Category: 1/2/3/4

Celebrating all the great music that came out in 2019 – it’s the 1/2/3/4 Top 50 tracks from last year. In Part 2, we count down from #33 to #18. 

Vetchinsky Settings is the project of two artists who have created so many favourite records that reside in my collection. Vocalist James Hackett fronted The Orchids who shot to prominence with essential indiepop releases on Bristol label Sarah Records (The Orchids are still playing together) and multi-instrumentalist Mark Tranmer, creating incredibly gorgeous music as Gnac and with Montgolfier Brothers and Wingdisk. Their debut album, Underneath The Stars, Still Waiting, is emotive, atmospheric and incredibly cinematic. As well, debuts from Keeley Forsyth and Fran, plus Emily Barker returns home from the UK for a series of shows and a great new album in Shadow Box.

Our guest is Little Wise, the working name of songwriter Sophie Klein, who has been turning heads and melting hearts. Little Wise fuses Indie Folk-Rock with a damn good dose of Melbourne swagger and has released her follow up to her highly acclaimed debut, Silver Birch with Want It All. She pops by for a chat and performance. As well on this edition new music from Charm of Finches, Genni Kane, Jessica, Anna Cordell and Ruth Hazleton.

Jamie Hutchings is a singer/songwriter/musician and sometime producer from Sydney, Australia. He formed and fronted rock band Bluebottle Kiss in the early ’90s before concentrating on his solo work after the band went on hiatus in 2007. He also formed the experimental rock ensemble Infinity Broke and a duo with Peter Fenton (Crow) as The Tall Grass. Jamie popped by off the back of his recent live solo album for a chat and performance.

For most musicians, there is no free ride, no pot of gold, no label holding you hand. It’s a tough slog in the real world, but it is fulfilling, doing something you love and sharing your talents. Sibling duo Charm of Finches have taken the DIY path since they started, releasing a wonderful debut album in 2016, Staring at the Starry Ceiling. Now they are nearly ready to share their follow up, Your Company. They’ve launched a Pozible campaign to get them over the line with associated costs. We’ll share a special track and details how you can help support them. As well, it’s so good to have Ups and Downs back with an old favourite tune, a cracking song about climate change from Theories of Everything, we’ll introduce you to a wonderful label out of British Columbia in Kingfisher Bluez plus Jamie Hutchings, Gena Rose Bruce and the AMAZING Coda Chroma.

Phia is the entrancing DIY-art-pop music project of multi-instrumentalist songwriter and composer Sophia Exiner. She joins me to chat about her upcoming album, working with Melbourne Indie Voices and the art of looping. As well, amazing new releases from Coda Chroma, Emma Frank and Shana Falana.

Broads are Kelly Day and Jane Hendry, Melbourne queens of indie-noir. They are back with a wonderful new album, Stay Connected, that pushes their sound from their acoustic roots into a wider spectrum of colour – with hints at 60s pop, 70s folk, a little 80s new wave. They pop into the studio for a chat and perform some tracks as well. We also pay tribute to the late Leo Mullins (Benedicts/Welcome Mat/Small Knives) and brand new works from Josh Rennie-Hynes, Anna Cordell, Khristian Mizzi and more!