australicana | Musicosity

australicana

Bertie Blackman

Bertie Blackman’s first encounter with her artistic self came as a child sashaying across her mother and father’s paint strewn studio floor. The daughter of iconic Australian artist Charles Blackman, not many musicians can boast a foundation of emotional expression like Bertie.

Bertie first stepped onto the scene with ‘Headway’ (2004), her folk-inspired debut album. The single ‘Favourite Jeans’ became Bertie’s radio breakthrough and saw her dubbed “Australia’s underground queen”.

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Ratcat

Ratcat were an Australian indie rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s fronted by Simon Day. Their combination of indie pop songwriting and energetic punk-style guitar won them fans from both the indie and skate-punk communities. Ratcat formed in 1986 in Sydney and were a mainstay of that city's live music scene until they were eventually signed to Waterfront Records where they released a self-titled EP, several singles ("I Think I Love You", "Baby's Got A Gun") and their debut album, This Nightmare in 1989. Another EP, Killing Joke, and another single, "Saying Goodbye" followed.

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My Friend The Chocolate Cake

Formed 1989 by David Bridie and Helen Mountfort (members of Not Drowning Waving) Like their former band, My Friend The Chocolate Cake's music can be seen to straddle the worlds of ambient and world music, with an emphasis on piano and violin-led acoustic music. Influences range from the obvious (such as Penguin Cafe Orchestra and Celtic folk music), to the less obvious (such as John Cale and Talk Talk).

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Underground Lovers

Underground Lovers was an Australian indie/electronic group in the 1990s. Despite minimal commercial success, the band was much praised and developed a cult following. The lineup changed often, but retained a stable nucleus of Vincent M. Giarrusso (vocals, guitar, keyboard) and Glenn Bennie (guitar).

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The Superjesus

Lead singer and main song-writer Sarah McLeod formed the band in late 1994 with guitarist (and her guitar teacher at the time) Chris Tennent, drummer Paul Berryman and bass player Stuart Rudd. They were originally called Hell's Kitchen before changing their name to The Superjesus on the eve of the 1994 Big Day Out in Adelaide. Says Paul Berryman of the name: "It was basically just a piss-take on commonly used words in the 90's.

Read more about The Superjesus on Last.fm.

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Boom Crash Opera

Boom Crash Opera are a pop-rock band formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1985. Initially based around the songwriting partnership of Richard Pleasance (Guitar/Bass/Vocals 1985 - 1992) and Peter Farnan (Guitar/Bass/Keys/Vocals) Boom Crash Opera also includes Dale Ryder (Lead Vocals), Peter Maslen (Drums), Greg 'Spock' O'Connor (Keys/Guitar) and Ian Tilley (Bass/Vocals 1992 - Present). Boom Crash Opera where quickly signed to WEA records Australia and in 1986 released their debut single 'Great Wall'.

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Weddings Parties Anything

Weddings Parties Anything, often known as WPA and Weddoes, is an Australian folk rock band formed by Mick Thomas in Melbourne in 1985 and continuing until 1998. Their name came from a Clash song ("Revolution Rock") and musicologist Billy Pinnell described their first album as the best Australian rock debut since Skyhooks' Living in the '70s. WPA initially gained a reputation as a hot new band through their constant touring in their early days, however they never really became a commercial success.

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78 Saab

Reminiscent of Matthew Sweet in his prime, 78 Saab's lead singer, Ben Nash, has an impressively strong, sweet and clear singing voice. Combining Nash's distinctive voice with solid musicianship, intelligent lyrics and the ability to deliver as a live band make 78 Saab a classic Australian rock and rock band. In May and June 07, 78 Saab recorded and mixed their third album, The Bells Line, in Sydney with respected producer, Wayne Connolly. The album was release on September 29, 2007 in Australia.

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