Best Of: August 2020
Normally the end of August feels like the shedding of a great winter weight. Brighter days are ahead as Spring comes into full bloom and generally the feeling of sunshine coming sometime soon pulls you through into September with a smile. Yet, every milestone in 2020 has felt like a shock, a pure moment of “fuck really? already?” but here we are.
It’s hard to say what lies ahead this Spring, but for now I do know August was a beautiful month filled to the brim with some of the year’s finest musical releases. This month saw me diving deep into new music from Azim Zain, Sweater Curse and Obscura Hail if you missed those articles, go listen to the songs; they’re gorgeous. Below, are the tracks I wish I had more time to write about, they each deserve their own article. They are each, in their own right, incredible.
Agnes Manner - Brilliant Blue
Brilliant Blue is beautiful, heartbreaking and unhindered in its ability to bare its bones. A song of masculinity, alcoholism, sons and fathers it is a true epic both thematically and musically that will leave a lasting impression on you.
The third single from Agnes Manners debut album Fantasia Famish arriving on September 18th, Brilliant Blue will completely shatter you.
CHOP - Freedom
CHOP hit phenomenally hard. The high school duo combine punishing drums and dominant bass lines with unreserved vocals that jump from spoken word to scream, punching politics into your face and asking you to listen up.
CHOP are exciting in how truly themselves they are at such a young age. Original, unafraid, making a statement and very fucking good. The sky is the limit for this band.
On The Gang - Doubted Us
Doubted Us is the kind of song with so much front it has garnered dozens of reaction videos on YouTube where various content makers from across the globe look on with an equal mix of terror and awe. The Southwest Sydney drill group are ice cold as usual on their latest offering. They don’t break the mold in terms of themes, but their delivery is as slick as the best in the game. A song of come ups and taking names that does just that.
Doubted Us is a volume up, windows down, big beat banger of the highest order.
Sam Windley - Neighbours In The Morning
Conversational, filled with quirk and impossibly intelligent, Neighbours In The Morning is a song nothing short of perfect. Written about the process of people watching, sitting back and having a peek at your neighbours going about their life, Neighbours In The Morning manages to sound effortless and genius all at once. Cowbells, whistles and one of the best guitar hooks of the year, Neighbours In The Morning is as golden as the sunshine soaked sounds that make it.
Sam Windley is my pick to win triple j unearthed high this year for good reason. With three singles to her name and an Alex Lahey co-write to boot, Sam Windley sounds like a household name in the making.
Grace Turner - Crossed Your Mind
One of the very best songwriters in the country, Grace Turner dropped her latest EP Half Truths to kick off the month of September. The entire EP is flushed with the Newcastle singer songwriter’s signature brilliance. Crossed Your Mind is no exception and one of the many highlights from the release, huge, warm and entirely enveloping. By the final note you will find yourself scrambling to listen once more. Do it. Put it on repeat. Put the entire EP on repeat.
I’ve spoken at length about Grace Turner before and will do so again, she is a talent in a league of her own.
