Earlier this month Melbourne based Americana duo Amarillo released their new album Eyes Still Fixed. Amarillo was formed as a vehicle for Jac Tonks and Nick O’Mara’s songwriting, while Nick is also a founding member of the alt country outfit Raised By Eagles. Eyes Still Fixed was produced by Nick's cousin Shane O'Mara, whose impressive credits include working with the likes of … [Read more...]
All I Can See – Amarillo
Sometimes you don’t need much to capture a very large space. All I Can See manages to do that with a lilting, almost haunting feel and an introduction not that far removed from Paul Simon’s Sounds of Silence. In this case that void of endless silence was Australia’s outback and it became the inspiration for the song when Melbourne band Amarillo toured throughout the remote … [Read more...]
O Death – Karl S. Williams
There’s no doubt that Karl S. Williams marches to the beat of his own drum. In an age where popular music is made to order for instant consumption, here is a man whose music comes from another time and place, a craftsman with the ability to tap into a wellspring deep within his soul to create some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard. His voice can move from angelic … [Read more...]
A chat with… Tracy McNeil
Tracy McNeil has quickly built a reputation as one of our finest songwriters. Originally from Canada, Tracy has called Melbourne home for that last decade and as the wife of guitarist and songwriter Luke Sinclair (Raised By Eagles), Tracy is now a well entrenched member of Melbourne’s music mafia. Her first release here was a collaboration with the wonderfully talented … [Read more...]
Thieves – Tracy McNeil & The GoodLife
Sometimes you put a record on and you instantly know you’re going to love it. It’s almost impossible to rationalise why and there’s really no need to, it’s just a gut feel that says “yes”. I can’t think of a great album that doesn’t grab you from the outset and whilst the opening song from Thieves doesn’t leap out at you looking for attention it immediately creates a vibe that … [Read more...]