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shape-shifting soul-jazz energy from the Budapest band. – Backseat Mafia
The Breakdown Albert’s Favourites – 8.8 Okay so we know that as far as new scenes go Rio gets touted as the upcoming centre of 21st century tropicalia pop and Geneva continues to excel in pushing its very individual avant / post punk refresh. Well, it now seems that Budapest may be building up to having its own moment with its unshackled jazz fusion/dance community making waves washing way beyond the Danube. You might have picked up on the psychedelic beat blasts Jazzbois’ recent debut ‘Still Blunted’, well now comes another vibrant but sonically very different opening statement from four-piece Mörk and their album ‘Still Dreamin’ (what is it with…
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Alter Boy at the Lansdowne, Sydney 5.10.2024 – Backseat Mafia
Tonight, the Lansdowne in Sydney pulses with the collective energy of WA-based artists. The evening kicks off with Malaika Mfalme, a Tanzanian/Australian artist whose debut album Yasmin chronicles the aftermath of profound loss. When they launch into “Imagine,” the room seems to shrink, the heartbreak almost tangible—it’s the kind of raw emotion that stops you in your tracks, leaving you breathless, caught in the intensity of their grief. Then comes Boox Kid—Jarred Wall—a Noongar man who spins electro-pop into something electric, alive. His set crackles with energy, each track more thrilling than the last, the perfect foil to the intimacy of Malaika’s set. He’s the pulse of the night, creating…
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Arch Enemy Announce New Album ‘Blood Dynasty’ – Backseat Mafia
After the surprise drop of their latest single “Dream Stealer“ on July 31, extreme metal legends Arch Enemy are back with more exciting news. The Swedes are pleased to announce their 12th studio album, Blood Dynasty, a long player with 11 new tracks chock-full of Arch Enemy’s powerful signature guitar riffs, guttural force, and clean vocal surprises. The announcement also kickstarts the pre-order of the new long player. Pre-order Blood Dynasty here. Arch Enemy founder and guitarist Michael Amott confides, “This new album pushes the boundaries of what we’ve done before – it’s everything you’ve come to expect from this band, and then some! We can’t wait for you to hear it and feel the energy we’ve poured into every…
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The Open Flames Share Buoyant Debut Single ‘Drop a Coin’ – Backseat Mafia
With their debut single ‘Drop a Coin’ The Open Flames have made an audacious entry into the London music scene. Blending dark indie-pop tones with a cinematic vintage flair, the track unfurls like a haunting short film—mysterious, brooding, and building toward an unexpectedly grandiose climax. Opening with a fuzzy distorted bassline kicks in, bright guitar tones and tight boxy drums, the track quickly captures a vintage alternative tone before the vocals enter. The breathy, gravelly vocals weave a tale steeped in vivid, almost otherworldly imagery, while eerie “bah-bah” backup harmonies float like distant echoes, providing an unsettling but addictive texture to the song. The band’s arrangement is minimalist but potent,…
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Kleio Shares Reflective New Single ‘the avenue’ – Backseat Mafia
Irish indie duo kleio return with the melancholic and reflective new indie-rock fizzer ‘the avenue’. Bringing a captivating mix of delicate vocals, intricate guitar work, and subtle synths ‘the avenue’ captures an essence of The National. The track opens with a gentle vocal delivery and a reflective guitar line, gradually building tension until it erupts into a soaring indie-rock anthem. Brimming with ethereal guitar layers and emotionally charged lyrics, ‘the avenue’ captures the essence of a band growing in confidence and ambition, combining tight grooves with stadium-sized choruses. Speaking about the track, lead songwriter Luke shared insight into the creative process behind ‘the avenue’: “I think The Avenue was a…
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Devarrow is lit up on new record opener ‘Lightning Bolt’; ‘Heart Shaped Rock’ out today – Backseat Mafia
That looks like a very comfy fleece. It’s a big day for Graham Ereaux, who’s back with his second album of 2024, and overall his fourth as Devarrow. The Nova Scotian likes to keep busy; on April’s A Long & Distant Wave, he advocated for making art quickly and for the sheer joy of it; a little over five months later (with three teaser singles!) he returns with Heart Shaped Rock, which is a product of that philosophy as much as anything else. The album opener ‘Lightning Bolt’ is paired with a video we’re delighted to premiere below; it’s quite a way to open the 13-track record, and we don’t…
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Sea of Lettuce Return With Fourth Studio Album ‘Any Day Now’ – Backseat Mafia
Canadian indie rockers Sea of Lettuce release their highly anticipated fourth studio album, Any Day Now. Bringing buoyant indie-alternative vibes, Any Day Now, see’s the band build soundscapes of shimsical chord progressions and brilliantly lazy and melancholic vocals. Nostalgic melodies over layers of bright jangly and psychedelic guitar tones, jiving beats and grounding bass captures a sound which is indie fuelled but also carries a chilled, beachy undertone. Heartfelt and melancholic, Any Day Now captures a stylistic soundpallet and writing approach, blending indie with jazz undertones to great effect. The band reflected on the personal and professional challenges that inspired its thematic core: “Any Day Now came together during a…
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The Greater Good Shine On Post-Punk Flavoured New Single ‘Full Grown Man’ – Backseat Mafia
The Greater Good release the vibrant, energetic and bold new single ‘Full Grown Man’. The Manchester-based quartet, fronted by Welsh singer-songwriter Huw Eddy, delivers an intense track full of angst, distortion, and experimentation, showing their capability to push their sound into new, more visceral territory. Produced by Rob Slater (known for his work with Yard Act), the song wastes no time establishing its chaotic tone through, a unrelenting fuzzy guitar riff, setting up an uneasy tension that feels ready to explode. As Huw’s sharp, distorted vocals enter, carrying the song through fast paced lyricism over tight drums and grounding bass. A frantic narrative of inner turmoil, battling self-doubt and the crushing weight of…
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The Horrors Announce New Album ‘Night Life’; Listen To New Single ‘The Silence That Remains’ – Backseat Mafia
The Horrors have announced their sixth studio album ‘Night Life’, which is due out on the 21st ofMarch via Fiction Records. The album announcement is accompanied by brand new single and video ‘The Silence That Remains’ as well as a winter string of intimate shows including London’s ICA on November 28th. See a full list of live dates below. Propulsive yet understated, ‘The Silence That Remains’ is an instant Horrors classic. Featuring duet vocals between Faris Badwan and new keyboardist Amelia Kidd, the release marks the beginning of a new era for the band, drawing their recent industrial experimentation together with The Horrors’ signature, motoring rhythms for a thrilling first…
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From Rotherham to Sydney-The Reytons Bring the Heat Down Under 4.10.2024 – Backseat Mafia
The Metro Theatre in Sydney pulses with a distinct kind of energy. A low hum of conversation fills the room, punctuated by the clinking of beer bottles and the occasional shout from the back. It’s the kind of anticipation you can feel in your bones—the waiting before something big happens, something real. The Reytons are about to take the stage, and the crowd, a mix of die-hard fans and newcomers, is packed tightly, leaning into the night. Everyone knows the band has been busy conquering stages across the UK and Europe—those sold-out arenas, the monumental Clifton Park show in Rotherham, their sophomore album ‘What’s Rock and Roll?’ topped the UK…
