Top 115 Songs of 2015, #30 - 21

Adele, Okenyo, Grimes + Holy Holy!

#115 - 101

#100 - 91

#90 - 81

#80 - 71

#70 - 61

#60 - 51

#50 - 41

#40 - 31

#30. YOU CANNOT CALL FOR LOVE LIKE A DOG

by Holy Holy

You cannot ask for love, it may come

If you wait year after year after year.

Not quite psychedelic rock and not fully alt-country, Holy Holy exist in some magical place in-between. We've been following them closely the past couple of years, not close enough to watch them in the privacy of their own home, but still closer than we would the average band. Because watching them in their homes would be totally wrong, right? Ha. Yeah. It's not like they're home much anyway, since they're touring all over the place with one of the best live shows you'll be able to take in. One of the highlights of their sets will be 'You Cannot Call For Love Like A Dog', which unsurprisingly is also the highlight of their debut album, When The Storms Would Come. There's a Dylan-esque sense of wisdom in Timothy Carroll's performance as he becomes your new love Yoda. Like a dog call for love you will not. Oscar Dawson shares the spotlight with guitar work that is pure electric gold and we finally get a guitar solo. Where did the guitar solos go in 2015? Anyway, if you haven't already seen them, you've got to get to a Holy Holy live show as soon as possible. And as luck would have it, you'll be able to see them live all over Australia in January '16. (Matt Bond) 


Well, it’s certainly true, isn’t it? I mean, you could, but pretty sure you wouldn’t be getting anything but a few sniffs and some filthy fur if you do. Gross. I love Holy Holy. I love Timothy Carroll and his shaggy beard and the rock like voice of his that I still call one of the best in this little country of ours. I love Oscar Dawson and that mad hair of his and his mean guitar skills that always shine. Their skill of pulling together a musical tale and turning it into a dramatic story is unparalleled and in this tale, it’s the intense bass that keeps you intrigued. Holy Holy are indeed what their name suggests, something sacred, twice over indeed and they are definitely one of the finest rock acts Australia has to offer. (Jo Michelmore)

#29. JUST A STORY

by Okenyo

Walk down the path and slide the slope

When this all passes it will be just a story.

There has been some hype over Okenyo the last couple of years and if you haven’t heard anything else yet, one listen to ‘Just A Story’ explains why. A catchy little indie pop tale of a suffocating love, she has a way of making you think it can be about whatever you want it to be; the words so, so true, because yes, everything will be just a story someday. That’s what it a magical song, its honesty is something to be treasured. She’s an artist who I want to invest time in, because I’m so looking forward to the hype becoming tangible, the talk about her becoming plays on all the radio stations, sales all over the internets and gigs in all the venues. I’m just going to keep adding to the hype so all of those things become reality and the times that little blogs wrote about her become just a story someday. (Jo Michelmore)


Ooooh yes. Yep. Ok, yes. So, each time I hear the start of 'Just A Story' I get that same excited feeling I got the first time I heard it, like, seven/eight months ago. This was the first song in 2015 I felt I needed to hear all the time. The tune was stuck in my head forever. It still pops in there. I'll be walking down the street, minding my own business with this weird limp thing I've got going on because my jeans are too tight and I'm too cheap to buy new ones and then lines like, "clinging to a rolling stone, no matter how the weather goes, nobody gotta feel this low," will be all up in my mind space and I've got to find 'Just A Story' on my phone and listen to it another thousand times. You know what? It's worth every single listen. With one song, Okenyo quickly became one of my favourite emerging artists of the year. There's were whispers of a debut EP by the name of Mirage, but so far it has yet to surface. With any luck, we'll get to hear a full collection of tracks like 'Just A Story' in 2016. (Matt Bond)

#28. SPIRIT DOWN

by Our Man In Berlin

I know you'd like to rule the world

I talk in minutes and that's my curse.

'Spirit Down'? More like 'Spirit Up', am I right? Our Man In Berlin have kept many a spirit on the up and up since their very first single, 'Temaze'. It feels like a million years ago we first heard them, but it was only 2013! I think that feeling of long-term familiarity comes from their music really making you stop and pay attention to it. Even though it feels like the year has flown by, a song like 'Spirit Down' forces you to stop for a minute (or three and a half) and take in everything on offer. And what's on offer is quite excellent. Trevor Shotam's tranquil guitar work as the song begins, alongside Cain Munns' beats and Dan Hawtins' 'soundzz' (their description), could calm the most troubled of minds. Haydn Mansell's voice was made for the music backing him; controlled, but not without getting a glimpse into the person behind it. Our Man In Berlin keep on doing their thing. In this instance I would classify 'doing their thing' as 'being awesome'. (Matt Bond)


No surprises here, we all knew Our Man In Berlin were going to appear a couple of times and here they are again, this time with the title track from their incredible EP released earlier midway through this year. When I first hit play on this one, I can remember trying to close all the tabs on my laptop, there are so many layers of sounds I thought I must have been playing two songs at once. I should have known that’s the way of OMIB, their talent for bringing unexpected sounds together and making them sound superb has been appreciated by us so many times over the years it’s hard to even know how to say how I much I like them anymore without sounding like I’m getting paid. Alas, no pay here, just a whole lot of love, but the music is so much more than enough. (Jo Michelmore)  

#27. KEEP THAT LETTER SAFE

by Highasakite

Some were born to be a hunter

Some were born to move away and never come back.

I can remember googling SXSW as it happened last year, wishing I was there, watching the gigs and looking for the names that I would learn to love throughout the year. Even though it took me a couple of minutes to read this Norwegian bands name as Highasakite as opposed to Hig Has A Kit E (well I don’t know Norwegian, it could have been a word that meant something great, or tasty whale or something) their music stood out immediately. I knew they were going to be someone I liked and not just because I have a slightly unhealthy obsession with Norway, it’s royal family and great green landscapes and damn those crazy light up skies, but because of songs like this one. Dreamy, wistful, engaging and truly delightful, sometimes I don’t even know what’s going on, I just know it’s delicious and those soaring vocals give me the goose bumps almost every time. Their unique blend of pop and dance is something I think I will always be a fan of. Also, for those still confused, their name is actually four English words about kites, not Norwegian tasty whales. (Jo Michelmore) 

Norway. Known for its terrifying crime fiction and the music of A-Ha. And a whole lot more I guess, but right now you only need to know that Highasakite are from the city of Oslo in Norway and they are the reason why Norway has just become your new favourite country. You'll only need to listen to 'Keep That Letter Safe' once before you find yourself planning to move away to Norway and never come back. Because it has to be like the song. It has to! And if you think like me, which I'm fairly certain no one does (#notcrazy), you'll think that Norway is a land of lush, green forests that are home to woodland creatures that will befriend you Snow White style and brush your hair and stuff and everyone gets a cottage with a fireplace and some lumberjack delivers the firewood to you because, who are you kidding, you ain't going to be about that labouring life even if you are in beautiful Norway and during the week everything is perfect and you never have to work, you just read books on your front porch and on the weekends you go on grand adventures and you'll never be sad again. Sure, that sentence was ridiculously long, but doesn't 'Keep That Letter Safe' make you think all of those things? Well, spoiler alert, I've been to Norway and while beautiful, it's nothing like that previous dream scenario description and they eat whale there. Despite everything that has come before this sentence, this is a truly beautiful song that makes me dream great, big dreams. (Matt Bond)

#26. RIGHT NOW

by Hopium

Tell everyone I lied to you

When they're the ones you're lying to.

Hopium were a little mystery that came to our attention last year with ‘Cut’, a dramatic declaration of the darkest kind of attention. That was one we couldn’t get enough of and made us wonder who this Hopium was, and if they were that good with a debut, then what could they possibly follow with? Our questions were answered this year with that dreamy(!) track ‘Dreamers’ and then this delicious piece of almost 80s influenced electronica. ‘Right Now’ is all simple hooks and tight production, its lyrics gloriously bold, sometimes slightly unnerving which is something they seem to have a talent of delivering and the clip is an unpretentious masterpiece. Did anyone ever find out who Hopium are? I’ve just been so busy being lost in the sounds I’m not sure I even care. (Jo Michelmore)

#25. HELLO

by Adele

Hello, it's me

I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet.

Adele. Is there anything she can't do? She's the biggest artist in the world, with the new album 25 finding its way into more homes around the world than any other album this year. And it's only been out, for what, three weeks? Her music is universal and speaks to essentially every single person on the planet. Adele's instrument, a voice that is hopefully insured for the billion dollars she's expected to be worth before she's 30, can run a full rollercoaster of emotions in the space of one line of lyrics. Sure, it skews itself in a 'you will start ugly crying now' direction more often than not, even on the 'happy' album 25 is supposed to be. But that's why we love it, right? The backlash that comes with the level of popularity Adele is currently enjoying is due any second now (it's possibly already beginning), but you can't tell me you weren't peeing your pants with excitement the first time you heard that beautiful voice return with the simple and totally perfect line, "Hello, it's me." It might not be her best song, but even Adele at her worst would be better than the vast majority of what's floating around there on the charts today. And 'Hello' is hardly Adele at her worst. She doesn't even have a worst. All hail the voice of her generation. (Matt Bond) 


I really, really hope someone, anyone notices what number we placed Adele in this little countdown and I really, really hope no one knows how much this amused both Matt and I when we placed it there. Simple things you know. Adele’s current reign as queen of….everything can’t be denied and although her album sales probably have more to do with an anti-streaming policy than actual interest, she is undoubtedly one very talented lady. However, pretty sure if you’d broken my heart, dear Adele, then after all these years, no, I wouldn’t want to meet to go over anything, because I’m over you and really, it’s just too bad if you’re still wallowing in self-pity. And also, yes, you do always talk about yourself, if you weren’t so self-centred you might find yourself less heartbroken and sad all the time. But you know, beautifully composed song and all. And since Adele can do no wrong right now, I guess no one cares that calling someone a thousand times would probably be considered stalking. Just saying. (Jo Michelmore)

#24. HYPERCOLOUR

by Ali Barter

Never felt younger now that you're gone

Don't have your second hand smoke corrupting my lungs.

When Matt and I saw Ali Barter at BIGSOUND earlier this year, I can remember telling him that she was not what I expected, but she was really, really, really good. Then we were both distracted by the creature that sat atop her guitar players head, which turned out to be the hair of Oscar Dawson, which also appeared earlier in this list with Holy Holy, but I digress. The same things could be said of the clip to ‘Hypercolour’ which is not what I expected, but really, really, really good. The 80s guitars sitting in juxtaposition with Ali’s quiet but powerful vocal make me wish I knew where that Chinese Restaurant was, because if Ali was playing there at lunch, I’d be there, taking the business cards and ordering the dodgy sweet and sour crispy chicken every lunch time. (Jo Michelmore)


The first version of ‘Hypercolour’ I listened to was the live clip Ali Barter uploaded and I was in LOVE with, well, everything about it. Its sorta passive-aggressive nature really spoke to me. Then I heard the recorded version and loved everything about that one too. A little bit bouncier for sure, but with that same subdued anger. Like the narrator can’t even be bothered with being all cut up about the inspiration behind words like, “never felt lighter, now I can see, don’t have that angel of darkness, clutching on me.” We were lucky enough to have a chat with Ali ahead of her BIGSOUND showcase earlier in the year and she described ‘Hypercolour’ as coming, “from times of madness and despair. Which is always a bit of fun!” She makes it very hard to argue that point when the music’s as fun as ‘Hypercolour’. (Matt Bond)
 

#23. CLEAREST BLUE

by Chvrches

 


So please say you'll meet me

Meet me halfway.

“This is a deceptively sad song.” I told Jo that was going to be my whole review for the third single from Chvrches emotionally charged sophomore album, Every Open Eye. Sure it’s accurate, but it’s also the exact opposite of the complexity that can be found in Lauren Mayberry’s lyrics, so maybe I should put a little bit of effort in and write four to five more sentences. Why is ‘Clearest Blue’ a deceptively sad song? I was so distracted by the energy, the upbeat vibe and Mayberry’s super cute/endearing performance for the first hundred or so listens that I wasn’t paying attention to the track’s actual message. It’s especially hard to think anything other than happy thoughts when that explosive breakdown hits. How could you ever think a song that makes you want to dance like you’ve never danced before could be filled with anything other than hope and joy and dreams and LIFE IS FOR THE LIVING and so on and so forth. Then I got to listen, I dunno, 457. “But it’s not enough, it’s not enough, not enough.” What’s that all about though? What’s not enough, Lauren?! Everything is happy, HAHAHA, right? Why are you making me question things now? There’s just too many questions. When you say, “tell me, tell me you’ll meet me, tell me, tell me you’ll keep me, tell me, tell me you’ll meet me, will you meet me more than halfway?” is that more of a like desperate pleading or just a hopeful wish for the future? Urgh… so good. So happy. So sad. So everything. (Matt Bond)

This is exactly everything I love about Chvrches. It’s everything I love about all the music I love the most, but especially everything I love about Chvrches. You can dance, you can jump, you can call them electronica, you can call them simple pop, you can say they sound like a bazillion others or they sound just like their first album, or even worse than their first, or better, or you can whinge about Lauren Mayberry having an actual opinion because she’s a girl and how dare girls have an opinion, or you can talk about how poor Iain Cook and Martin Doherty don’t get enough attention because Lauren is an attention seeking whore, but if you think any of those things, you can fuck right off actually. Because while the people thinking those things have been busy being annoying, Chvrhces have been busy been writing music that can either make you throw your head back and dance like everyone is watching, or crouch on the floor with tears in your eyes, because words like this “If I ever try to push away, you can just keep me, tell me tell me you’ll keep me….please say you’ll meet me halfway” make me wonder how they manage to turn the very worst of emotions into some of the very best. I’m not sure, but it’s everything I love about them. (Jo Michelmore)

#22. FLESH WITHOUT BLOOD

by Grimes

 


If you don't need me

Just let me go.

While it’s likely untrue, there’s always going to be a part of me that believes Grimes created ‘Flesh Without Blood’ as the perfect fuck you to all of her too cool for school “fans” that couldn’t handle the deliciousness of last year’s ‘Go’. *whinge* Grimes sold out *ugly cry* sah mainstream. ‘Go’ was hardly bubblegum, but if it was the cause of some millennials’ sadness then ‘Flesh Without Blood’ must have given them a heart attack. It’s one of the best pop songs of the year, or any year. Sugary sweet vocals and music that will take you back to the glorious days of 90s alt-pop. ‘Flesh Without Blood’ might not be exactly the same as what Grimes has released in the past, but why would you want it to be? YouTube commenters have jumped on board this time around, with a much more positive reception to the lead single from Art Angels. As we all know, the YouTube comments section can make or break an artist and is the go-to place for intelligent discussion about the musics and cats and stuff. (Matt Bond)

#21. DRIVE

by Ainslie Wills

I don't want to fight you in my mind

So many things I hide behind.

I’m a bad person. Because Ainslie Wills has been releasing all of this amazing work for some time now and I’ve been sweating up here in Brisbane without her music in my life. Someone should have told me about her sooner. Why didn’t any of you tell me about her? Because Wills is all kinds of awesome. A confident songwriter with a voice to match, her songs make you feel perfectly at ease. I love the opening of the song. “I don’t want to fight you in my mind, so many things I hide behind.” With that… driving… beat behind it, you feel ready to get on out there and take on whatever life has to throw at you. ‘Drive’ soars high and dips low, always looking ahead to the next great moment of the song that will steal your heart and navigate the deepest parts of your mind. It’s catchy and thoughtful pop, charming in every single way. I’m a bad person for not knowing of Ainslie Wills before I heard ‘Drive’. But I’ll be making amends for this and staying up to date with anything new she has coming our way from here on in. (Matt Bond)

People seem to have been talking about Ainslie Wills for a long time, before I had ever bothered to hit play on any songs, because whenever I heard her name I thought of Wesley Willis, who is, shall we say, an interesting musician who sang songs in the late 90s about rock and roll McDonald's and whipping Spiderman's ass, amongst other things. You can google that yourself should you be inclined. I also once knew a large man called Ainsley, who was a character with bad dress sense, a mean disposition and no manners. This is obviously an indication of my subconscious and a troubled singer and a man I once knew who shared a similar name have absolutely nothing to do with the Ainslie Wills we speak of here; her with the magnificent voice and wonderful layered melodies and pure pop magic that she has created in ‘Drive’. I wish I'd got over my subconscious and investigated this Ainslie earlier. She seems to be exactly as the title suggests; a dynamic, motivating force that moves in solid ways and makes me want to forget that large man from my past who clearly doesn’t deserve to share a name with someone so brilliant. (Jo Michelmore)

Two days left to go... and we're heading into Top 20 territory!

 

Top 115 Songs of 2015, #90 - 81

Gin Wigmore, Oh Wonder, The Paper Kites + Christine and The Queens!

#115 - 101

#100 - 91

#90. A SILENT CAUSE

by The Paper Kites

I don't want to love you, I want to learn you

But I'd love to know you well.

What's that sound? Oh... that's just the sound of your heart breaking. Yes. That's what it sounds like. Shhh. Shhh. Let it happen. The other sound (and the cause of said heart breakage) is likely The Paper Kites' 'A Silent Cause'. It's the oldest story in the book. Boy meet girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Girl has to move away. Boy remembers girl saying something about how all the people she knows are dying from a silent cause, which may or may not be their quiet desperation. Boy realises his own quiet desperation is in fact killing him too. Boy's heart breaks. Girl's heart breaks. Everyone is sad. And you wouldn't want it any other way. Stunning work from one of Australia's finest acts. (Matt Bond)


My love of lyrics is well documented, so it’s pretty much a no brainer that I love the little tale that The Paper Kites tell in this super saccharine sweet little tune. I love the little tale of love and the life and I love the feeling in my guts when front man Sam Bentley sings that line about people dying from the silent cause, but it’s the lump in the back of my throat that really hits it all home, at the “thought that I was different when you looked at me, but this quiet desperation is killing me too” When you put all those words with such a modest little guitar, well, oh my goodness, some songs are just divine aren’t they? (Jo Michelmore)

#89. HUMANS

by Sarah Belkner

This is why the rain comes down

Washes out everything, makes us feel like humans again.

I used to hate how YouTube thought it had the right to just automatically move onto another video once the one I had chosen to watch ended. Rude. Don't try to tell me how to live my life, application I pay nothing for and benefit from immensely. Anyway, I did hate that. Until I was watching a Jack Colwell clip one day and got up to... I don't know, make a sandwich or something and that song finished and then this song right here, 'Humans' started playing. It was exciting. Right from the start I was in l-o-v-e love. After questioning if Tori Amos had a little something new out, I made my way back to the laptop and saw the name Sarah Belkner. I didn't know who Sarah was at the time, but I sure do now. And she is brilliant. 'Humans' is the perfect showcase for her talents as a songwriter, vocalist and artist. She excels in all aspects of her performance. If you have the time to listen to her 2015 EP, also named Humans, it's well worth the investment. (Matt Bond) 

#88. DOLLARMITE

by Velociraptor

Hey, the world is not a race

Still I don't want to be left, behind...

So I’m clearly not the only one who remembers their Commonwealth bank dollarmite account from childhood. Whatever happened to that cash? Surely I had like 25 bucks in there at some stage. Is that still building interest? Am I a millionaire? Do they still have those things for the kids these days or do you just get a credit card in grade one now? Do the kids even know what cash is anymore? It’s just numbers on a magical card you wave at machines, isn’t it? If I had a dollar for every member of Velociraptor, I’d have 14 bucks and if I was in grade one and that was in my dollarmite account, I’d have thought I was rich. Now the only part of me that’s rich are my ears, filled with songs like this one from Velociraptor. How the times have changed. Anyone got fourteen bucks I can borrow? (Jo Michelmore)

While I may have lost count of how many people are actually in Velociraptor, I will never lose my love for the Brisbane collective. Could you ever really not love a band that finds inspiration in the way so many of us were introduced to money and banking and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia? *insert single tear, yet happy face here. I think there might actually be fifteen members of the band though and now I'm thinking they're more cult-like. Think Polyphonic Spree. No white robes, just skinny jeans. Don't think I don't see you kids around town in your skinny jeans. (Matt Bond)  

#87. HOLIDAY HOME

by The Grates

Do you want to light it up, yeah

In the sand dunes?

Patience can be a virtue, or she can be the lead singer of The Grates and pretty much the raddest person in all of the musics. True story. The return of Patience and John Patterson has been well reported on over the past twelve months. As has the idea that The Grates' fourth studio album Dream Team could very well be their best to date. Joined by new drummer-friend Ritchie Daniell, The Grates returned late last year (just missing the cut off for our 2014 edition) with 'Holiday Home', the lead track for their latest LP. It was loud, proud, in your face and a not so gentle reminder that The Grates were finally back. Not only Brisbane music royalty, The Grates are now total AUS music legends. (Matt Bond)


The Grates have been sounding like The Grates since forever, which is good really, considering things would be a bit weird if they started sounding like Katy Perry in the middle of things, although I wouldn’t complain about that either. ‘Holiday Home’ is perfectly Grates; quickfire, bass heavy, Patience sounding all manic even when she’s not being manic at all with a clip so perfectly VHS it hurts. Go google VHS kids. It doesn’t stand for anything you want to snapchat. Maybe it does. I can’t keep up with the kids these days. (Jo Michelmore) 

#86. WRITTEN IN THE WATER

by Gin Wigmore

Give me one kiss for the road

Now it's time I let you go.

You know what I loved this year? I loved hearing Gin Wigmore somewhere other than an ad on TV. Oh, don’t get me wrong, it’s not the sell-out factor I care about, people gotta make money to pay the rents. I love the fact that she was featured in heaps of ads, because it meant she got to earn some cash and spend some time recording songs like this one. I can’t easily think of anyone else with a voice like hers and the pace of ‘Written In The Water’ shows it off perfectly. Just her and those keys at the beginning set up such a tortured little tale, with such a great story telling clip. Also, apparently the guy in the clip is her real life husband. The youtube comments told me that, so I can’t guarantee it, but I hope so. What an attractive couple they make. (Jo Michelmore)


It only took some rapid piano lines and the opening words, "I was born by the devil, I was left here to die, I was held up for ransom under cold summer skies," to fall in love with Gin Wigmore's music all over again. Another artist that seemed to be out of the spotlight for too long, Wigmore dropped her Blood To Bone album halfway through the year and it was well worth the wait. 'Written In The Water' is everything we've come to love about the Kiwi songstress and her brand of flapper-pop. Can I say flapper-pop? I mean it in the best way. It's a roaring 1920s jazz delight re-imagined for the modern audience from one of our choicest bits of calico. And it is gooood. Oh the calico thing? I looked up 1920s phrases. Apparently it means a desirable woman, you dewdroppers. (Matt Bond)

#85. DEVIL IN A DRESS

by Anita Lester

We are lost in conversation

Underneath the pulsing lights.

Anita Lester may have dropped her pseudonym and moved across the seas, but there's one thing that definitely hasn't changed about her. That would be her ability to make bewitching music that leaves us wanting a whole lot more. 'Devil In A Dress' proved that in spades. Spades, I say! I don't get it either, but it was proved. The music certainly goes with The Witching Hour title bestowed on Lester's next collection of songs and there's a haunting quality lurking within the vocal performance that can give you chills. While the video was pulled at some stage, hopefully you'll be able to witness it soon. It was a beauty. There's been changes for Anita Lester in 2015, but she remains as fierce as ever. (Matt Bond)


Anita Lester used to be Lester The Fierce, but it doesn’t really matter what she calls herself, she’s very good. She don’t need no fierce, because ‘Devil In A Dress’ proves she still is. Much less guitar and 90s rock chick than I expected, but a slight turn back in time to some seriously good 80s influence means I’m still happy either way. Synths and beats abound, making me wish I was an extra in some kind of clip that involves soft lighting, strange freestyle interpretive dance moves, neon lights, probably a cape and some poorly filmed mountain scenes. I think I’ve missed my calling in life. Clearly I should have been an 80s slightly alternative pop star. Or Anita Lester. Either/or. (Jo Michelmore)

#84. PARADIS PERDUS

by Christine and The Queens

In the night I hear them talk

The coldest story ever told.

Ah yes, here’s the bit where we get all fancy like and pretend we’re classy n shit. Stick some French lyrics in the countdown and ta-da, we’re very impressive. We’re not fooling anyone, Matt. Thing is, you don’t need to speak French or care who Kanye West is to know how stunningly beautiful this song is; the keys, the strings, that tiny little beat and the tone in her voice. So soft and a little despairing, it all comes together so perfectly you wonder how Mr West could be referenced at all. I don’t know exactly how it works, but I know it works in the best way and is gorgeous and that’s more than enough. (Jo Michelmore)

How do I know incredible music transcends all language barriers? For one, I don't speak French. And even I 'get' what's going on in 'Paradis Perdus'. Christine and The Queens thrilled us last year with 'Saint Claude' and 'Christine', so we weren't exactly expecting to hear from her/them again so soon. I can't say we weren't happy to be surprised by her return though. Christine's (real name Heloise Letissier) performance is enough to melt even the coldest of hearts. If it doesn't, you just don't have one. And how could you be so heartless? (Matt Bond)

#83. 6000 MILES

by The Waifs

I've never really had much of a way with words

But God knows I love to sing.

Speaking of AUS music legends, I was stoked to see The Waifs not only return this year, but deliver unto us some of their best music yet. Take '6000 Miles' as an example. The Vikki Thorn led track is already right up there as one of my favourite Waifs songs. Like many of their cuts, it's like having a conversation with one of your wise friends. The ones that give you the best advice and you have open and honest chats to about anything and everything. The Waifs would be those kind of friends. I'm just taking this opportunity to tell The Waifs that we should be friends. Haha. Kidding, that's totally inappropriate. Or is it? (Matt Bond)


I’ll be totally honest and say I had no idea what ‘6000 Miles’ was actually about before I started writing these words that you’re reading right now. I’d heard the bittersweet tone and the sentimental chords, I’d heard the emotion in all the notes and I knew 6000 miles was a long way, but little did I know that 6000 miles is the distance between Perth and Utah. It all makes sense, right, because 9, 656 kilometres doesn’t have the same ring. And that’s where singer Vikki Thorn’s husband lived and that’s why the first track from The Waifs’ seventh album is so goddamn sweet. Ah the long distance love. Don’t do it. It’s expensive. And annoying. Or do it and listen to songs like this to make yourself feel better while you cry into your tea. Or something. (Jo Michelmore)

#82. WITHOUT YOU

by Oh Wonder

Lift up, carry the love

Do you know?

Oh Wonder were that crazy gang of two who insisted on releasing a song a month this year, before gathering them all together and releasing an album. While some have threatened-slash-promised to do that in the past, and some seemed to think it was a crazy idea while others thought it was brilliant, I think it was a certain kind of genius, because it resulted in some of the prettiest pop of the year and it resulted in one of my personal fave pop tunes of the year. Sure, lots of people can harmonise and sing around each other, but these guys sound divine squished into each other’s space, their voices were made for each other. How wonderful. (Jo Michelmore)


I've been living a lie, because I thought Oh Wonder were Australian. That is incorrect. They are not Australian, if Wikipedia is to believed. Anyway, these two do the cute love song thing well. What will be awesome though is the break-up album. What? It worked for Adele. (Matt Bond)

#81. MOLIERE

by Our Man In Berlin


For your lonely mind
For your lonely heart. 

When I wrote about this song at the start of the year, I said I felt like I’d written about Our Man In Berlin a bazillion times, because I probably had (more than ten counts as a bazillion in blog life) and listening to it again now I know why I had written about them that many times. They’re really, really good. Like, seriously. There they are over there in Perth, just plugging away, doing their thing, and their thing is kind of awesome. The organised mania created at the end of ‘Moliere’ reminds me of why I’ve liked them so much; they have this natural ability to write songs that demand attention, pose questions, chill me completely out and make me want to dance all at the same time. Their second EP Spirit Down was all of those things as well and while I haven’t quite made it to two bazillion posts about them this year, with this kind of talent, I’m suspecting we might get there sooner rather than later. (Jo Michelmore)

So many feelings, so little time. See you again tomorrow!

 

Vintage Top 25 - Best Songs of 2014

1. Tkay Maidza - U-Huh





2. Thelma Plum - How Much Does Your Love Cost?





3. Little May - Dust





4. Kimbra - 90s Music





5. Jack Colwell - Far From View





6. Sia - Chandelier





7. Curxes - Valkyrie





8. Hey Lady! - My Head, My Heart





9. Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX - Fancy





10. Jack White - Lazaretto





11. Thelma Plum - Young In Love





12. Grimes ft. Blood Diamonds - Go





13. Tkay Maidza - Switch Lanes





14. Our Man In Berlin - Cirrhosis





15. Beyonce ft. Jay-Z - Drunk In Love





16. Lykke Li - Love Me Like I'm Not Made of Stone





17. tUnE-yArDs - Water Fountain





18. Dear Plastic - Epic Delay





19. Kingswood - Suckerpunch





20. St. Vincent - Digital Witness





21. The Griswolds - Beware The Dog





22. Ngaiire - ABCD





23. Lana Del Rey - West Coast





24. SAFIA - You Are The One





25. Jessie Frye - Dear

EP Review - Spirit Down

Spirit Down

by: Our Man In Berlin (available now)

It started with the name, Our Man In Berlin, because how could I not fall in love with a band whose name contained one of my favourite places in all the world? Those four words a few years ago now were only the beginning of what has become a long term long distance relationship; because with each song I have heard I have loved them a little more and with the release of their second EP Spirit Down, let’s say the adoration has been completely and totally confirmed.

‘Bones’ opens proceedings, but this one is much more than merely bare bones, the mid-tempo should not be confused for simplicity; the sounds complex, layer upon layer of reverberations and voices are a stunning way to start and in the first three minutes OMIB prove their talent, the 90s guitar riffs somewhat comforting, hidden in amongst the synths and sounds of layered vocals. Following is what was my first taste of this EP in ‘Moliere’, and it’s just as magnificent now as it was four months ago, the organised chaos is as thought and movement provoking now as it was then, it’s collection of bits and pieces nerve rackingly delightful.

Title track ‘Spirit Down’ is perfectly placed mid-way through, the somehow downhearted nature of that rapid fire percussion is everything, while singer Hadyn’s voice hits all the highs I’ve come to adore, but it’s not until we get to ‘Seperate’ that it can really be appreciated, the sparse instrumentation that begins is inviting, the bass line subtly intense and all the clicks and buzzes and tones and beats are a perfect match to Trevor Shotam's awesome skills on guitar.

Final track ‘Muster’ arrives far too quickly but what an absolutely beautiful way to end; sparse, slightly spooky, soothing and subtly spectacular, it is exactly everything this little band from Perth have proven themselves to be - an experience, not just a band and their sophomore offering is a journey, not just an EP. Our Man In Berlin’s understated confidence remains as it has since day one, their ability to know when to pull the sounds back and when to smother their tales with noises is rare and admirable and Spirit Down is confirmation that confidence remains and where confidence walks, adoration follows. Looks like this little fan's long term long distance relationship will be continuing for sometime yet; here's hoping to a full album sometime soon. Until then, they are on a national Spirit Down EP tour. Head over to our gig guide to see when Our Man In Berlin are playing near you. 

Jo Michelmore gives Spirit Down four Siouxsie Sioux heads out of five...

Top 25 - 5 July, 2015

Santigold, SAFIA + The Paper Kites!

1. Little May - Home





2. Santigold - Radio (NEW)





3. Ngaiire - Once





4. The Paper Kites - Electric Indigo (NEW)





5. Kira Puru - All Dulled Out





6. SAFIA - Embracing Me (NEW)





7. Our Man In Berlin - Bones (NEW)





8. James Chatburn ft. Frank Nitt - We Drink





9. Airling - Stallin' (NEW)





10. Atlas Genius - Molecules





11. Manor - Can You Hear Me Talking At You (NEW)





12. Lupa J - Quiet Here





13. Velociraptor - Dollarmite (NEW)





14. Highasakite - Keep That Letter Safe





15. Quintessential Doll - Sacharine (Rework)





16. Little Sleeper - Middle of the Night





17. Dear Plastic - Overwinter (NEW)





18. ALTA - Moves





19. Dolo Jones ft. Passerine - Can't Give You Up





20. R.W. Grace - Shell





21. Why We Run - Ignites





22. Ali Barter - Hypercolour





23. Aquilo - Waiting





24. The Twoks - Doona





25. Tired Lion - Suck

Top 25 Songs of 2015 (So Far)

Are we really almost halfway through 2015? Yes. Yes, we are. And it's around this time we start looking back on the music we've heard so far this year and deliver unto you our 25 favourite songs of 2015... so far. This year's list was really hard to compile. It seems to get harder and harder every year. So by that logic, this year was the hardest. But the list has been completed and we're very happy to be sharing it with you today. 25 songs that show just how awesome 2015 has already been and make us excited about what's still to come over the next six months. Enjoy!

ARROW

by Stonefox





I'll be there, the light of the sun
Always falling in love. 

DRIVE

by Ainslie Wills





I don't want nobody to stand behind me
I've got to make up my own mind. 

ELECTRICAL

by Eves The Behavior





I'm nothing more than skin and bone,
With wires that make me tremble. 

FORCES

by Japanese Wallpaper ft. Airling





'Cause I've been thinking 'bout it, and I've been dreaming 'bout you
Won't do a thing about this, 'cause I don't wanna ruin you. 


GIMME GIMME
by Holly Who 
 




Gimme, gimme, gimme your fire
I want your desire.

HAUNTED

by Grace Pitts





I've lost my way, I've lost almost everything...

HOLD ON TOGETHER

by Jeremy Neale ft. Phoebe Imhoff





And if you want to bring me down, well I don't
I'm cautious 'bout the way I move around town. 


HOLIDAY LOVE
by James Chatburn x Jordan Rakei 
 




We pretend our, 
We pretend our hearts surrender...

I DON'T THINK YOU LIKE ME

by Tired Lion





Now you're left here by yourself
Alone and no one else. 

IS THIS LOVE?

by Karl S. Williams





Do you want me?
Do you want me by your side? 

IT WON'T HURT ANYMORE

by The Grates





Blood and fear, hearts on trees, pig skin knees
It's not gonna hurt anymore
Than it was ever going to. 

JUST A STORY

by Okenyo





Walk down the path and slide down the slope
When this all passes it'll be just a story. 

KING KUNTA
by Kendrick Lamar





When you got the yams (What's the yams?)
The yam is the power that be, you can smell it when I'm walking down the street. 

M.O.B.

by Tkay Maidza





And you I will find
Even if I waste the rest of me. 

MOVES
by ALTA





Falling over me, crawling around to please.

PERFECT PICTURE

by I Know Leopard





Darling, I saw you crying
Never will I know why. 

RIGHT NOW

by Hopium





'Cause maybe I'm a dick
But you're no saint either. 

SET ME ALIGHT

by Passerine





Couldn't feel what I wanted to feel
Could you sense it? 

SHIP TO WRECK

by Florence + The Machine





Did I drink too much?
Am I losing touch?
Did I build this ship to wreck? 


SPIRIT DOWN
by Our Man In Berlin 





I know you'd like to rule the world
I talk in minutes and that's my curse.  

SPRINTER

by Torres





There's freedom to and freedom from
Freedom to run, from everyone. 

WEATHER

by JOY.





I'm sorry that I couldn't change the weather.

WHAT KIND OF MAN

by Florence + The Machine





But I can't beat you
'Cause I'm still with you
Oh mercy I implore. 

WHAT YOU WANT

by Curxes





You'll always get what you want and just what you asked for
Because you asked for nothing more. 

YOU CANNOT CALL FOR LOVE LIKE A DOG

by Holy Holy





What do you want from love?
What do you need?


You can expect to see these tracks making appearance in our end of massive end of year countdown, along with a whole bunch of amazing tunes we haven't even heard yet. If the second half of 2015 is like the first, we've got so much more goodness to come.  



Song Review - Spirit Down

Spirit Down

by Our Man In Berlin

EP: Spirit Down (due 19 June 2015)

It’s with a giant smile, a great big breath and a whole lotta love that I get to write some words about the latest single from a little band that I’ve found a whole lotta love for over the past few years; Our Man In Berlin. The giant smile is because as soon as ‘Spirit Down’ begins the beautifully familiar feelings and sounds OMIB have managed to create and maintain since long before their debut EP is it right? was released are there; the slow build and the subtle crescendo, rapid percussion, an elegantly powerful bass line and distinctively sweet synths, combined with that recognisably intimate vocal make this yet another track to add to the collection of tracks that this five piece have already made that I adore. The great big breath is in anticipation for the release of their sophomore EP, which is currently being crowd funded on Pozible, which so very close to its target and with only days left to go to score yourself music, signatures, a song written just for you or even better - up close and personal gigs(!), it would be silly not to go over there and spend a couple of bucks on it. And then, well, after all these words, the whole lotta love is kind of obvious, isn't it?

Jo Michelmore gives ‘Spirit Down’ three and a half Florence heads out of five…

Top 25 - 31 May, 2015

Our Man In Berlin, Montaigne, Holly Who + Flume!

1. Our Man In Berlin - Spirit Down (NEW)





2. Holly Who - Gimme Gimme (NEW)





3. Jeremy Neale ft. Phoebe Imhoff - Hold On Together





4. Montaigne - A Cinematic Plea For An End (NEW)





5. ALTA - Moves





6. Eves The Behavior - Electrical





7. Hopium - Right Now





8. Stonefox - Arrow





9. Gin Wigmore - Written In The Water (NEW)





10. North Arm - Careless





11. Amanda Palmer - The Thing About Things (NEW)





12. Dolo Jones ft. Passerine - Can't Give You Up





13. Ayla - Waiting





14. TIO - Day Fort (NEW)





15. Melwonderland - GAMES (NEW)





16. Florence + The Machine - Delilah





17. ATLAS ft. James Chatburn - Spinning Back (NEW)





18. Grace Pitts - Haunted





19. P'ARIS - Heaven + High Water (NEW)





20. Mio ft. Erik Lindestad - Back To You





21. Colour Bomb - My Resting Place (NEW)





22. The Belligerents - Voice





23. Flume ft. Andrew Wyatt - Some Minds (NEW)





24. Lanks - Settle Down





25. Machine Age - Chivalry