Seja & Otouto

Overview

There must be something in the river water in Brisbane that dictates a synthesizer fascination, at least since the mid '90s when Regurgitator added a keytar player to their band after the release of Unit. At the same time, the young Seja Vogel was playing synth in electro-pop purveyors Sekiden, shredding the ebony and ivories, and later in the '00s became a member of the 'Gurge. 'I'll get To You' is the first taste of her debut solo album, and it doesn't surprise much in its sound — '80s synths over programmed beats a la Gary Numan — but the surprise comes in the lovely vocals, a sweet melancholic melody that is backed by layers of serene aaahhhhs. It comes complete with a clip full of soft-focus '80s psychedelia: lots of triangles, pyramids and overlapping frames.

Making this an unmissable double-header are Otouto, a fresh, new band from Melbourne, made up of two singing sisters and the heavily mutton-chopped Kishore Ryan on drums (better known for his stick work with Kid Sam). Their music is a collaged, lo-fi, slightly messy clash of sounds, jumping around melodically while the sisters sing in unison. Otouto are, too, about to release their debut album. Ghoul round out this bill of new buzz bands. It's all happening in Newtown's favourite watering hole, the Sandringham, which apparently has a good new band room.