New Noise: Aleks And The Ramps, Heirs, Howl At The Moon, Iowa

Our regular round-up of the best new music on the internet featuring the return of Aleks & The Ramps and Heirs.

– “Is this what you call fun?” deadpans Alex Bryant like a young Stephin Merritt on ‘Middle Aged Unicorn on Beach with Sunset’, a calypso-y track that meditates on Shakespeare, Satan, middle-age dance moves, getting old, parental aliens and holiday ennui. Out through Gaga Digital on October 27, the track hails from Aleks and the Ramps’ forthcoming third album, due for release early next year. It follows 2009’s Midnight Believer, which came in at #3 in our annual Critics Poll. Aleks and The Ramps are touring in November. Dates here.

Middle aged unicorn on beach with sunset by rampsassemble

– “The pulse slows down like a drug-induced death trip or a slow descent into a Lovecraftian netherworld.” This is how we described the undulating menace of Fowl, the second album from Melbourne instrumental four-piece Heirs, and it’s equally applicable to new single ‘Hunter’. A six minute-plus slow-burner with operatic voices (or is it a Theremin/bowed saw?) and a deft show of dynamics, the track is the first taste of the band’s forthcoming third album. The single will be out on 10” vinyl and CD on October 31. Details here. Heirs are currently touring with France’s Alcest.

Heirs - Hunter by heirs

– If The Jezabels had teeth, they’d probably sound a little something like Melbourne four-piece Howl At The Moon. The band have released a pair of singles ahead of their forthcoming debut, which was recorded over five days at Soundpark Studios. ‘Let the Mainsheet Down, My Love’ is one of them; a restless, cabaret-ish track that comes on in fits and starts. It’ll be launched, along with companion single ‘Sword Fighting’, at Melbourne’s Old Bar – their “second home” – on November 4.

Let the Mainsheet Down, My Love by showoffservices

– There’s more than a hint of Screaming Trees about ‘Complete Control’, the new single from Melbourne ’90s enthusiasts Iowa. The track is maybe a smidge more melodic than the wall of noise the trio gave us on their pair of coloured 7” records, but there’s still that familar mix of swirling guitars, washes of wah and low-end rumble. A debut LP is expected out in early 2012. In the meantime, you can nab ‘Complete Control’ and b-side ‘Serotonin” from their Bandcamp page for free.

Complete Control by iowasounds