Archive for May, 2013

Two Minutes With Alex Cameron

Friday, May 31st, 2013

We spend two minute with Alex Cameron and find out what’s what…

What’s going on in the world of Alex Cameron?
I’m in my studio ‘The Ken Den’ with Serbian turbo producer Fanny V. We’re mixing my record. He’s a hard task master and he doesn’t speak much English.

But it’s going well. We’re eight tracks in, and we’ve found our sound.

What motivates you to make music?
Fanny V. Man that guy gets in a real sweat if I don’t get the vibe right on a take. One time he destroyed a synthesiser of mine because I patched a delay unit incorrectly. He also likes to yell ‘Tommy Jones’ at me just before he hits record. I think he means the singer not the actor.

What have been the high and low points of your musical experiences so far?
I don’t like to talk about my success. Fanny V says ‘You boast, I roast’. I think he means he doesn’t want me to talk about myself too much. I work weekends at a pizza restaurant rolling dough to make rent. I can’t get any respect at this joint and the owner is a total mess. Good thing is I get to work with my mate Roy Molloy and believe me he could tell you a thing or two. Roy and I used to work the local surf club circuit in a cover band. Playing ‘Reckless’ at the 2007 Aussie’s after party — that was a high point for me.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
Plastic Ono Band, Mind Games, Cold Spring Fault Less Youth, Homosapien, Clues, WIXIW, Let’s Dance, Thousand Knives.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which member of the band would get eaten first?
I think Fanny would drown me before we even hit the shore. He’s seen stuff. I once found a set of pictures in his garage from his Serbian days. He’s wearing half a denim suit and swinging a dirty old chain around his head.

Here’s an opportunity to bitch about something, whether music related or not. What really pisses you off?
I went in to Chinatown last night to sing my girl a song at this joint where they’ve got Karaoke. When I got on stage there was an error message — like the song wasn’t loading. They asked me to sing another one for the people but I said no way Jose. If they don’t have my song that gets me the wrong way. It took my girl a few hours to calm me down.

You’re putting together your perfect gig featuring Australian artists? Who would you get to play and where? Feel free to include acts/DJs/bands/venues that no longer exist.
Billy Field Bad Habits Big Band (original line up) — Diggers at the Entrance. He’d ask me to take the lead on ‘You weren’t in love with me’. Flume on bongos effecting them live with his prism box thing.

Vinyl Retention: Kelpe

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

Every Wednesday, Sardi lets us know what’s tickling his eardrums in the world of electronic music…

Fourth: The Golden Eagle, due to be released this coming Monday, is the new album by British beatmaker, artist and producer extraordinaire, Kelpe.

Whilst the title of the LP leads you to believe it’s his fourth full length project, it’s actually his fifth and marks the first album release on his newly formed DRUT imprint.

If you’re familiar with the Kelpe sound, you’ll know what to expect. If you’re not, prepare to be taken on a trip through low-slung broken beats, pulsating synth melodies and warping bass grooves. It’s ten tracks of head-noddin’ goodness.

Covering every format a listener could desire (minus the hip again cassette) the album is available on CD, vinyl and as a digital download.

If you can’t wait for the whole package, head to his bandcamp page and pick up the single ‘Beaks Of Eagles’ featuring a tasty remix from his pal (and amazing producer to boot) Fulgeance.

If you like what you hear, be sure to tune in to RTRFM’s Full Frequency between 3pm & 5pm, as Sardi and Dart explore the latest beats & bass from around the globe.

Photos: Trail Of Dead at Rosemount

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

Trail Of Dead LIVE2And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead at Rosemount Hotel, Perth on Saturday May 25. Photos by Chris Harris.

Riley Pearce releases ‘We Are Fools’ EP

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

Photography by Jarrad SengIndie-roots musician Riley Pearce is set to release his debut EP ‘We Are Fools‘ next week, with support from local acts Edie Green and Helen Shanahan. Having released the track ‘Fierce‘ — which reached #18 on the Triple J Unearthed Charts — in December of […]

Live Review: Trail Of Dead At The Rosemount

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

Trail Of Dead LIVERosemount Hotel, Perth on Saturday 25th May, 2013. Review By Rich Moore Another Saturday night at the Rosemount and the venue is slowly filling with languid, well-groomed twenty-somethings for the last night of Texas alt-rock band … AND YOU WILL […]

Wil Wagner of the Smith Street Band to tour Oz on lonesome

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

Wil-WagnerIf you can’t make the 22nd and 23rd of August to watch THE SMITH STREET BAND in all their infectious, lyrically striking glory never fear; WIL WAGNER has got you covered. In support of his new album ‘Laika’, he’s making the […]

Feature: Triple J’s 20 Years of Nostalgia?

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

triple j hottest 100It is a very happy 20th birthday indeed for Triple J’s Hottest 100, but perhaps the party they’re throwing isn’t the most appropriate, writes Chris Gardner. There isn’t much rhyme or reason to music; something that might be voted as […]

Live Review: Owl Eyes at Amplifier

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

Owl EyesAmplifier, Perth on Friday May 24, 2013. Review by Kelly Wong. Walking on stage with a bright orange dress and matching lippy, the crowd becomes instantly enamoured by the beauty of Owl Eyes. Performing the songs from her latest album […]

Anger Management: Sir Christopher Lee

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

We check in with all things heavy on RTRFM’s Critical Mass show.

He might be better known for playing iconic characters like Dracula, Saruman the White Wizard in The Lord of the Rings and … um, Count Dooku in Star Wars, but there’s no denying that Sir Christopher Lee has maintained an impressive 67-year (and still counting) career as an actor. The talented thespian has also ventured into heavy metal territory by lending his trademark “bari-groan” to several albums as a guest vocalist with Rhapsody and Manowar.

Now, to celebrate his 91st birthday, Sir Lee has released his own metal album, Charlemagne: The Omens of Death.

The Omens of Death is a follow up to his 2010 symphonic metal concept album Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross and tells the story of the First Holy Roman Emperor, King Charlemagne (a.k.a. Charles The Great). Charlemagne’s reign, from 768 to 814, was a tumultuous period of almost constant battle.

History lesson aside, the new album plays out like some kind of heavy metal opera, with vocals more spoken than sung by Sir Lee and a cast of others. The guitar work by World Guitar Idol champion Hedras Ramos Jr is impressive, as is the music which was arranged by current Judas Priest guitarist, Richie Faulkner.

If you can get past what looks like a trainee-photoshopped album cover, there is some interesting material here, but it will probably only appeal to die-hard Lee/historian/concept album fans.

One can only hope Sir Lee doesn’t quit his day job at Isengard.

State Of The Art 2013 Lineup & Set Times

Monday, May 27th, 2013

State of the artCelebrate WA is excited to make the full line-up announcement for the upcoming State Of The Art music festival, to be held at the Perth Concert Hall and surrounds on Sunday 2 June on the WA Day long weekend. Bringing […]