In the last few episodes I’ve been exploring psychedelia from various parts of the world. The playlist in this episode is made up of new psychedelic music from Australia and New Zealand. I’ve noticed over the last couple of years that Australia, in particular, has a thriving psychedelic scene and this episode really bears that out. Not to take anything away from New Zealand or anywhere else for that matter, it’s just that so much good music is coming out of Australia and it’s really been enjoyable corresponding with the artists.
| time | artist | title |
|---|---|---|
| 00:34 | Human Rites | The Serpent and the Rainbow |
| 05:15 | Flower Children of the Apocalypse | Return To The Sun |
| 08:00 | Golden Sunbird | Voyage, Pt. 2 |
| 16:20 | Frozen Planet….1969 | Glassblaster (Alternate Take) |
| 20:14 | Black Sand | Salutations To The Sun |
| 22:57 | Trigona | Petra |
| 30:35 | Sons Of Zöku | Yang Yin (Radio Edit) |
| 34:45 | Fuzz Meadows | Orange Sunshine |
| 39:13 | The Dharma Chain | Shoot Up Love |
| 42:42 | Legal Noise | Flashback |
| 45:35 | Fortress Europe & Moonflower | Organ Grinder |
| 48:54 | Robot God | Valleys of Primordia |
#Alternative #Ambient #AncientFigurine #Baglama #Balkan #DesertRock #Doom #Experimental #Fuzz #GarageRock #HeavyPsych #HippieRock #Instrumental #Jam #Krautrock #Lo-Fi #Noise #OccultFolk #Post-rock #Psych #PsychRock #Psychedelia #Psychedelic #PsychedelicRock #Punk #Relic #Saz #Shoegaze #SpaceRock #Stoner #StonerRock #Tamburitza #World
The drops in this episode come from the 1959 movie On The Beach. In that movie a nuclear war breaks out and the only life left in the world is in Australia, but even they’re not safe from the cloud of radiation that will eventually arrive. It’s a bleak movie, and with the end of the Cold War a lot of people (myself included) thought that we had left this behind and that the risk of nuclear war was remote. The situation has certainly changed with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Things don’t seem to be going well for Putin and he’s made noises about putting Russia’s nuclear arsenal on high alert. Even before that the doomsday clock was already set at 100 seconds to midnight–the closest that its ever been–and the UN secretary general recently said “The prospect of nuclear war is now back within the realm of possibility.”
So anyway, having said that, enjoy the great music in this hour of Turn Me On, Dead Man and just think of the message in the closing frame of On The Beach that said “There is still time, brother.”
⦾ Human Rites – The Serpent and the Rainbow (from M.O.K.S.H.A., release date: February 13, 2022)
Human Rites are from Melbourne. They describe their music as “PSYCH🤠DOOM😎KRAUT🇧🇪NOISE🔌OUTSIDER MUSIC”
In the notes for M.O.K.S.H.A. they provide the notes, “This is our EP M.O.K.S.H.A. (May Our Knowledge Save Humanity Again). We are going to be quiet for a while after this. Thank you to everyone who has heard us, seen us play and supported us. Love, Human Rites.”
Guitar: Matt Donlon
Drums: Mark Taylor
Bass & Vox: Eann Lister
TMODM: What had the strongest influence on M.O.K.S.H.A.?
HR: the things that had the strongest influence on M.O.K.S.H.A. was probably the lockdowns in melbourne and the life changes that occurred in that time.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
HR: the record that probably changed my life the most would have been ‘Bodycount’ by Bodycount. A lot to unpack about that.
TMODM: What’s next for you?
HR: we’re going on hiatus because our drummer Mark has moved interstate
⦾ Flower Children of the Apocalypse – Return To The Sun (from Return To The Sun / End Of Days, release date: October 13, 2021)
Australian Psychedelic Folk for the Kali Yuga
Grug – Vocals, Guitars
Shroom Goon – Vocals, Guitar, Percussion
Scorpion Hands – Lyrics, Guitar
Marrow Bone – Lyrics, Bass, Personal Trainer
TMODM: Where in Australia are you from?
FCotA: The band is located in Perth, Western Australia, but the band members are from all over the country.
TMODM: What had the strongest influence on Return To The Sun / End Of Days?
FCotA: We’re heavily influenced by 60s rock bands like The Beatles and The Kinks, as well as 80s and 90s indie music like The Go-Betweens and My Bloody Valentine
TMODM: What record changed your life?
FCotA: Aeroplane over the sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
TMODM: What’s next for you?
FCotA: We’re wrapping up songwriting on our first album and heading in to the studio
⦾ Golden Sunbird – Voyage, Pt. 2 (from Golden Sunbird EP, release date: November 18, 2021)
Cosmic Psych-Rock from Outer Space ✨
TMODM: Where do you live?
GS: I live in Tasmania, I recently moved here 6 months ago. I grew up in North Queensland & spent most of my life there & have travelled around the northern coast. I also have a cultural connection to the land up there through my indigenous heritage.
TMODM: What led you to start recording an EP?
GS: This EP was not actually planned at all it just sort of materialised in its own way. I had recently went down a long tunnel of listening to a lot of psychedelic/space/stoner rock while also listening to new age meditation music from the 70’s. Then when the lockdown hit in Townsville & I was stuck at home, I started recording some riffs. Blending the meditative soundscapes with psychedelic guitars.
TMODM: TMDOM: What record changed your life?
GS: A record that shaped the trajectory of this EP would definitely be Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the moon. That album is a masterpiece & what they were able to achieve at that time is incredible. Still blows my mind that they were running those samples from tape & the soundscapes they created & how it all flows together, absolutely epic!
TMODM: TMDOM: What’s next for you?
GS: At the moment we are working towards getting the EP printed to both CD & Vinyl which is pretty exciting. We are just finalising artwork. Since we are doing it all independently, it’s a slow process but hopefully soon! Also working on putting a band together to start playing the EP live & hopefully book some shows around Tasmania. I have also been writing and working on a lot of new music as well! So plenty of things in the pipeline!
⦾ Frozen Planet….1969 – Glassblaster (Alternate Take) (from Glassblaster, release date: March 14, 2022)
Some of the first-ever completely structured material by Frozen Planet….1969! While still showcasing some improvisation, the band can be heard taking a different approach on this effort. Short, sharp and straight to the point!
Frank Attard – drums
Lachlan Paine – bass
Paul Attard – guitar
TMODM: So what made you decide to go with the shorter, structured format on this release?
FP69: With the shorter Structured tracks, I guess we needed make the songs fit the A and B side of the 7 Inch
Vinyl for this release so we needed to have a bit of a plan. The Jam tracks sort of a need a while to do their thing.
Also, we’ve been doing the Jam thing for almost Ten Years so we decided it’s about time to mix it up a bit.
More Structured Songs on the way and we have some Jams in The Can also!
⦾ Black Sand – Salutations To The Sun (from Hypnotic Revelations, release date: June 18, 2021)
From Auckland, New Zealand, black sand creates fuzzed out reverb drenched drone and psychedelic lullabies to lose yourself in.
TMODM: What had the strongest influence on Hypnotic Revolutions?
BS: Strongest influence on the album, Spacemen 3
TMODM: What record changed your life?
BS: Record that changed my life! Hmm, there’s been a few but I’d have to say Primal Scream- Screamadelica, just an amazing collection of songs and sounds, dub, gospel rock n roll, soul, just and incredible album.
TMODM: What’s next for you?
BS: I’m recording my new album, recording an album for my 11 year old son and recording with Kate from Morningface for a project.
⦾ Trigona – Petra (from Meridian, release date: March 11, 2022)
From Bandcamp: “Psych rock recordings featuring lots of fuzz, delay, swirly effects and that motorik beat all the kids are talking about.”
TMODM: What had the strongest influence on Meridian?
Trigona: My biggest influences for Meridian were European psychedelic instrumental bands like Papir, Causa Sui, 35007 and Electric Moon. I never miss vocals when listening to bands like these and that’s what I was hoping to achieve with my music.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
Trigona: Siamese Dream – Smashing Pumpkins. As a kid my life had always been about sport. After I heard this record, music became my main passion in life. I loved the sound of the guitars on the album and quickly realised that I wanted to play guitar too. Thanks to this album, I’ve been playing guitar for over 25 years now!
TMODM: What’s next for you?
Trigona: Meridian is coming out on Friday March 11 with a tape release on Echodelick Records and will also be available on Bandcamp and on all the major streaming platforms. In April/May this year Echodelick Records (USA) in conjunction with Worst Bassist Records (Europe), Weird Beard Records (UK) and Ramble Records (Australia) are releasing a vinyl of the first recordings I put out on Bandcamp in 2021. The tracks have been mastered especially for vinyl and will include an extra song, an eight minute jam, that was previously unreleased. Originally an EP, the vinyl will be a full length LP.
⦾ Sons Of Zöku – Yang Yin (Radio Edit) (from single, release date: January 12, 2022)
Sons of Zoku are from Adelaide, Australia. I corresponded with Jordan but the answers below are from the main man Ricardo.
TMODM: How does the place you live — your city, landscape, music scene — feed into the music you make?
SoZ: Adelaide is an empty canvas in regards of what you feel like doing. I grew up next to the ocean in Portugal and where I live now I can smell the sea breeze on my front door. I feel very connected to the sun and water and the hills are just around the corner. There’s always the perfect scenery for every mood. You could say our music suits this landscape, you can go for long walk with a pair of headphones and allow your mind to wonder. Guess that’s the sound of our music in a way, the sound of someone trying to figure things out, how to be more connected to the moment and nature.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
SoZ: So many but if I had to pick one from the top of my head probably “Grace”- Jeff Buckley.
TMODM: What’s next for you?
SoZ: Release new debut album “SÜN”, finish writing 2nd album, have a few laughs and good meals along the way, share it with loved ones and friends, travel, see the world up close…try and embrace any struggles along the way and just write until we die. Maybe reincarnate as a tree (haha)
⦾ Fuzz Meadows – Orange Sunshine (from Orange Sunshine, release date: May 6, 2022)
Fuzz Meadows are from Melbourne. Lurking somewhere between the cracks of Psych, Stoner and Post-Rock, Fuzz
guitar – dom
bass – louis
drums – prince
TMODM: What had the strongest influence on Orange Sunshine?
FM: The strongest influence on Orange Sunshine is probably my (Dom’s) Japanese Himax Tape Echo, as it is the sound of that thing that influenced the intro riff, that the song revolves around. Also, Wata from Boris and her awesome heavy, droney, echo-y playing was a big influence.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
FM: A record that change my life was definitely Isis’s Panopticon. I first listened to this record when I was 17, and the way the songs were built and deconstructed musically, made it magical. I hadn’t heard anything like it, but it made so much sense from the moment I listened to it.
TMODM: What’s next for you?
FM: Next for us is the release of our debut record named ‘Orange Sunshine’ coming out in early May via Copper Feast Records.
⦾ The Dharma Chain – Shoot Up Love (from Angry Young Folk, release date: March 14, 2022)
The Dharma Chain are a 6-piece psychedelic rock band from Byron Bay, Australia who have recently relocated to Berlin, Germany. Think 60s garage rock meets 90s shoegaze. Total world domination is both the message and the method. All songs are written, recorded, mixed and produced by the band. DIY rock n roll baby, free and easy.
⦾ Legal Noise – Flashback (from Flashback / Static Knives, release date: February 5, 2022)
Legal Noise are from Hobart.
Joel Green
Carter Emmett
Declan cooke
TMODM: What had the strongest influence on Flashback/Static Knife?
LN: Righto. Well, strongest influences on the record is probably Black Sabbath and XXXX GOLD
TMODM: What record changed your life?
LN: A record that changed my life was “Nevermind” by good ol nirvana
TMODM: What’s next for you?
LN: Next up for the band is probably more tours, shows and new music soon
⦾ Fortress Europe & Moonflower – Organ Grinder (from 1925-1988, release date: December 12, 2021)
1925-1988 is a delirious lockdown collaboration between Leon Radojkovic of Fortress Europe, and Scott Satherley of Auckland doom juggernauts Demons of Noon, working under the moniker Moonflower.
TMODM: How did the Fortress Europe/Moonflower collaboration come about?
Leon: Scott and I have been friends and collaborators on a number of projects over the years, like short films, art collectives and the like, but we’ve never actually worked on a musical project together before. At the time, Auckland, where we live was in the midst of long lockdown, and I came up with the riff that eventually became Organ Grinder. I knew Scott had been listening to a lot of Turkish psychedelic rock at the time, and I thought the riff was definitely somewhere in that world, so on a whim I sent it through to him and asked if he wanted to lay down some vocals for a little lockdown project. He was keen, and we went from there. Perfect timing!
TMODM: TMDOM: What had the strongest influence on 1925-1988?
Scott: Turkish Psychedelic/Anatolian Music for sure. Gaye Su Akyol, Erkin Koray and Erkan Oğur
Leon: With Fortress Europe one of the main threads I am interested in exploring is Balkan music traditions, which themselves have a strong thread of Turkish influence.
TMODM: What record changed your life? (it would be interesting to hear from anyone who wants to answer this question)
Scott: I’ll pick one out of a hat. For me it was the Seer by Swans. It was an awakening. It’s a journey through heaviness, atonal grinding and serene weightlessness
Leon: Tough question, theres been a few. Probably the biggest though was Tool’s Aenima. It hit me at just the right time as a teen to really crack open the world of music, and get me interested in genres and sounds beyond the confines of rock.
TMODM: What’s next for you?
Leon: Pre-covid my main trade was as a composer and theatre-maker. Since the performing arts still aren’t really online I’ve been doing development work on a couple of projects which will hopefully happen next year, and also working on a full length Fortress Europe album!
⦾ Robot God – Valleys of Primordia (from Valleys of Primordia, release date: January 20, 2022)
Robot God are a Psych Space Stoner Rock band from Sydney Australia who offer a powerful blend of space rock, traditional stoner and psychedelia. Fans of Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Earthless, The Atomic Bitchwax and Elder would not be disappointed.
Robot God are
Matt Allen – Bass,Vocals & Synth
Raff Iacurto – Guitar, Vocals & Synth
Tim Pritchard – Drums & Synth
TMODM: What had the strongest influence on Valleys of Primordia?
RG: Currently the big influence for RG is Elder, King Buffalo, and Nick DiSalvo’s solo album Delving.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
RG: Kyuss definitely changed everything
TMODM: What’s next for you?
RG: Up and coming for RG is a full album being released through Kozmik Artifactz, called “Worlds Collide”