Picks Of The Island Party

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday January 2, 2009

Bernard Zuel

MOODY GERMANS AND LYRICAL GREEKS Harmonia (atmospheric and rhythmic, machine-based but very human) and Psarantonis (lyre-playing, traditional Cretan and Greek songs, mucho emotional).

SWEARY NAMES Passenger of S--- (electronic, nasty and occasionally trance-inducing) and F--- Buttons (electronic, noisy and danceable) can offend parents even before you get to Cockatoo Island.

BACK IN THE HARNESS Saints (fast, short and seminal), Laughing Clowns (jazzy, longer and experimental) and the Reels (sweet and poppy) have all reformed and band members may even talk to each other.

OLD SCHOOL AND AT SCHOOL James Blood Ulmer (out-there guitarist, jazz and blues king) and Bridezilla (weird clothes, folk-jazz-art-rock mix) can bond over a love of Ornette Coleman.

SPACE ROCK Spiritualized (big sounds, big emotions, no more drugs) and Beaches (guitars, melody, drones and group hugs) do atmosphere and widescreen rock. BZ

© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald

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