Settlement Mirage EP release

May 6, 2021 Leave a comment

In 1992, after Sydney’s Happy Hate Me Nots split, Paul Berwick put together a trio called Settlement, with bassist, Jim Dickson (at the time ex New Christs) and drummer, Chris Welsh (at the time ex Died Pretty).

“I wanted to start something new” explained singer, guitarist and songwriter, Berwick.

“I advertised for a drummer and bass player. Jim Dickson answered, momentarily separated from the New Christs. We were already friends but I couldn’t believe it! We auditioned several drummers until Chris Welsh, momentarily separated from Died Pretty, called me. Again, I had to pinch myself! I already had enormous respect for both Jim and Chris!”

Settlement recorded five glorious tracks at Damien Gerard Studios at its original location in the inner Sydney suburb of Ultimo. The songs weren’t left over from Berwick’s days in the Happy Hate Me Nots. “All the songs were new. It was a good songwriting period for me.” A life long fan of great pop/rock songs, Berwick was inspired by some of the form’s masters. “At that time it was The Pretenders, The Who, Big Star, Prince and of course the Beatles!”

Settlement are:
Paul Berwick – Happy Hate Me Nots
Jim Dickson – The Survivors, Passengers, Deniz Tek Group, Radio Birdman, New Christs
Chris Welsh – Died Pretty

As well as the recording session at Damien Gerard Studios, the band played some shows around Sydney in the second half of 1992. While the band and the music showed promise, Settlement’s existence was brief. “Chris got the call to return to Died Pretty. I couldn’t compete with that so it ended there”, said Berwick.

Or so it seemed.

In 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown, Jim Dickson found the DAT tape of their studio session, which he then had mastered – significantly – at the same studio where it was recorded!

This band was a unique creation that doesn’t feature at all in Sydney’s early 90s rock history. It wasn’t a mirage though…they did exist. Here’s the proof!!

What’s Good For Me
Originally recorded in the 90’s these songs have that warm and analog tape sound that is hard to replicate successfully anymore. The lead tune What’s Good For Me is up-tempo and moves along in a power pop, jangly guitar way, not unlike early REM. The chorus is the standout and has a melodic and catchy chorus that stays in your head, tailed out by a strong instrumental section, this one is a winner.

Golden Handshake
Some shaker, guitar and huge drums start this up-tempo radio track. Once the vocals and band come in you are curious and want to hear more. The song drives along at a quick pace and maintains the interest with plenty going on plus a great vocal from Paul Berwick.

THE EP IS OUT ON ALL DIGITAL PLATFORMS

Clink on the album below to Stream/Download from your preferred service:

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Drawing Arrows Release their Debut EP Rojo

April 22, 2021 Leave a comment

Bored with cookie-cutter pop sound!

Drawing Arrows is a love letter to rock music. Not one band, not one decade, but the whole effect. With multiple influences – from Australian rock’n’roll, US grunge and flamenco guitar to Britpop rock and amped-up punk.

With band members from Spain, the UK and right here in Australia, each member brings their own unique influences. Sidney (vocals) and David (bass/guitar) have previously worked on an experimental dubstep project (Milo Firewater). They played at festivals in Sydney and Byron – but were frustrated by not being able to put on a truly live act.

They went back to their roots. Powderfinger, Radiohead, U2, Queens of the Stoneage all influenced an authentic live sound that sits as well on stage as it does in your headphones.

The Rojo EP is the debut release for Drawing Arrows and it will take you on a journey of love sickness, sly mermaids and general mischief. ‘No Remedy’ hints at the rock sound that is impossible to sit still too. ‘Siren’ combines a dark edge with a very cool rhythm. And ‘The Genius’ ramps up the tempo to go out with a bang. But, this is just the first shade. There’s a lot more to come.

Take a listen

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The Insufferable Paul Scott New EP Radio Station

June 19, 2020 Leave a comment

Soundslikecafe is proud to present this Catchy Indie-pop EP from a veteran of the Genre Paul Scott

The Insufferable Paul Scott (The Likes of You, Montana, John Kennedy’s 68 Comeback Special, The Bad Machines and on into the dim recesses of the Indie hive-mind’s faltering memory…) has plied bass and guitar for various Australian acts, playing everywhere from community halls and malls in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to the Sydney Opera House. Most recently Scott released last year’s lovingly reviewed and widely supported by community radio, indiepop album ‘Surrender to Robots’.

Radio Station is the next instalment.

Says Scott: “When I was coming up (pre-internet!) the only way you could hear alternative music was on independent and community radio stations: Joy Division, HuskerDu,The Boys Next Door, The Replacements, The Waterboys… I’d hear an amazing song on the radio and have fun hunting for it at the local record emporium. Unfortunately when it came to remembering the details of the track I’d just heard I was less reliable than Shazam: I once spent a week trying to find a Lou Reed song called ‘Velvet Underground’ only to be set straight by the record store clerk “it’s a band not a song, you idiot”.

Listen Here

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Kaijin Solo New EP Universal Love

May 15, 2020 Leave a comment

Kaijin Solo is a contemporary singer/songwriter based on the NSW Central Coast with a blues rock influence.

Universal Love is an experiment in letting other people find their way into his music.
The idea came about from jamming original songs live with a host of different people on the local open mike circuit. The result is an electric mix of ideas that provides a solid rocking sound-scope for the lyrics.

Mark Cashin and Jake Hunt from The Little Hussies were the collaborators this time round, with Russell Pilling at Damien Gerard Studios engineering. The combination of talent without prima donna egos made the sessions into a fun day with a fantastic output and every song grew in dimension.
The EP was Mastered by Andrew Beck.

Universal Love – “When we can think, speak and act the way we want to be treated ourselves, the power of love will exceed the love of power and the world will know peace.” Is what Universal Love is about, it was inspired by a quote from Jimi Hendrix “When the power of love exceeds the love of power the world will know peace.

Into the Dream was written the morning after a Ryan Adams concert, thinking about how much things has changed since the beginning of the century.

The Republic is a tribute to the people and their achievements, and a wake up to call to Canberra to get on with it.

Spirit on the Wind is an ode to the Spirit of Freedom.

Like Sunshine is a love song to music itself.

Stream from your favourite service:

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Sydney’s blues-rock-rockabilly act Toadvine release new EP

October 25, 2019 Leave a comment

Toadvine are a five-piece blues-rock outfit hailing from Sydney, Australia, who dish up a unique blend of blues-tinged rock’n’roll with generous lashings of rockabilly, country and fuzzed-out garage sounds. Their new five-track EP is called Love Is A Dangerous Game.

The five track EP Love Is A Dangerous Game is set for release on 25 October 2019.

TRACK BY TRACK:

Stones and Bones – The EP opener is a rip snorting bluesy garage rock tale about love gone wrong and revenge, featuring a blues harp solo courtesy of Celia Curtis.

Dead Man’s Clothes – cool country Johnny Cash vibe

Dirty Lies – garage rock with a peppering of country roots

More Than Anyone – fun bar-room classic about boy meets girl

Black Naomi – a blues tinged rockabilly sound with the swagger of the Stray Cats

Toadvine will launch the EP at Moshpit Bar, 642A King Street, Newtown on Saturday November 9.

Download or stream from October 25:

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The Blind Pilots release debut 3-track EP

August 29, 2019 Leave a comment

New on the soundslikecafe playlist this month is a track called Tell Me I’m Wrong, courtesy of an electrifying blues rock outfit from Sydney called The Blind Pilots.

When describing this band, it’s easy to say the same old things about being an explosive four piece Australian Roots, Rock and Blues outfit from the Northern Beaches. But the truth is all four members have known each other in previous successful bands, which gives them an advantage in the creative songwriting process. The four friends share a close rapport and have a laugh together every week. They say, “There’s never a dull moment in rehearsals!”

The band members’ camaraderie is largely based on the fact they grew up listening to the same music and share common influences like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Jimmy Hendrix, Cat Stevens, Led Zepplin and Midnight Oil. Together they form a band making the most of dirty slide guitar, hard hitting drums, solid bass grooves, accompanied by a soulful vocal drenched in foot stompin’ harmonica riffs. “We all have an urge to push each other harder to get the best out of our muscianship and are driven to create those magic moments,” says lead guitarist and vocalist Owen.

In a live format, the band produce an energetic show full of intense commitment, whilst still maintaining a laid back vibe.

The lead track of their brand new EP is called Tell Me I’m Wrong, which offers frontman Owen’s perspective on the current political landscape. Accompanying tracks are Telephone – a hard-hitting blues rock tune about breakdowns in relationships, complete with dirty blues harp and riffing electric guitar. The swampy southern blues rock style of Howling at the Moon fits perfectly with the lyrical lament about longing and yearning.

Between them, their experiences have seen them performing at festivals including Byron Blues, Woodford Folk, Festival Of Sun, Echuca Blues Festival, Mud Run, Harley Days, Throttle Roll, Sydney Blues Festival and has found them on the Australian Blues charts. With new ideas consistently being brought to the table this group will continue to make inroads in the Blues and Roots World and be one to watch.

The Blind Pilots members are: Owen Mancell – Guitar/Vocals; Matt Hough – Drums; Ryan Stone – Harmonica; Daniel Changas – Bass/Vocals

“Owen brings the spark, Matt is the conductor and reconstructs, Changas adds the bottom end whilst Stony waves the magic which is the icing on the cake.”

The Blind Pilots EP is out on August 30.

Tell Me I’m Wrong is on the soundslikecafe playlist now.

Download or stream from August 30:

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Apsara – Galatea EP

August 20, 2019 Leave a comment

Apsara is an original project of classical soprano Michaele Archer, exploring a sound palate that is rich and raw. Composed with Latin text from Virgil and Roman woman poet Sulpicia, Apsara’s debut EP Galatea intertwines ancient and new sounds.

Leading the Apsara project on harmonium and vocals, Archer is joined by cellist Rachel Whealy, violist Gabrielle Laura Steele and guitarist Giuseppe Zangari.

It been a journey bringing together the different layers for this project – Ancient Latin text, alto instruments and a vocal approach that blends opera and early music. “Once I had it the music came quickly. The songs almost wrote themselves. They came so fast in a matter of minutes recording on my phone.”

In addition to medieval vocals, ancient Latin text and deep analogue instruments, the flow of water and nature inspires Apsara. In Virgil’s Eclogue 7 there are references to Galatea, a water sprite and the name Apsara also translates as Indian water spirit.

Michaele has performed opera, song and oratorio in Australia and internationally and has featured in several world premieres of new works by Australian composers.

“Coming from an opera background and having a larger voice type my sound has always been full on opera”. Michaele has recently been performing and studying in Los Angeles with Robin de Haas, a leading voice coach in Europe and founder of a new performance and body work method called Breathing Coordination. Going ever deeper into anatomy and the science of breathing led Michaele to a new vocal style, blending Opera into medieval straight tone.

Discovering the poetry of Roman woman poet Sulpicia struck a deep chord. “The portrayal of women in opera is often two dimensional and I wanted to depart from that,” says Archer. Sulpicia was a woman who lived outside the stereotypes of Ancient Roman society in terms of being unmarried, writing poetry and writing explicitly about love. The feel and sound qualities of old Latin text and stories interpreted from a female perspective form a rich layer, built with instruments from the deeper harmonic spectrum.

“I’ve got a thing for the darker sounding instruments so combining the tone of the viola with cello and alto harmonium was a perfect fit.”

Cellist Rachel Whealy has been a muse since high school. The pair met in Year 12 Music class, where Michaele fell in love with Rachel’s playing and the mellow sob of the cello. There were quite a few maths lessons skipped to play Purcell on Balmoral Island with the waves. They have been performing, writing and recording together ever since. “We’ve created some beautiful original recordings, but I kept putting them aside. I hadn’t quite cracked the feel of the sound I knew I was looking for. I wanted to move slightly left of opera with an instrumental foundation that was real and textured.”

APSARA – GALATEA will be released on August 23 through MGM.

Download or stream from August 23:

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CaliCisco – One Last Night EP

June 13, 2019 Leave a comment

CaliCisco is the name of the new musical project of songwriter Joel Leffler. The name was inspired by his love of the Western part of the USA – a conglomeration of the names San Francisco & California.

The ‘One Last Night’ EP follows the story of a couple who had parted ways, leaving one of the parties to deal with different stages of grief.

‘Smoke Clouds’ is the first single to radio from the EP featuring a tight snappy verse structure & a four-on-the-floor disco beat chorus complete with Bee Gees style falsetto vocals. ‘Smoke Clouds’ lyrically touches on flavours of a love that can be so inundating it can literally leave you feeling high.

The EP features elements of mellow piano, funk guitar & punchy synth throughout the 5 tracks, underpinned by dance beats &catchy loops that all enhance the lyrical melody. Songwriter/Producer Joel Leffler set out to create an EP that represented both elements of his songwriting world with tracks like ‘Smoke Clouds’ & ‘Got It Good’ heavy in synth and pop guitar whilst ‘One Last Night’ tells a story through an honest lyrical delivery.

‘Feeling Like’ introduces itself in simplistic fashion with record player static, a piano loop and a close raw vocal. Before you know it the song is in full flight with Synth risers leading into a catchy vocal driven chorus. A strong beat accompanied by a vocal synth melody perfectly illustrates the new sound direction from songwriter Leffler.

‘My Heart’ begins its journey with an earthy assortment of piano, lead guitar and a mellow bass line creating the foundations for a raw honest vocal to enter. When the chorus hits, a bouncy synth bass & keys lead the charge with the return of the lead guitar melody. ‘My Heart’ follows the story of a man who leaves a trail of self-sabotage in love, where he fails to protect his heart while wearing it openly on his sleeve.

‘Got It Good’ starts with an upbeat pop arrangement, settling itself into a beat-driven verse reprieve. A repetitive lyrical hook in the chorus is accompanied by multiple synth melody lines that completes a contemporary electronic/pop sound. ‘Got It Good’ is a story about a female who lives the high life of travel, booze & disposable income.

‘One Last Night’, the title track of the EP & the stand-out storytelling song, is led by sustained grand piano chords & a close vocal that makes you feel like you are sitting in the same room as the singer. The chorus features swelling orchestral strings, harmonising back up vocals, synth keys & a strong drum beat while lyrically the song depicts a couple sharing one last night of passion together even though they both know it’s over.

Download CaliCisco – One Last Night now:

Joel Leffler – Brighton Lakes Sessions EP

November 27, 2018 Leave a comment

If you were to walk in the front door of one of those homes, turn right up the stairs and left into bedroom 3 you would find a grand piano, an acoustic guitar & an air of something recognisably creative.

This 8 track EP features popular songs from Joel Lefflers’s previous titles ‘Run With The Wolves’ & ‘Strip Me Bare’ along with 2 brand new acoustic tracks fresh out of the studio, ‘Where You Are’ & ‘Home To Me (Caledonia)’.

Much like Brighton Lakes face lift; these songs have been re-imagined to give an insight into what they sound like both in pre-production & live in show.

Joel says of his experience recording the acoustic sessions, “I was recently diagnosed with severe anxiety that found me laying in an ER bed at Liverpool Hospital…What I thought was originally derived from music actually turns out to be – that music itself is the cure!”

Brighton Lakes Sessions EP was written, recorded & produced by Joel Leffler followed by mastering by Andrew Beck at Damien Gerard Studios.

Listen here:

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