While music videos are often a stepping stone to bigger things, the concert film is another level. Ever since Martin Scorsese helmed The Last Waltz in 1978, many acclaimed filmmakers have tried their hand at this niche genre. And now it’s Spike Lee’s turn as he weaves his magic around David Byrne’s American Utopia. Byrne…
Our selection of the best new music across a range of genres from the week ending 20 November 2020. Camilla George follows her critically acclaimed debut album Isang with The People Could Fly, a hypnotising blend of Afrofuturism, hip-hop and jazz. The album is named after a book of African folktales that portrays the lives…
Our selection of the best new music across a range of genres from the week ending 30 October 2020. The consistently brilliant Laura Veirs has released her 11th studio album, My Echo. The album features the previously released singles ‘Burn Too Bright’, ‘Turquoise Walls’ and ‘Another Space and Time’. Veirs’ world was turned upside down…
Our selection of the best new music across a range of genres from the week ending 23 October 2020. Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker has released two new albums, songs and instrumentals, out now through 4AD. songs and instrumentals are two distinct collections, both written and recorded in April after Big Thief’s March tour was abruptly…
Our selection of the best new music across a range of genres from the week ending 16 October 2020. The Messenger is Hélène Grimaud’s dialogue between Mozart and the Ukrainian-born contemporary composer Valentin Silvestrov. The recording sessions took place at the start of this year at an historic Mozart site in Salzburg, the Great Hall…
Our selection of the best new music across a range of genres from the week ending 9 October 2020. Future Islands have released their sixth album As Long As You Are via 4AD.As Long As You Are looks to the past as well as the future, confronting old ghosts and embracing a new hope. It…
Movies about music have had a rough trot recently. From the sugary Trolls: World Tour to the super-serious Echo in the Canyon, for me at least, few have inspired (except maybe Bill & Ted Face the Music). Now director Nisha Gantara (Late Night) dives into a music industry fantasy/rom-com with The High Note. But the…
Okay, a few caveats. I am most definitely not the target audience for Trolls: World Tour – because I’m not 8 years old. That disconnect makes reviewing this film difficult, because what I see isn’t what an 8 year-old sees. The character design alone made me nauseous; but they’ll love it. The film operates on…
Our selection of the best new music across a range of genres from the week ending 24 July 2020. New Zealand-born, Melbourne-bred and now Los Angeles-based Jess Cornelius has released her debut album, Distance. A lot has changed since Jess Cornelius began writing the songs that would comprise Distance. For starters, she moved halfway around…
Our selection of the best new music across a range of genres from the week ending 17 July 2020. FIKA is the latest recording from crossover ensemble Elysian Fields. In the weeks prior to the Covid-19 lockdown Elysian Fields, Australia’s only electric viola da gamba ensemble, was deep in rehearsal. Comprising stars of Australia’s jazz,…
