DEVIN TOWNSEND; one of the most admired and lauded figures in the metal world will be bringing his astonishingly deep and varied catalogue of mind-blowing music to Sidewaves in Sydney and Melbourne.

Devin Townsend has amazed, beguiled and occasionally baffled all comers in numerous incarnations spanning the extreme noise metal of Strapping Young Lad to the intricate melodies of Ocean Machine; Devin has had his hand in almost every genre of music, from industrial metal to progressive rock to ambient sounds.  All of these projects had one thing in common: GENIUS.

In his incarnation as DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, ‘Hevy Devy’ makes his most grandiose musical statement with an extravagant conceptual quadrilogy showcasing his talents and diversity as a songwriter.  From the extreme metal to his more mellow work. ‘Ghost’, the final chapter of the quadrilogy is among the most celebrated creations of his career, a blissfully laid back opus. “Townsend has delivered on a level not previously imagined” – Metalinjection.net

Touted by Rolling Stones as “one of the 10 most important hard and heavy bands” acclaimed Swedish metal outfit MESHUGGAH have been leading the metal world with their ground-breaking approach to songwriting.

MESHUGGAH’S sixth studio album ‘Obzen’, a genre classic, sees them at their unrelenting and vicious best “having perfected their already unparalleled craftsmanship…it’s a phenomenal record” – Lords Of Metal

With a new album ‘Kooloos’ due out March 2012, the metal world waits in anticipation of what the metal giants have in store. In the meantime don’t miss your chance to witness “The most important band in metal”– Alternative press.

Driven by a desire to change and evolve, DREDG have been experimenting and pushing the boundaries throughout their 15 year career.  With their 5th studio album ‘Chuckles and Mr Squeezy’ DREDG is firmly cementing their place as one of rocks most innovative artists breaking new ground in an unexplored realm, “DREDG do pull the new approach off with real success” – Revolver Magazine

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Presented by Soundwave Touring

Rod Whitfield

Sometimes an album comes out that is so beautiful that it just defies description. That is certainly the case for Rockhampton’s favourite sons Busby Marou whose self-titled debut album is absolutely sensationally… this is the kind of album that could just have hit after hit after hit released off it… and nobody would get tired of hearing it.

Opening track ‘All Of You’ is an absolute gem while ‘Biding My Time’ is screaming to be used in ‘Packed To The Rafters…. and when it does it is guaranteed to become a hit. ‘Banjo’ continues the string of great tracks while ‘This Moment’ shows that this duo have the songwriting capabilities to pull off a great love song without it getting all soppy.

They also put a lot of emotion into ‘Paint My Cup (Early 60’s)’ which is another gem. ‘Dancing On The Moon’ shows that even when these guys drop an ordinary track it is still worth a listen while ‘Save Some For The Others’ is really, really infectious.

The smooth ‘Lhasa’ is well worth another listen while ‘Not Fire, Not Ice’ is capable of bringing out some strong emotions from deep down inside. ‘Underlying Message’ and ‘5 Rocks’ both consist of some truly beautiful melodies while ‘Konomie’ will win you over with its sweet lyrics.

This self-titled is sensational and I can’t wait to hear more work from Busby Marou.

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

The Sunshine Brothers really do travel the world to make their music. There debut album Rebel Yellow was recorded on a beach near Fremantle while their follow up was recorded in New York, now comes their third album, Red Alert which was put together in the mountains of Spain.

But there is seriously something missing from this album. Tracks like ‘Deep Breeze’ are feel good reggae but with all the tracks back to back the album becomes just a little bit too repetitive.

The tribal sound of ‘The Jamon Song (La Cancion De Jamon)’ may make you want to go to the beach but the ‘Hideaway’ drags down the mood of the album completely. It rises again with the catchy ‘What You Do’ and the darker groove of ‘Red Alert’, but then hits another roadblock with ‘The Pint.’

The Spanish influence is clearly there with ‘Golden Duck’ but then ‘Jairo Jam’ is so repetitive that it can’t even be resuscitated with the help of Spirit Of Pucho. The vocals on ’72 Blanks’ provides another peak for the album but sadly it ends on a sour note with ‘Inside The Silo’, a track that you could expect to hear being used as background noise in a restaurant.

Sadly, Red Alert is a flop and I don’t think even serious reggae fans would find much to write home about with this one.

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

With his latest hit single Read All About It (feat. Emeli Sandé) currently spinning on all Top 40 radio in Australia, UK underground hip hop phenomenon Professor Green has accepted the mic as support for Jessie J’s upcoming first ever Australian headline tour presented by Future Entertainment! These dates are in addition to his highly anticipated appearances at the national tour for Future Music Festival this March.

Peter Sutton

It sounds like publicity spin but the world really is falling in love with Ed Sheeran, and after a listen to his debut album + you will be as well. It only take one listen to this album for you to realise that this British singer/songwriter is one of the most talented musos to surface in a long time.

+ eases in smoothly with ‘The A Team’, a beautiful indie track that Sheeran wrote after visiting a crisis centre. By the time you get to ‘Drunk’ you really do feel like an alcoholic because this album is so damn addictive that you just want more and more.

‘U.N.I.’ shows Sheeran’s expertise as a songwriter while ‘Grade 8’ is one catchy radio track that I really don’t mind listening to over and over. ‘Wake Me Up’ may sound like a track that James Blunt would love to get his hands on but Sheeran’s unique British humor raises it’s head and really makes it something special.

By far the most beautiful track on + is ‘Small Bump’. This is one of the best tracks ever written about fatherhood and really does show why Sheeran deserves to be rated as one of the best songwriters around at the moment. He follows that up with ‘This’ an absolutely gorgeous love song that is going to have hearts breaking.

‘The City’ is a pop track with a rock edge that makes it something special while ‘Lego House’ is yet another love song that will be finding itself onto many romantic’s mix tapes I’m guessing. The faster pace of ‘You Need Me, I Don’t Need You’ shows a different side to Sheeran and the use of terms like ‘crack pipe’ shows you just how cutting edge he really is.

Sheeran does sweet and seductive to a T with ‘Kiss Me’ while the brilliant sound of ‘Give Me Love’ makes you rue the fact that it is the last track on the album.

+ shows that Sheeran has the potential to become one of the most popular musos of our time, now after a brilliant debut comes the hard part… sitting down to write the follow up.

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

From 17 February to 14 March 2012, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) presents Focus on Raj Kapoor, a spotlight on the late actor, director and producer who revolutionised Indian cinema.

An extensive career retrospective, Focus on Raj Kapoor features several new 35mm prints. Revealing an on-screen persona inspired by the smirk and swagger of Clark Gable, the heightened emotions and showmanship of Gene Kelly, and the underdog heroism and pathos of Charlie Chaplin, Kapoor helped set the template for the Bollywood films of today.

A film of many firsts, Fire (Aag) (1948) was Kapoor’s debut as producer, director and leading man. It also saw him perform for the first time with his on-screen muse, Nargis. A brooding, noir-ish melodrama, Fire tells the story of Kewel (Kapoor), who is banished from the family home by his father, but manages to scrape together enough money to build a theatre where he eventually hosts a performance by his beloved Nimmi (Nargis).

Kapoor had his first megahit with Monsoon (Barsaat) (1949), a film that focuses on two key characters: romantic idealist Pran (Kapoor) and his more carnally driven best friend, Gopal (Prem Nath). The film brought together Kapoor’s enduring team of collaborators including composers Shankar and Jaikshen, lyricists Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri, cinematographer Radhu Karmakar, art director M.R. Achrekar, playback singers Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh (who sang the songs Kapoor mimed to), and his leading lady, Nargis.

A contemporary retelling of the ancient story of Rama’s banishment of Sita, The Vagabond (Awaara) (1951) brought Kapoor international success. Four generations of the Kapoor family appeared in the film, and it also marked the debut appearance of the Charlie Chaplin-inspired tramp persona that Kapoor would become known for. Featuring an extended dream sequence that revolutionised Hindi cinema by introducing the idea of externalising characters’ inner conflicts through song and dance numbers, The Vagabond was also nominated for the top prize at the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.

 In Where the Ganges Flows (Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai) (1951) Kapoor revived his trademark tramp character to play Raju, a man on a pilgrimage to the Ganges who becomes sidetracked by the womanly charms of a bandit named Kammo (Padmini). He attempts to convert Kammo’s band of brigands into modern day Robin Hoods and through a series of twists and turns, the stage is set for a dramatic confrontation with the rural police. The film was awarded three major prizes at the 1986 Filmfare Awards: Best Music (Ravindra Jain), Best Director and Best Film.

With a nod to Vittorio De Sica’s Shoeshine, Boot Polish (1953) is Prakash Arora’s realist tale set on the same streets as Slumdog Millionaire. An orphaned brother and sister are forced onto the streets to beg by their wicked aunt until a kind stranger encourages them to join the boot polish trade. But the children become separated when the monsoons arrive and the demand for boot polishing evaporates. Embodying Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s campaign for social reforms, this was Kapoor’s second film to be nominated for a Palme d’Or at Cannes.

In the film Shree 420 (1955), Kapoor adopts his most well known Chaplinesque role. Playing a poor but educated orphan who arrives in Bombay with dreams of finding his fortune, it’s not long before he is drawn into a life of gambling and fraud. Meanwhile, he attempts to woo school teacher Vidya, who tries to help him change his ways, but a life of crime continues to tempt him. The film features several legendary musical numbers, including the rousing ‘Mera Joota Hai Japani’ (‘My shoes are Japanese’) which was embraced by a newly independent India.

In Stay Awake (Jagte Raho) (1956), Kapoor plays a tramp on the hunt for a glass of water that wonders into a luxury Calcutta building and exposes the behind-closed-doors perversions of the city’s upper middle class. A socialist comedy-thriller directed by Sombhu Mitra and Amit Maitra, the film was the first Indian film to win the Grand Prix prize at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.

Sangam (1964) was Kapoor’s first colour film and a world-wide hit. Featuring four hours of pure spectacle, it established a trend for Bollywood films to seek out exotic locations around the world (often Switzerland) for their song and dance sequences. Starring Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala and Rajendra Kumar in a love triangle, Sangam provides a whirlwind tour through suburban mansions, European vacations and scotch-sipping parties. The film screens with an intermission.

My Name is Joker (Meera Naam Joker) (1970), Kapoor’s legendary box office disaster, was condemned as an exercise in self-pity at the time of its release, but has since had its reputation revived by Western critics who have proclaimed it is as a self-reflexive masterwork. Kapoor reinterprets his trademark tramp persona, removing all trances of heroism to appear as a saccharine, love-obsessed clown. A compulsively watchable film, My Name is Joker runs for almost four hours and screens with an interval.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Kal Aaj Aur Kal) (1971) marked a return to form for Kapoor after the critical failure of My Name Is Joker. The film also stars three generations of Kapoors: Raj’s father Prithviraj, Raj himself and son Randhir, the director of the film. When Rajesh (Randhir) returns home after studying abroad, his grandfather (Prithviraj) sets a plan in motion for an arranged marriage. But problems arise when Rajesh refuses to marry anyone other than his girlfriend Mona, played by Randhir’s real life fiancée Babita.

In the 1973 film Bobby – the follow up to My Name is Joker – Kapoor delivers a paean to youth, casting his son Rishi in the lead role of Raj. Born into a wealthy family, Raj falls in love with his former maid’s granddaughter, played by Bollywood icon Dimple Kapadia in her first cinematic role. Packed with zany sets, outrageous costumes, and an abundance of physical comedy, Bobby combined traditional Indian sounds with western music and in the process, established a new genre of Bollywood film.

Produced, edited and directed by Kapoor, Love Sublime/Love, Truth and Beauty (Satyam Shivam Sundaram) (1978) was his studio’s attempt to return to prominence after releasing a string of epic action films. A raunchy meditation on love and beauty, the film won two Filmfare Awards for Best Music and Best Cinematography. It tells the story of village girl Roopa (Zeenat Aman), whose face is disfigured as the result of a childhood accident. When Ranjeet (Sashi Kapoor) visits the village to oversee the construction of a major dam he falls in love with Roopa, only to discover her disfigurement on their wedding night.

God, Your River is Tainted (Ram Teri Ganga Mailli) (1985) was Kapoor’s most financially successful film, and signalled his return to telling stories with a social message. Highlighting the endemic corruption within Indian society, he used the state of the Ganges as a metaphor for his country’s decline. It featured the male lead Narendra (played by Kapoor’s son Rajiv), fleeing his politically corrupt home of Calcutta for the more pristine headwaters of the Ganges, where he falls in love with Ganga (Mandakini).

ACMI Film Programmer James Nolen says, “While Raj Kapoor remains largely unknown to Australian audiences, he is regarded as an important cultural icon, not only in India, but throughout the Middle East and beyond. The films he made during the Golden Age of Indian cinema continue to have an impact on the Bollywood films of today.”

Starting his career in 1935 as an actor performing in his father’s theatre company, Kapoor acted in small film roles before founding the production house, RK Films, in 1948. The Indian government officially recognised his contributions to Hindi cinema by awarding him the Padma Bhushan in 1971 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1987.

Focus on Raj Kapoor screens 17 February to 14 March at ACMI in Melbourne. For full program information and screening times, please visit acmi.net.au

Dave Griffiths

It is summer, right? The time to sit back, turn off the brain and read a real page turner. And one of my favourite writers who keeps me turning pages is Andy McDermott. I agree, the plots are thin, anyone but the core characters are paper thin, but nearly every book by McDermott has me up until the wee hours of the morning, wide awake and reading. This one is no different.

Before you go any further, stop and make sure you have read The Sacred Vault and The Empire of Gold. If not, go do it now. It won’t take long and there is no way you will make sense of this plot unless you are already familiar with earth energy and the 3 statues.

Now for the plot summary, well it is kind of the same as all the rest. Eddie and Nina are on the trail of some rare archaeological artefacts. Just as they get their hands on them, a bunch of mercenaries arrive and after a huge fight, take them away. Then Nina using her education and insight and Eddie using his contacts and brawn locate and win back the artefacts only to see them and their legendary source destroyed. Easy summary, because that’s the plot outline for the whole series.

But McDermott has a talent for imaginative interpretations of legend, as well as the ability to write a gripping adventure. He doesn’t let anything resembling a fact get in the way. So relax, chill and enjoy.

CS Sutton

If bands such as All India Radio wet your whistle then she should be adding Beaten By Them’s new EP, People Start Listening, to the list of albums that you need to buy. This truly international group (they hail from San Francisco, New York and Melbourne) have been wowing music lovers for a while now and while their new EP is a step in a new direction it could well be their finest work to date.

It may only be a four-tracker, but at least it is four tracks of pure quilty. ‘Damp Sky 3’ is a moody piece of ambient music that even John Foxx would be proud to produce… it really is a stunning track.

Then there is ‘Rumours Of Madness’ an atomospheric and industrial sounding track that rises to such sharp points that any listener sitting too close to the speaker is guaranteed to get a little shock. You just have to love a track that has the ability to evoke an emotion like that from someone.

‘Damp Sky 4’ is a dark and sinister track with strong bass beat while ‘It Can Take You Higher’ sees the group uses their guitars more which brings a rockier sound to the track… think in mind of something that Melbourne band Laura would produce.

If you’re looking for something a little different than you can’t go wrong with People Start Listening by Beaten By Them… these talented musicians just get better and better with each album they release.

Rating: 

Dave Griffiths

For a country as obsessed about Australian Rules Football as Australia is movies about our national code have been few and far between.

However, that is about to change with new film ‘Blinder’ going into production from February 20th in Torquay before moving to the U.S. Director, Richard Gray (writer/director of ‘Summer Coda’ and ‘Mine Games’) couldn’t be happier about the films location. “I grew up holidaying with family on the Great Ocean Road and always dreamed of shooting a film there. We have locations from Torquay to Apollo Bay – and they’re just stunning. I have a huge passion for football and can’t wait to bring the action to the big screen, an emotional but uplifting story that a large audience can get behind.“

It was announed today that the film will star Oliver Ackland (‘The Slap’, ‘Wasted On The Young’) and he will be supported by Rose McIver (‘The Lovely Bones’), Steve Bisley (‘Red Hill’), Anna Hutchison (‘Wild Boys’), Zoe Carides (‘Death In Brunswick’), Bob Morley (‘Road Train’) and Angus Sampson (‘Insidious’).

Ackland will star as an ex-footballer who returns home after a long absence to clear his name and start something new with an old flame.

One of the film’s producers, AFL legend Glenn Archer says it has been too long between Aussie Rules movies “An Aussie Rules film has been a long time coming. Considering it’s the most watched and most tribal sport in the country, BLINDER will be a film that will capture the imagination of the footy world. There are millions of people that tune into the games every week, attend local footy and judge how their weekend was depending on the result of their team’s match. BLINDER will encapsulate everything great about that game, insights into the life and times of footballers and hopefully inspire people.“

Dave Griffiths

Well here is one of the finds of 2012… everyone remember the name Shaun Kirk. One quick glance at the album photography of Shaun on his new album ‘Thank You For Giving Me The Blues’ and he looks like a baby-faced singer about to dish out some more Top 40 Pop, but start listening to the album and you soon realise he is a man with one of the finest blues’ voices that this country has ever heard… and even better he knows about the legends like Willie Dixon and Bo Diddley.

Kirk’s voice strikes you on the opening track, ‘Thank You For Giving Me The Blues’, and if you’re a blues fan there is no way you are going to stop listening once you have heard it. His voice becomes quite forceful on ‘Stream Train’ which in turn helps the song to flow but also takes what could have been a bland song to a whole new level.

‘I Live The Life I Love & I Love The Life I Live’ is the albums down point but it is quickly forgotten by the great guitar led intro of ‘Drug Got A Hold Onto You’. The track packs a punch and is just catchy enough to have your foot tapping along with it. Some would consider ‘The Howlin’ Harp Boogie’ a piece of album filler, but with harmonica playing this fine I’m not complaining.

The catchy side of the album returns with ‘You Don’t Know Me’ and it is obvious that Kirk is a talent beyond his years. ‘Chicken & Corn’ is a good travelling track with a just a hint of comedy while ‘I Just Wanna Make Love To You’ is one of the most honest love songs you are ever likely to hear.

The loving feeling continues with the smooth ‘Find Somebody To Love’ while ‘Who Do You Love?’ rounds out a fine album with yet another classic. Together with Lloyd Spiegel Kirk has made this a track a must for blues fans.

Thank You For Giving Me The Blues is a surprising album that has come out of nowhere… it’s also an album I will be listening to for a long time to come.

Rating:

Dave Griffiths