hipster-band covered in beards.Or a poppy young chick-singer.Check the music and find out!Originally from Queensland: Sunset blush has been writing,recording,performing: guitar,keys & vocals in bars & venues since late 90s.then moving to Melb in 2005 & has been recording & performing to the current date. 2011 release “Purpledomination” has staying power saleswise .Played good strong shows at Adelaide Fringe”14 and played in band for a Melbourne Fringe”14. Currently promoting single “Sweet Barbwire” getting bit of radioplay.
11 Daniel James. The Orange Tree
James (Control) From the forthcoming EP (Ind)
When Daniel James was growing up he formed his first band with his brother and some friends. From there it was a small step for Daniel to start writing his own songs. Drawing inspiration from some of his favourite artists: Bonnie Raitt, The Eagles, Steely Dan and Toto Daniel has released his debut EP ‘Secular’. Easily recognisable, his heartfelt acoustic tracks characterise Daniel and convey his story from his troubled beginnings to getting his life back on track through his constant focus on writing music and searching for an inner meaning.
12 Slipsta. Highway
Slip (Control) From the EP ‘Slipsta’ (Ind)
Ben Slip aka ‘The Slipsta’, lit his musical fire in the red centre of Australia and continues to play pubs and bars travelling across the country to perform. Ben composes his songs with happening melodies, grunge n beats living his dream carving a way across the high and low we all deal with in life. His Lyrics cover life, love and world issues including raising a family, singing honest to connect with people, arranging a melody a beat searching for the perfect hook to write
