Rat Columns : I Wonder

David West, James Vinciguerra, Matt Bleyle and Jon Young make the line up the for Rat Columns.  Some may already be familiar with these guys from their work in Rank/Xerox, Total Control, Lace Curtain, Burning Sensation, Orgy Of The Undead, Frank & The Can I Speaklys, Whalehammer, Pualine Mason, Nosedive, KBA, Sopors, Abi Yoyos and Violent Change.  

Rat Columns recent show opening for Rank/Xerox at The Lexington was one of my favourites this year, their set was completely arresting and I had to pick up this 7" (the LPs had already sold out).  Rat Columns started primarily as a solo project and that's what I think we hear on this single.  These 4 songs of Post punk wanderings recall 80s British Indie with it's dejected vocals paired with lush guitars, alongside a Joy Division-esque bass line and drum machine - best shown on BSide "Glass Coffin".  Rat Columns album 'Sceptre Hole' is out now featuring the full line up which pushes things over the edge with songs becoming more ballistic, more pop and more psychedelic shrouded under a cloud of drone.  All releases so far have been on Smart Guy records and you can pick up copies here

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Video for "I Wonder" by Hannah Lew

Rat Columns "I Wonder" from Aubree Bernier-Clarke on Vimeo.

Ooga Boogas : Ooga Boogas

Ooga Boogas follow up their fantastic debut 'Romance and Adventure' with a self titled album that came out at the beginning of summer or there-abouts.   The Melbourne four piece are: Mikey Young, Per Bystrom (whose Aunt also did the stunning artwork), Leon Stackpole and Richard Stanley  - who has released the album on his own Aarght! Records label.  'Romance and Adventure' saw Ooga Boogas put their own stamp on garage rock in 2008, and these ten new songs take a look at rock through different lenses utilizing electronics, so don't be surprised to hear a few changes in their approach.  Opener "Circle of  Trust" features strutting bass & beats alongside guitars building and releasing tension with choppy sections intermittently smoothed over with fuzzed out riffage.  My personal highlights: straight up chugging rock 'n' roll song "Ooga Boogas II", the incredible guitar solo at the end of "Mind Reader" AND "It's a Sign".  "It's a sign that we're making it baby, it's sign that we're doing things right, when I'm looking at you and you're looking at me, when I'm smiling at you and you're laughing at me...", Stackpole sings in a heartfelt holler apace with saccharine guitars, low gulping bass and palpitating beats - he continues "Well it seems we've got something going on, when you take your panties off and don't put 'em back on,".  'Ooga Boogas' has been one of my records of the summer and I'm sure if you get a chance to pick up a copy it'll be yours too!   

Best press release for an album ever: