-
The debonair Geoffrey O’Connor is back with news of album ‘I Love What We Do’ and he unveils the elegant title track ahead of live dates – Backseat Mafia
Singer/songwriter/producer Geoffrey O’Connor last blessed us with his presence in his stunning album of duets ‘For As Long As I Remember’ back in 2021 (read my review here). O’Connor today announces his new album ‘I Love What We Do’ which is slated for release on 14 February 2025 via Dinosaur City Records, and the title track has been released as the first single. The single indicates it is business as usual for this indie pop connoisseur with the return of his dulcet tones and lush arrangements, a luscious aquatic instrumentation bubbling underneath. There is a soft and delicate pop sensibility reminiscent of The Lightning Seeds or Pulp with a sixties…
-
Dolium – Get Off on My Machine – Backseat Mafia
Get Off On My Machine’ is the first single to be taken from Dolium’s previously unreleased third album, Brother Transistor, now to be released on 18 October. BSM is honoured to bring you the premiere of the video. 2024 marks the 20th Anniversary of Sister 9 Recordings, and to celebrate, the label are releasing a special limited edition four CD Set titled The Products Of Our Own Demands And Commands‘ in November, telling the story of Rhys Bloodjoy‘s first band. The single has been described as “a dirty variant of T-Rex via Sigue Sigue Sputnik…Mutant garage glam grunge to go…The bollocks in short!” by The Sunday Experience—sets the scene for…
-
Minotaur Shock – It All Levels Out – Backseat Mafia
A chance encounter with an old school friend provided the inspiration for It All Levels Out, the 10th album from the Bristolian electronic producer Minotaur Shock, aka David Edwards. The original plan for the album was to make something a bit looser than usual; more ambient but still melodic, like the 90s music that made a big impression on Edwards, such as Global Communication and Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works Vol 2. But as it turned out, this random reconnection took the album in a different direction — not so much musically, but more in the inspiration and mood. It All Levels Out is the result, a hopeful meditation on getting older.…
-
Olivia Rodrigo Launches Her Sydney Shows Under a Supermoon 17.10.2024 – Backseat Mafia
Tonight, the biggest, brightest supermoon of the year hangs over Sydney like an omen, casting its glow over a city already buzzing with anticipation. And what better night for Olivia Rodrigo to kick off her run of shows here? Her rise has been nothing short of celestial—a swift, blazing ascent that feels both unstoppable and inevitable. The unofficial dress code for the evening is clear: mini skirts, boots, and attitude. It’s a sea of mothers and daughters sharing a generational bond through music, shoulder to shoulder with dads doing their best to blend in. One, sporting a purple cowboy hat, catches my eye—he shifts awkwardly, as if unsure how he…
-
More heartfelt hauntological pop from a singular sound artist. – Backseat Mafia
The Breakdown Hive Mind Records – 8.9 There’s something reassuring about the music of sound artist boycalledcrow regularly sneaking through all the noise and getting some attention. It restores faith that singular, outsider work will always find its way to listeners who want something less defined, tinged with eccentricity and creative determination. It also suggests the lineage which extends from Syd Barrett through Ivor Cutler and Robert Wyatt onto Broadcast and Pye Audio Corner right up to Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan, Cosmo Sheldrake and Sam Lee, still has a healthy pulse. Former folk singer Carl M Knott, now boycalledcrow has been exploring these pastures for a while now, since…
-
SXSW Sydney, Hidden Gems and Last Minute Punk-Rock Miracles – Backseat Mafia
Kicking off the third night of SXSW Sydney at The Rolling Stone House, the energy across the city was electric and spreading fast. The night opened with a serious dose of rock ‘n’ roll, courtesy of Full Flower Moon Band. Babyshakes Dillon stood at the centre, her vocals cutting through their dense wall of sound with a clarity that anchored the performance. Their blend of heavy psych-rock felt unfiltered, untamed, and unapologetic. Next up were The Grogans, delivering a perfect shot of our favourite kind of garage-surf rock. Their set was laid-back yet electric, capturing the coastal punk essence they’re known for. The reverb-heavy guitar riffs washed over the crowd,…
-
Arliston Shares ‘What Did I Think Would Happen’ From Upcoming Album – Backseat Mafia
Rising Indie-Folk duo Arliston share their latest the sad beauty ‘What Did I Think Would Happen’, the opening track from the upcoming album Disappointment Machine. With a repertoire of beautifully restrained tracks which bring piano, subtle electronics and intimate, emotionally driven, often falsetto vocals, the duo have built a big listenership for their gentle, chilled and heartfelt soundscapes. The new single is no exception, bringing more of the warming melancholy that stylises their sound. Rich with glitching electronics, muted piano tones and dual high and low octave vocal melodies, the track is instantly reminiscent of Bon Iver with it’s sonic approach and heartfelt, poetic lyricism. Like much of their catalogue is…
-
SLIPKNOT Leads the Charge for a Sonic Storm Across Australia – Backseat Mafia
KNOTFEST isn’t just a festival—it’s an altar where metalheads gather, a high-voltage ritual where noise and catharsis collide. Curated by SLIPKNOT, it’s the kind of cultural phenomenon that doesn’t just roll into town; it storms through, leaving a trail of broken strings, shredded throats, and exorcised demons in its wake. And in 2025, Australia is bracing for impact once again. This is no one-stop tour. It’s a full-on pilgrimage, hitting Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse on Friday, February 28th, before unleashing chaos at the Brisbane Showgrounds on Sunday, March 2nd, and finally detonating at Sydney’s Centennial Park on Saturday, March 8th. The East Coast won’t know what hit it. At the heart…
-
Confirmed PJ Harvey to tour Australia in 2025 – Backseat Mafia
PJ Harvey is making her long-awaited return to Australia in 2025, ending nearly a decade of absence from stages that have long needed her presence. Her Australian tour will include headlining performances at Golden Plains Festival and WOMADelaide, two stages perfectly suited to the sprawling scope of her work, where folk, blues, punk, and experimental art collide. But that’s just the beginning. She’s also hitting major cities—Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane—bringing her unique blend of poetry, noise, and beauty to audiences across the country. Harvey’s career has been a masterclass in reinvention. From the visceral urgency of Dry and Rid of Me to the poetic ambition of Let England Shake…
-
Belfast’s The All Clear Release Debut Album ‘Harbour Songs’ – Backseat Mafia
Belfast risers The All Clear release of their musically rich and warming debut album Harbour Songs. Formed in 2023, the band is led by Joe O’Sullivan, a seasoned musician whose dual identity as both a frontman and consultant oncologist brings a unique depth to their music. The debut album displays some wonderful indie musicality comparable to the likes of The National, The Temper Trap and Doves with its intricate guitar work, melancholic moods and infectious melodies. From the tight , delay drenched picked guitars of the albums opener ‘Northern Souls’, to the Americana tinged ‘Simplest Things’, to the sawing synths and high energy arrangement of ‘Show Me Your Love’, the…
