Sydney band Little May are back with another stellar single, Home, produced and recorded by Aaron Dessner (The National). Combining their unique indie-folk-rock sound with the dark undertones that have come to define the band, the track is brooding but less intense than previous singles, infused with a sense of gentle nostalgia: “All I want to do is find you/I don’t think we’ll ever know, ‘till we get home”. Giving fans a taste of what to expect from their upcoming, and highly anticipated, full length album, Home highlights the strengths of the group - intriguing, raw lyrics, gentle vocal harmonies and a sense of melancholy that renders the track haunting and poignant, even as it builds to an uptempo chorus.

Jack Grace’s debut track Hills opens on a lovely, but fairly traditional, note - sweet female vocals over synth, building towards a drop. Instead, the track breaks down, turning into a minimalist trip-hop distortion, with repeated low keys and lyrics spoken over the beat. Then it changes again, building towards the warm vocal hook, layering synth and looping sounds to create a surreal soundscape. Constantly morphing and transforming, Hills is an impressive debut, reminiscent of artist such as Thom Yorke and James Blake, and yet completely unique. Dark and tense, the track never quite builds to a conclusion, but the weaving of sounds is captivating and it was difficult not to simply press ‘Play’ again as it ended. Definitely worth many, many listens. Hills is an exciting glimpse of the upcoming EP from Jack Grace.

Loon Lake’s new release Just Now is 3 minutes of fun, brash indie rock. Drawing on punk influences, the band thrashes their way through the track, with energetic guitars and a catchy chorus. While it sounds like the kind of song made for jumping around in a moshpit, the explosive pop- rock feel belies the vulnerability in the lyrics: "My heart, your hands, you need to take some care". This is a heartbreak anthem, pulsating with bruised feelings and a 'fuck you' attitude. The video reinforces the old-school punk vibes, with retro psychadelic imagery. This is a great direction for Loon Lake, seeing them embrace their grungier side, and hopefully a sign of more good things to come from the group.

Masters of electro-pop that is as emotive as it is dance floor worthy, Panama are back with new song Jungle, a synth-heavy daydream. At once delicate and punchy, the duo layer sounds to create a soundscape dripping with summer vibes and a sense of nostalgia, the vocals building with the beats to reach a poignant chorus: "Where is my love, in the jungle of your heart?" The heavy synth brings an 80s sound to the track, and while it’s not exactly upbeat, it still manages to be incredibly catchy. The best moments though, are the spaces in between the vocals, where you get a sense of how richly layered the sounds are. This is an intricately crafted track, showcasing the duo’s considerable talents.

Seth Sentry’s greatest strength has always been his ability to seem relatable, his lyrics peppered with clever, perceptive observations of everyday life. His last album saw him exploring the perils of sharing cheap houses with unsavoury flatmates, working in the hospitality industry, and the feeling of not quite fitting in, striking a chord at the heart of fellow stoners, gamers, and part-time workers everywhere.

On his new release, 'Strange New Past', Sentry brings this same sense of relatability and trademark wit, but infuses it with a deeper level of introspection and a darkness. This level of complexity has been seen before from Sentry, on isolated tracks like Train Catcher and Ten Paces, but on 'Strange New Past', he really comes into his own. On this album, he deftly weaves humour with a sense of displacement, anger, insecurity and heartbreak. Gone are the futuristic hoverboards of Dear Science, to be replaced by Sentry’s own future: as a talented and complex lyricist who knows how to connect with his audience on multiple levels.

Watch The River, the new single from JP Klipspringer, is a lovely piece of pure indie-pop. Moving to Portland, Oregon, JP fell in love with the city and came back to Australia with a new sensibility and this expertly crafted track. Laid-back guitars and husky vocals evoke a sense of nostalgia and Americana - road trips and lazy Sunday afternoons in the sun. Despite a definite nineties indie-rock influence, and the catchy chorus, the track manages to steer clear of the generic, with intelligent lyrics and an underlying wistful note. Watch the River marks the upcoming release of JP’s second EP - keep an eye out for the release and accompanying live performances.

Indie rockers Holy Holy have released a new single, You Cannot Call for Love Like a Dog, giving us a taste of what to expect from their upcoming debut album. Dark and atmospheric, the track is driven by swelling vocals and urgent drums, building to a soaring chorus and a wailing guitar solo. Despite the gritty, rock-heavy nature of the song, it is as catchy and memorable as any pop hit, with a great sense of melody and a beat that drives the song forwards, hooking you in. The psychedelic sounding guitar from Oscar Dawson lends the track a distinctly 80s vibe, with punchy riffs building to the impressive solo. Overall, it’s close to a perfect track, making you want to press repeat as soon as it ends. 

Sydney hip hop collective One Day have released a new track, Oh Lord, to kick off their Many Hands tour. With beats that could be from the Bronx, the track still has a distinctly Sydney feel, beginning with the ever present reference to the Inner West. The group is always strong together, with complementary but distinct styles, but Jimmy Nice in particular is on fire in his verse. ​ ​ Signed to Urthboy's label, Elefant Traks, the boys represent the exciting future of Australian hip hop, creating intelligent and interesting tracks, but never taking themselves too seriously.

LANKS, the unique solo project of Melbourne musician, Will Cuming, has released new single Hold Me Closer. Introduced by haunting vocals, percussive guitars kick in, only to give way to trip-hop inspired electro. All in all, it is a disconcerting experience - as a listener you can't help but tap your feet and nod your head even as Cumings sings, "After you drown/My nights are cold and lonely". And yet, LANKS' unique combination of folk and electronic sounds fluid and effortless. Luscious layers create an atmospheric track that only gets better with each listen. Expect to see big things from LANKS in 2015, after already supporting the likes of Broods and seeing strong support from Triple J.