Brisbane Bands to Watch

Oh Ye Denver Birds - Brisbane's answer to Grizzly Bear, their brand of indie folk is a breath of fresh air to even the most jaded of ears. This 6 piece have officially excited us. Check out their cool and clever stop motion film clip of Here Within Ourselves, Ourselves. 

Toy Balloon - These guys are fun with a capital F.U.N. Toy Balloons give us jangly electro pop/disco with a touch of shoe-gazing goodness and a whole lot of humour. Their album is called 'Toy Division' - 'nuff said.

Hunz - Another great electronic act to come out of Brisbane. You may have heard his track "Soon, Soon" on JACradio's A List earlier this year. Hunz gives us a bit of soul, cool melodies and a lot of great production.   

The Cairos - These guys are everywhere at the moment and it's not hard to see why. They launched their debut EP earlier this year to great success and will be next seen spreading their post-punk goodness at the Hi-Fi in support of You Am I.

Albums You NEED

Mariachi El Bronx - Mariachi El Bronx

Recorded while The Bronx were in the studio making their third album, Mariachi El Bronx is like nothing you would expect from LA's finest purveyors of hardcore punk rock. Rather than take the piss out of the genre, Mariachi El Bronx show a genuine love for the oft-maligned Mexican music, creating an album that is absolutely sensitive, amusing and utterly enjoyable. Matt Caughthran's understated vocals are perfectly suited to the themes of love and loss, with opener 'Cell Mates' and 'Clown Powder' the highlights. While Mariachi El Bronx is more a modernisation of mariachi than a strict interpretation, it is an album which further enhances the reputation of a band that has never given a toss.

The xx - xx

It really is hard to believe that the members of The xx are only 20 years-old, such is the maturity displayed in the writing and production of their debut LP xx. Sparse and sometimes sterile, it is the friction between the sultry voice of Romy Madley Croft and the ugly voice (meant in the best way possible) of Oliver Sim that fills the space and really makes this album work. Songs like 'Islands', 'Basic Space' and 'Crystalised' will all require multiple listens and prove that The South London four-piece are no flash in the pan. The xx may be heavily influenced by modern R&B such as The Neptunes and Timbaland, but what emerges is without doubt one of the alternative pop albums of the year.