by Taipan Tiger Girls
Taipan Tiger Girls # 2 (PBS feature record)
Taipan Tiger Girls have the ability to create some of the most 'be-still-my-beating-heart' moments. Which is not particularly surprising of the sheer wealth of musical brain, brawn and general prowess found betwixt the trifecta of Lisa MacKinney, Mat Watson and Ollie Olsen. None of these three are not exactly newcomers to the scene – their skill and artistic integrity can only be matched by the fact that they sound like they are having an excellent time making this hectic cacophony.
For those not in the know, TTG are an improvisational outfit. They build and craft an intense and perfect musical moment and then, like Keyser Soze, it is gone. Except when it is magnificently captured on a beautiful disc of vinyl and released by it records. Unsurprisingly, 2 is their second release and is more of an intense maelstrom than their first effort, which I simply didn't think was possible. The listener remains couched in the eye of the storm for the duration of the release and is less buffeted, but more hypnotized by the whirl cascading around them. The ride is wild, but well worth getting on board.
Review by Press Gang (Zen Arcade)
Tamam Shud Evolution (Featured on The Breakfast Spread)
Tamam Shud's soundtrack for the surf film Evolution opens with the sound of train rattling along the tracks. It's an apt metaphor for this free-wheeling four piece who eschew structure and instead focus on chasing a feeling. Loose-hipped rock 'n' roll that hits a groove and rumbles off into the distance. Slightly shambolic and pretty hazy, this release starts out firmly in Nuggets territory but has the vision to stretch right out – doubtlessly a product of being paired to a surfing film rather than meeting music industry or pop radio constraints.
The late 60s are often pointed to as a time when Australian rock 'n' roll started to find its feet and develop its own sound. Up until now this record has been hard and expensive to acquire, thankfully Anthology Surf Archive's reissue makes this sweet bit of exploratory guitar music available to the masses for the first time.
Review by Nick Brown (The Breakfast Spread)
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