Tim Rogers & The Twin Set TINES

Of Stars Unfurled

Album Reviews by Alex Callan

At a point in time, if you were to hear the word ‘line’ and Tim Rogers in the same sentence, your mind would immediately race to the revered Aussie artist getting loaded in dingy backrooms of inner-city Melbourne venues. Now, many years later, it evokes the imagery of a slew of people ‘line-dancing’ at the Kentucky State Fair.

and ‘girls’) offering up addendums to some of the songs on the now iconic ‘99 debut. Having stated that some of the pre-existing songs “no longer [rang] true”, Rogers decided to deliver new and reimagined takes on the old classics, offering up home truths (and at times rebuttals) from the perspective of the same songwriter 20 years on. This isn’t always pretty, but what journey of self-discovery is?

CIVIC Taken By Force

Yes, that’s right, Tim Rogers has gone country. And when I say that, I don’t mean he’s gone out West to pursue the ‘new sound’, I mean he’s gone full-on, boot-scootin’ country. Sure, it’s a move that will naturally upset You Am I purists who were hoping Rogers’ newest offering would be a rehash of the group’s iconic 90’s punk rock sound, but for the loyalists who have kept tabs on every nuance of the artists’ career, it’s a reinvention that’s been a long time coming.

This is not to say that Rogers hasn’t successfully reinvented his sound previously. If anything, it's been quite the opposite, with fan’s still regarding his debut release with The Twin Set

1999’s ‘I Left My Heart All Over The Place’, in which Rogers famously pens to a lover about trying to make himself better but still being a “sorry sack of shit”, evolves into the incredibly evocative ‘Left My Heart’, in which a now sober Rogers reflects on his years of partying only to resolve that “the money saved on powder, piss and pills” was only “doubled down on meds for his ills.” In another stark moment, the painstakingly honest ‘A Quiet Anniversary’, sees Rogers singing with candour about the happy relationship depicted in ‘Happy Anniversary’ gradually diminishing, leaving the songwriter with aching grief as he deals with solitude on their anniversary.

Presented with the wisdom of a hardened barfly; the wit of John Prine and the vulnerability of an AA meeting, Rogers' newest release conveys more than just a stylistic reinvention, instead feeling like the debut of a whole new Rogers entirely. The big difference is this time around he’s dropped the cool guy schtick… and the results have never been cooler.

Label: Virgin Music Release date: 24/02/2023

CIVIC are without a doubt one of Australia’s most exciting acts at the moment. If that’s a statement that you disagree with, I’ll refine it even further by stating that CIVIC are easily Australia’s most genuine punk outfit. If you still disagree, you’re just lying to yourself.

Everything about the group is drenched in authenticity, so much so that if you stumbled across their newest release Taken By Force at an op-shop, you’d assume you’d just found a hidden Aussie gem from the 70s.

From the vintage Aussie surf poster style of the cover to the raw, rock and roll charged punk output the band are becoming known for, it’s quite evident that CIVIC have started to really lean into their influences, namely that of Sydney punk stalwarts Radio Birdman. This is a move that has seemingly been embraced by Birdman themselves, with the group’s esteemed lead vocalist Rob Younger serving as a producer on Taken By Force, alongside CIVIC’s newest recruit Matt Blach.

While songs like ‘End Of The Line’ and ‘Fly Song’ channel the aggressive punk nature that the group cut their teeth on, tracks like ‘Taken By Force’ and ‘Trick Of The Light’ change it up a bit, tying together old and new punk elements with moments of psychedelia in a powerful display that proves that punk doesn’t need to be overly fast or aggressive as long as it maintains its cause and integrity.

Label: Cooking Vinyl Records Release date: 10/02/2023

What

Rhymes With Cars and Girls? as one of Roger’s most powerful collections of work to date. This is a sentiment felt by many, Rogers not being one of them, with his newest album Tines of Stars Unfurled (yes, that rhymes with ‘cars’

Huntly Sentimental Still

With an eclectic sound that’s as equally suited for commercial radio as it is for nightclubs, genre-melders Huntly continues to explore their honed-in combination of off-kilter beats merged with infectious electro-pop hooks on their sophomore release Sentimental Still

Presented through a myriad of electronic soundscapes that rapidly change in genre and tempo, Sentimental Still ushers in quite a change-up for the Melbournebased up-and-comers, leaving behind their indie-pop sound for the darker realms of UK garage and alternative techno. It’s a welcomed change-up, albeit a surprising one, considering the group have gone less commercial on their follow-up, although, in doing so they have transformed their sound to far greater heights.

As an almost pre-certified dancefloor romper, ‘It’s You I’m Here For’ dazzles, with Andrew Huhtanen McEwan’s rapid Mall Grab-esque breakbeats and atmospheric trip-hop transitions providing the perfect backing to leave you transfixed on Elspeth Scrine’s enigmatic vocal range.

‘Shame’ maintains a 2-step garage quality akin to the likes of PinkPantheress, whilst ‘Make You Proud’ leans more into the likes of Jamie XX and Four Tet with its intricate percussive arrangements. Adding a level of sensibility, ‘Still Be Someone’ replaces percussion for dissonant keys in a stripped-back moment that sees Scrine’s vocals soar.

Straight up, in terms of the alternative electronic scene, Huntly have all of the components needed to become massive. At this point, it’s just a matter of time.

Label: Dot Dash Recordings

Release date: 03/02/2023

Bumpy Morning Sun

Over the last few years neo-jazz, nu-soul has gradually been creeping into the Melbourne scene, establishing a rather rapid following as one of the most prominent up-and-coming genres around.

Merging elements of R’n’B, alternative electronica, jazz and hip-hop, the genre quickly earned its stripes, with trailblazers such as Hiatus Kaiyote and 30/70 migrating from tiny backyard shows and the Victorian ‘bush-doof’ scene to become revered on the stages all around the world.

This means that Bumpy’s debut EP Morning Sun is being delivered to the masses at the perfect time. With her backing being comprised of electronically charged jazz elements and a vocal range that resembles the raw huskiness of Macy Gray, Bumpy’s debut perfectly encapsulates the breathtaking vocal capabilities of the ludicrously gifted Naarm-based artist.

From the sweeping percussive breaks of ‘Leave It All Behind’ to the mesmerising shuffled percussion and funky Morcheebaesque grooves of ‘Return Home’, Morning Sun will undoubtedly offer up enough to keep you grooving through the day. The title track ‘Morning Sun’ highlights more of a folk sensibility to the artists, whilst ‘Hide & Seek’ maintains soulful grooves and powerful vocal harmonies alongside its slowed-down metronomic beats. But that’s possibly Morning Sun’s most impressive feature; that almost every song takes on a completely new style for the vocalist, but never in a gimmicky way. Instead, Bumpy’s vocals are equally suited to any style she tackles.

Label: Astral People Recordings Release date: 27/01/2023

Tropical Fuck Storm Submersive Behaviour

Anytime an artist decides to tackle a cover of Hendrix, it’s risky business, let alone when that cover is released as a direct response to another artist’s cover. And yet, it’s an ambitious (and quite egotistical) move that TFS were always guaranteed to pull off.

Their newest release, the Submersive Behaviour 12", kicks off with a blistering take on ‘1983…(A Merman I Should Turn To Be)’, which as you may have figured, is directly in combat to Zayn Malik’s recent rendition of Jimi Hendrix's ‘Angel’. Presented with swagger and bravado, TFS’s cover isn’t just one that highlights the complexities of the original track, but one that has fully been adopted as their own, with the vast majority of listeners unlikely to realise that it is a cover of a Hendrix deep cut.

Considering the drawn-out ‘jamlike’ nature and some of the off-kilter, ambient interludes, ‘1983…’ may find itself too left of centre for the everyday listener. Still, for psych-rock enthusiasts who cut their teeth on Captain Beefheart and King Crimson, there will undoubtedly be a lot for you to sink your teeth into.

With the remainder having previously been released on 2022’s Moonburn EP, fans were already stoked about finally getting a hard-copy version of the hard-hitting dance grooves of ‘The Golden Ratio’ and the powerful folk-rooted ‘Aspirin’, and now with a new Hendrix cover thrown into the mix, they have even more to celebrate.

Label: Joyful Noise Recordings

Release date: 03/02/2023

Bahjong

Geelong’s new retro-inspired dumpling diner and bar from the team at Baah Lah

Since opening in 2019, locals and visitors alike have fallen in love with the elegance, Singaporean flavours and techniques, and delicious fare offered at Brian Anderson and Amy Evans’ Pakington Street restaurant Baah Lah.

Now the talented pair have set out to challenge your palates with their new venture Bahjong, a retro-inspired modern-Asian hangout that’s a step up from street eats, a step down from fine dining, and a welcome addition to the bustling Little Malop Street.

Taking inspiration from the classic Chinese game ‘Mahjong’, Asian hawkers/ street food, and mixing it with retro diners of the west, the new dumpling diner and bar is where you can park up with a plate of food and a cocktail, or grab a bite to take back to the office.

As expected from the team at Baah Lah, plenty of thought has gone into the eating experience here with a menu that’s all about inspired combinations.

You’ll find 12 different types of homemade dumplings with a traditionally untraditional twist, paying homage to late-night classics like lamb kebab; potato, chive and sour cream; and curry beef with hot sauce. Here, it’s not just lonely dumplings served on a plate. Instead, each type of dumpling comes with a more lavish touch. The lamb and cumin dumplings, for example, are topped with bread crisps, yoghurt, tomato and cucumber, while pork and cabbage dumplings are served with sweet soy and onion rings, genuinely changing the game of dumplings in Geelong.

Of course, gluten-free and vegan options are available, and side dishes come in the form of Bao Bread and Pickled Salad. You’ll also find a sweet option with coconut custard dumplings to finish (or start), complete with shredded coconut, condensed milk, puffed rice, ice cream and strawberries.

Cocktails are Asian-inspired, using as many Australian-made spirits as possible, carrying that same bright-eyed idea into their beer and wine list.

Bahjong is located at 82 Little Malop Street, Geelong and is open Wednesday to Saturday from 5:30pm until late, and for lunch Thursday to Sunday from 12pm to 3pm.