Good old punk never dies. Just ask Smarts, an Aussie band comprised of members of Ausmuteants, Parsnip and The Living Eyes. Mid-October, they’ll launch their debut album Who Needs Smarts Anyway? Good question, in the best punk tradition.

The long-player, recorded in just one weekend, contains 13 tracks. Four of those are re-recorded versions of the tracks on the band’s 2018 EP Smart World, which was recorded by the band’s Billy Gardner (bass, vocals) and Mitch Campleman (guitar). Since then, drummer Jake Robertson, synth player Sally Buckley and saxophonist Stella Rennex were added to the line-up.

A saxophonist? Yes, that’s right. Smarts deliver fast-paced, sax-fuelled punk. That already sounds wicked on paper, so wait ‘til you hear the music for yourself. Cling Wrap is the band’s new single. A raucous, playful, tight, thrilling, dynamic adrenaline rush, which clocks in at just under 2 minutes. Just like a good punk song should.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Only two studio EP’s and one live EP into their career, Sydney punk rock band Yours Truly just announced their first long-player. Dubbed Self Care, the debut album will be out on 18 September. Thanks to the two singles that preceded it so far, I circled the date in red on my calendar.

Following the single Composure, Yours Truly released the equally strong Together as the album’s second teaser track. Filled with stomping beats, a groovy bass and soaring guitars, it sounds like an upbeat feelgood anthem. Lyrically however, it’s a different story, vocalist Mikaila Delgado explains.

“Together is about feeling the stress and uneasiness of imposter syndrome. I had a lot of fear and anxiety coming into this album, having this expectation to exceed what we did with [second EP] Afterglow. (….) I remember telling myself ‘you need to write the best songs of your life’ and getting upset about the possibility of not being able to prove ourselves. One night I turned to Lachlan [Cronin, guitar] and said, ‘I just feel all the colour has been drained from my brain’. We both looked at each other with wide eyes, and that’s how the idea of Together came about.”

Recommended as well:
Yours Truly – Composure

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

This one is for all of you who think ‘they don’t make decent guitar music any more’. East London foursome On Video are currently building a reputation for their fast-paced punky garage rock. After listening to their new single Bête Noire, your appetite for hooks and guitar riffs will be fully satisfied.

Frontman Hassan Anderson says about the track: “Bête Noire is a song inspired by our bassist George Williams. He was very misbehaved in his early days at school and was told by a teacher: “You, boy, have a bête noire inside of you.” Since then, George has made minimal improvements. This song aims to document that.”
More generally, the track is about the experience of being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and the stigmas that come with that.

Bête Noire (French for ‘black beast’) comes ahead of On Video’s new EP Stuntman.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

The last years, Yours Truly played numerous festival gigs and support slots. Taking this extensive live experience to the studio, the Sydney rock band are currently preparing their first long-player. After two studio EP’s and a live EP, their debut album will come out later this year.

Composure is the new single of the band, whose average age is just 21. The track will go down well with fans of bands like Paramore. Frontwoman Mikaila Delgado says of the track: “Composure is about trying to keep your cool at the end of a relationship and how difficult it can be. It’s natural to be upset, angry and a million different other emotions at once. I wrote it at a time when I really needed to reclaim my self worth after losing so much of it, I was over being miserable waiting for acceptance.”

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Dune Rats are a Brisbane trio, consisting of Danny Beus, Brett Jansch and BC Michaels. The band adhere to the ‘no-nonsense, all fun’ principle. Their music, best described as ‘party punk’, connected with many Aussies over the past 9 years. And now, it’s the rest of the world’s turn!

Third album Hurry Up And Wait is once again full of the band’s trademark colourful and energetic rock. And wisely, they chose one of the stand-out tracks as their next single. Stupid Is As Stupid Does greets the ills of the world with a smile, rather than a middle finger. As a bonus, it features rising American alt-pop artist K.Flay.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl