Mavis Staples' Statement On Change

Mavis Staples’ Statement On Change

Image by: Myriam Santos

Welcome to the new music review where we connect you with some of the best new music from around the world. Read on, click through to our Spotify playlist and enjoy it all on 2SER!

Cate Le Bon – Reward (FEATURE ALBUM)
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Angie – The Underling
Evan Lock – Kaleidoscopic
Faye Webster – Atlanta Millionaires Club
Flying Lotus – Flamagra
Mavis Staples – We Get By
Reality Instructors – Ritual Ignorant
Sebadoh – Act Surprised

Starting off this week we’ve got new Sydney based trio Reality Instructors and their debut release ‘Ritual Ignorant’. Sharing duties on lead vocals is Dan Pash, formerly of now defunct Adelaide folk-rockers Leader Cheetah. Immediately, there’s an unyielding sense of urgency and acuteness on these self described “ham-fisted, aggro-jangle” songs. What’s not so apparent is that Pash has less than 3% of hearing, caused by a genetic degenerative condition. With the encouragement of his partner Eve Lande, who took up and more than capably wields bass for the group, ‘Ritual Ignorant’ began to take shape. It’s melodic post-punk married with a considered way of arrangement that’s strangely hypnotic.

American gospel and soul legend Mavis Staples also returns with ‘We Get By’. Recently out here for Bluesfest, Staples is celebrating her 80th birthday with some stellar live shows and this release. Having worked closely with M Ward, and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy on previous albums, Staples enlists the help of Ben Harper here for some fresh, blues and roots updates. The message here is of love while calling for peace and justice. Though slightly more subdued in vocal work here, Staples’ determination is still palpable

Sebadoh are back too, with an album largely about resilience in ‘Act Surprised’. With the release of 2013’s ‘Defend Yourself’, this is the band’s second effort after a 14 year hiatus. Typically raucous and fuzz ladened, but increasingly layered with thoughtful self-reflection and pure emotion.