Words by Tom Disalvo //
As the first week of December winds up, we’ve collected five new tracks to refresh your summer playlist; so hot-off-the-press they give summer a run for its money. Presented by Jim Beam:
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard- ‘If Not Now, Then When?’
Proving there’s no rest for the wickedly talented, King Gizzard have blessed our ears with another musical offering just weeks after the release of their latest album, K.G. The new single (surprise-dropped yesterday), shows off the Melbourne sextet in all their genre-defying glory; coupling jazzy riffs with a celestial beat and doo-wop harmonies. As true musical chameleons, the track departs from the fuzzy imbues the Wizards are usually known for, instead offering an inventive blend of psych-pop and thought-provoking lyricism.
The accompanying music video, a first-time collaboration with animator Dr. D Foothead, is a high-flying, cosmic journey through the Gizzverse, coasting through neon moshpits and technicoloured galaxies with hypnotic visuals. “The song made me consider how individual action or inaction affects the world,” Dr. D Foothead says of the video.
So go on, give it a listen, because If Not Now, Then When?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntbNRUycbD4
Kinder- ‘Come Along’ (feat. A.GIRL)
The girls from Kinder have anticipated the oncoming crowdedness of the dance-floor, today releasing a vibrant new video for their club-ready single, ‘Come Along.’ On the track, the Maitland duo sings in catchy, Afro-inspired syllables as a Moombahton beat bounces them to a rapturous chorus. ‘Come Along’ adds to the singer-songwriters’ impressive catalogue of Afrobeat club anthems, coupling Ghanian instruments with polished vocals for the ultimate dance party. Throw in the musical chemistry of Sydney R&B upstart A.GIRL and you’ve got a tune worthy of busting a move.
The music video, filmed between Ghana and Sydney, draws the best from both worlds; offering a nostalgic vision of roadside bottle-spinning and graffitied shopfronts. Every bit as colorful as the song, the clip spotlights Kinder as they dance along lively streets with hip-hop choreography in tow. “This song is very special to us as we explore things we never have before” Kinder says.
Check out the music video here, because when Kinder asks you to ‘Come Along,’ you know you’re in for a good time.
PNAU – ‘River’ (feat. Ladyhawke)
Fresh off two nominations at last month’s ARIA Awards, Aussie festival mainstays PNAU have dropped a fresh dose of dance-floor filler with a long-awaited collaboration with Ladyhawke. ‘River’ marks PNAU’s first collaboration with the New Zealand songstress since the 2009 fan favourite ‘Embrace’, and the most recent joint effort more than lives up to the hype.
Like its title, ‘River’ washes over fans with PNAU’s signature blend of techno and sing-along, as Ladyhawkes elastic, call and response verses are paired with bouncy keyboard synths. As an homage to the trio’s roots in the rave and electronica scene, the track features a soaring bass-drop on the chorus, and the expansive vocals outline a true techno anthem in the making.
“I really believe this song is the living proof of magic; all the elements coming together just right,” PNAU’s Nick Littlemore says. Listen to the track and appreciate it’s psychedelic rendition of Mother Mary in the music video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2d_eIX4R6M&feature=emb_title
Emily Wurramara – ‘Cruisin’
Following her 2019 ARIA Award-winning LP ‘Milyakburra’, Brisbanian crooner Emily Wurramara has debuted the first single from her upcoming sophomore album, ‘Cruisin’’. Written two weeks before the passing of her Godbrother Dion, this heartfelt ballad is an ode to the simple, everyday moments shared between loved ones. On it, Wurramara allows the trademark maturity of her vocals to shine, singing rawly on top of acoustic guitar strings and stripped back instrumentals. The cruisy ease of the verses swells towards the back end, as the tempo speeds-up with a thumping drum beat and triumphant call and response.
Filmed in Wurramara’s hometown, the music video showcases a poignant slice of neighbourly life, piecing together everyday snapshots of the artist and her family by the train tracks or carrying footballs on the lawn. Gorgeous in its simplicity, the clip honours Wurramara’s Godbrother while reminding us of the understated bliss of cruisin’ through the suburbs.
“I just wanted to cruise to a place that made me happy…it’s something that Dion loved doing” Wurramara says. Check out the heart-string tugger here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZRqZQq4o3E&feature=youtu.be
Tame Impala cover Edwyn Collins ‘A Girl Like You’
International juggernaut Tame Impala stopped by the triple j studio for a groovy rendition of the 90s hit, ‘A Girl Like You.’ For his turn, frontman Kevin Parker swaps out his trademark soprano to perfectly emulate the monotone vocals of the Edwyn Collins original, and refreshes it even more with an electric guitar breakdown on the chorus. Tame Impala’s psychedelic touch re-imagines the 90s, and the ear-splitting instrumentals of the final bridge prove that the Aussie hit-maker shows no signs of slowing down:
