The first single off the album, “Nonchalant”, is a total earworm and its strains have been ringing in my head ever since first hearing it.

This is Lachlan’s ummm let’s see - fifth album, with “Muscle Memory” coming out in 2020, “Mood Bullet” the year before and “Premeditations” and “Ouija Board Heartbreak Tambourine” being released in 2018 and 2017 respectively.

There’s plenty of reference points in his music - a lot from the ‘60s and ‘70s - like the Beatles, George Harrison, Todd Rundgren and more. But he brings a fresh and modern approach to all this.

“Illusionaires” was recorded at RTN studios by Geoff Mullard and sometime drummer Fraser Marshall and mixed by Fraser. And it sounds great! You can get it from Newy’s newest record label (although the store has been around for yonks), Hiss & Crackle Records right here.

Although, you won’t find “Illusionaires” on streaming anywhere (aside from BandCamp, which is KINDA streaming, and I assume YouTube which is KINDA streaming too). Lachy has taken the stance of only releasing physical product and digital via BandCamp. I certainly get his point in doing this, it will be interesting to see how this pans out for him. Hopefully, it doesn’t hamper more people discovering his music.

2. DRUGS IN SPORT - "IF ONLY WE COULD USE THESE POWERS FOR GOOD"
Great album (their second) from another of the guitar pop/rock greats from Newcastle - seriously, is Newy the new guitar pop capital of Oz? Could be....  You can usually find them cranking out their catchy anthemic songs around Newcastle and environs, and sometimes further afield - and if you do, you’ll always be rewarded. With Errol’s (Muzzy Pep, Australian Beefweek Show) acerbic lyrics adorning every track with a sneering bubblegum take on modern living.

Combine all that with perfectly orchestrated, intertwining guitar parts from Geoff Mullard (who, once again recorded and mixed this lil’ bewdy at his RTN studios) and Errol, that are always the right accompaniment for the songs, never stepping all over them and always serving a greater goal than just for the sake of existence.

Add to that secret sauce the base that every good rock band needs - a rhythm section that is always on point and nails the feels, thanks to Anthony and Jez’s superb performances on this record. Basically, can’t say enough good things about this album - just get it here. 

By the way, once again, if you’re looking for these folks on Spotify, you won’t find them there, as they’ve taken a stand by removing their content from Ek’s platform.

3. MELVIC CENTRE – “TRAWLER”
Do you get the feeling this is a Novacastrian-specific post? Yep, it’s sure feeling that way! Another stellar album from Will and the Melvic Centre chaps (check out their debut release too). I first became aware of them via their previous band, the Spozeduhs, who played with East Coast Low a couple of times and was impressed with their punk powerpop tunes..

But the Sposeduhs were perhaps ultimately a bit too "Californian" for my tastes.

Step up Melvic Centre.

Retaining some of that punk pop sound but now incorporating a little “something else” that makes me feel I could be listening to a band from the “Twin Cities” circa 1985 - 1990-ish”. I don’t know if this is conscious or not, but they give a modern and fresh take on a sound that puts me in mind of bands like Husker Du, The Replacements or early Soul Asylum - all acts that I love!

A new release from the good folks at Evil Tone, I loved the album so much, I bought two copies! Actually, I didn’t mean to, I was trying to buy “Trawler” and a copy of The Strike-outs repress … but added two “Trawlers” to my cart and didn’t notice! No problem there, I was able to sort Chris from ECL with a copy.

In any case, live or on record, these guys are great (check out their eponymous debut release as well) and hopefully get the wider recognition they really deserve. Get “Trawler" here.

4. THE AUTUMN HEARTS – “MR SUNSHINE”
It’s summery pop time in the Hunter - this time from Maitland locals, The Autumn Hearts. We had played with these guys yonks ago, but were asked to grace the stage with them again recently at the Pourhouse in Maitland. Now, let me say… the Maitland scene is kinda happening these days. And a stroll down the Maitland mall the next day browsing the funky comic book stores (two within a mere 50 paces of each other) and record stores, makes me think I need to be spending more time up that way.

Live, the Autumn Hearts deliver perfectly sweet guitar pop resplendent with on-key three-part harmonies (which is no mean feat through a small pub PA system!)  You could think of them as if Sloan had a romance with the Posies, Badfinger and Big Star - they are really that good. 

“Mr Sunshine” is a good title for this collection of shimmering power pop gems, each track constructed with care and performed impeccably, with a nice laid back rhythm section and jangling six and 12-string guitars complementing each other beautifully. Sublime … “Mr Sunshine” is self-released, get it here. 

5. SPLIT SYSTEM – “LIVE IN STOCKHOLM”
I love live records. I love Aussie punk rock and roll. And I dig Split System. They know how to do all these things with energy and intensity. This is the perfect “going out record” to get ya blood boiling and ya fist pumping. Or heading down the M1 at breakneck speed, doing battle with the “tradie traffic”. Nuff said? Yep!

6. CIVIC – “CHROME DIPPED”
I’ve been singing the praises of CIVIC for a long time now. Ever since I first got “New Vietnam”. I’ve heard a bunch of people dis this record. But i tend to disagree with them.

“Chrome Dipped” is a real grower, but requires a few listens to get onboard. It’s not as immediately as accessible as their previous releases, but on multiple listens, I really dig this record.

I applaud them for not “sticking to the formula” and trying something a bit different. You could say the album has a “post-punk vibe”, and that’d be somewhat correct, but there is still that particular Aussie approach that exemplifies CIVIC’s sound.

Yep, it’s that “difficult third album”. But I wouldn’t write it off at first blush - give it some ear time!

Special shout out for wowing the crowd at the Hordern Pavilion supporting the Sex Pistols.

7. BLEAK SQUAD – “STRANGE LOVE”
Having been a fan of Magic Dirt for many, many years and, in more recent years, of Adalita’s solo output (I absolutely loved her 2022 album, “Inland”, which still gets regular spins in this neck of the woods), I was blown away by the debut release of Bleak Squad’s “Strange Love”.

Joining Adalita in this formidable lineup is Mick Harvey (Birthday Party, Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey etc.), Mick Turner of Dirty Three fame and, on drums, Marty Brown of Art of Fighting fame. It’s not hyperbole to say this is an indie supergroup of epic proportions.

For me, it feels like an extension of Adalita’s previous solo efforts, however with the addition of these fine fellows, there is a  bit of extra rawness that excites me. And Mick Turner’s scratchy guitar wanderings made famous with the Dirty Three adds something wiry and barbed to the mood scapes of these tracks. 

With memorable songs and lyrics that haunt and repeat in one’s head long after the closing track - I can’t wait to see this live (I’ve got a three-night extravaganza coming up with Bleak Squad on the Thursday, Pulp at the Sydney Opera House the Friday, and Redd Kross + The Hard-Ons closing out the triumvirate in true style - what a weekend lineup!)

8. PJ HARVEY - SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE STEPS
With a year that was jam-packed with live highlights, including AC/DC, Oasis and the Sex Pistols, the show that topped all of these for me was PJ Harvey. It was the perfect setting to witness what was an awe-inspiring set of material.

It had been a 24-year hiatus since seeing PJ at the 2001 Big Day Out, where she delivered material from her then new album, “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea”. A near-religious experience, perhaps the combination of chemicals and booze went some way to propelling, nonetheless, one that I’ll never forget.

This time, sans booze and drugs, the experience was as enthralling and transporting as I’d remembered. 

The abovementioned Mick Turner opened up the warm and sunny Sydney afternoon with a solo set of his instrumental guitar journeys and set the scene for what was about to unfold.

Then Ms. Harvey took to the stage alongside her notable long-time collaborator, John Parish and proceeded to weave a magic spell over the audience, predominantly with material drawn from her 2023 album, “I Inside the Old Year Dying”. It was truly a mesmerising aural and visual spectacle.

She then ripped through a bunch of her iconic tracks like “50 ft Queenie”, “Down By The Water,” “Sheela-Na-Gig,” ,“Dress” and many more. You could tell she was transported - as we all were - by the moment and location; a really special performance I won’t soon forget!

9. LION ISLAND - "HEAVY LIFTING"
If you’re not aware of these NSW Central Coast indie rockers, then "Heavy Lifting" is a great place to get onboard the train heading over the Hawkesbury Bridge. This, their fifth studio album (!!!!) traverses the angular to the melodic, to pounding, grungy guitar-laden stomps.  

Well worth your attention as is their previous releases. Nod to the earwormish “Danny Larusso” off their GBV-style titled album Pilot Termination Kiosk from 2023.  Another “should be better known”. 

10. PRIVATE FUNCTION - ¯"\(ツ)/¯"
Dumb, fun, raucous, rambunctious, irreverent punk rock. Nuff said. 

Visit Crankinhause Records and albums by Van Ruin and east Coast Low here.