INDEPENDENTS : M - R

The Last Record Store is a proud and passionate supporter of local and national independent artists.
These pagesgives some idea of the quality of music that's being produced in this country beyond the confines and dictates of the establishment music industry. Keep checking this page for quality independent releases! Click on the thumbnail images for bigger pictures.

TRACEY MILLER "I'LL GET ALONG SOMEHOW" $25

Local singer/songwriter Tracey Miller writes “strong women’s songs” in the classic tradition of the great female country and soul songwriters, and sings them with great skill and feeling. Her new self-released album “I’ll Get Along Somehow” reflects her musical roots, arranging and performing for gospel choirs and singing and absorbing blues, country, soul and western swing. Impeccably produced by local acoustic guitar wizard Nick Charles, who obviously has a great affinity with Tracey’s music, everything about this album feels just right; from the core band of Howard Cairns on bass, Dennis Close on drums, and the masterful and sympathetic guitar of Chris Bitcon (whose playing is integral to the great sound of this record), to the added contributions of Ed Bates on pedal steel and Andy Baylor on fiddle, who both flesh things out beautifully on 8 of the 13 tracks. A mature and classy album, and one of the best local acoustic/roots releases we reckon we’ve heard so far this year.

MARTIN MYLES "TWELVE THOUSAND MILES" $25

SIME NUGENT "BROKE & BANNED" $25

Sime Nugent is one of our true originals - a quirky, insightful songwriter and a soulful, inventive and expressive singer and guitarist.This, his latest album, finds him in "solo troubadour" mode, albeit with help from various friends and partners in crime like Steve Hesketh from the great Forefathers, Steph O'Hara & Steve Grant, Angie Hart, J. Walker, Mike Noga, Pat Bourke and others, and although this is a more stripped-back affair than his previous work with the Forefathers, his songs remain as intriguing, enigmatic and moving as ever. In Sime's words - "I tried to leave the songs on stilts or gut the middle of them. I wanted to leave the point and quit the pageant. It didn't seem like the right time for bells and whistles. Grief is quite beautiful for the humility it serves up; dangerous too...unruly."

Trying to come up with comparisons can sometimes be an interesting exercise, but in Sime's case it just seems kind of pointless.

ALSO AVAILABLE:
SIME NUGENT & THE FOREFATHERS "THE UNDERTOW" $30

PIGRAM BROTHERS "UNDER THE MANGO TREE" $30

"SALTWATER COUNTRY" $30

REDFISH "BLUEGRASS" $20

New release from hot local bluegrass traditionalists who have been building a steady following through their regular Sunday arvo gigs at Northcote's Wesley Anne.