Firekites

One of those bands whose names I often saw around the traps, I actually happened across Newcastle acousmatronic (see what I did there? I'm just taking the liberity of creating my own hybrid genre names now) band Firekites while browsing the Spunk website (an excellent source for superb music, by the way - home to the likes of Bat for Lashes, Explosions in the Sky, Mates of State etc).

The music of Firekites is very lush - warm, folkish acoustics with the lightest of electronica-style touches - and it sounds a bit like Kings of Convenience meets Fleet Foxes, with the lush warmth of Belle & Sebastian thrown in for good measure. They're a pretty new band - formed in 2005 - and have released one album, some tracks of which can be heard at the official Firekites MySpace page.

Their clip for 'Autumn Story' is VERY cool. Chalk animation!

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea are a three-piece from Sydney, and I heard of them through their drummer, one Mr Nick Kennedy, who told me I should check them out on account of my love of Sigur Ros. I haven't physically managed to make it to a gig (and it seems like I may have lost my chance - did they relocate to Berlin?).

Their music certainly does have that haunting, sprawling, post-rock sensibility bands like Sigur Ros possess, but there is something slightly more... earthen? Organic perhaps? .. about The Dead Sea. Their song 'Departure Gates' is all kinds of awesome: cinematic, exploratory, melodic, dark. It struck me as soon as I heard it.

There doesn't seem to be much of a market for post-rock nowadays in the local stakes - or perharps there are hundreds of bands like this waiting to be discovered as well - so I give huge props to them for creating a sound which is not of the norm. Its lovely, lovely stuff and I say this every time, but I really do think everyone should check them out. Their MySpace has a few sample tracks for your pleasure.

Dappled Cities

Dappled Cities are more of a re-discovery; they were just gaining momentum around the time I stopped going out to see live music as much, and my memories of their earlier gigs are vague. But after hearing some tracks from Zounds at their MySpace, I realised that it was time I sat up and started paying attention again.

I love a band who likes to test the limits of the precarious balance between indie rock and electro and manages to blur the line. The inclusion of full time keyboardist Ned Cooke seems to be serving the band well. Their music seems to have more emotional depth, more exploratory arrangements and a lovely electronica-esque undertone and melodic sense.

I saw the band play at the Metro last night. It was really great to see a band, who I used to see supporting bands at venues like the Hoey or the Annandale, headlining a venue like the Metro; not only that, packing it out on a Saturday night. They're a tight and dynamic live act too - just another thumbs up to a band who I am liking more and more each day.

Le Kingste

I am often wary of friends pimping friend's bands, but if they make music like Le Kingste then I have zero complaints.

This Sydney four-piece straddle several genres, and as a result their music has a wonderfully compelling quality about it. Perhaps one of the closest references might be Muse, but the songs of Le Kingste are far more interesting than the UK rock act both in its riffs, arrangements and in vocal range (sorry Matthew Bellamy).

There is a lovely darkness and intensity about this music. Do like I did and take yourself to their MySpace page. Standout tracks currently on their player include 'Astronaut' - that underlying synthesiser line and wailing guitar, oh yes - and their latest single, the multifaceted 'The Way The World Looks'.

The Red Tree

I never expected that the first time I've listened to the radio in... well, a long time, I would make my first, albeit relatively unknown, Australian music discovery.

The Red Tree sound like what would happen if M83, Postal Service and Sigur Ros had a musical menage a tois: their music is full of lush harmonies, dreamy pop melodies and a gorgeous airy ambience. This Melbourne band is apparently a Triple J Unearthed entrant; I was genuinely surprised, I had almost been expected the song to be a new Postal Service tune or something.

Their album was for sale in iTunes so I thought, what the heck. Its called I Am Not A Bird and it's quite a lovely record, very moody and laidback. Also, I cannot say no to a band who have taken their name from (I presume) the very poignant book by Shaun Tan...

Check out their music, in particular the song 'Ziah' (which is what caught my attention on the radio this morning) at their MySpace

I think makers AND lovers of this type of music are a fairly rare breed. Its still some of the most interesting music I've heard in this country in awhile though.

Let the search begin....

There was a time, in the not too distant past, when local music was all the shiz, and I was often found at any one of sydney's greatest indie music venues. Nowadays, I flip open a Drum Media and stare blankly at the gig guide wondering who the hell these bands are.

Thus begins the The Great Australian Music Search. i am not convinced that there are that many amazing local acts around anymore; however, i'm very open to be proven wrong.

My mission: to find out what all the local kids are listening to, and see for myself what they're like. I'll post about the best of my findings here.

Music lovers - please feel free to share with me your favourite local musicians; not just your mates' bands, but bands you really dig.