MELINA MELETAKOS
With new material from PHfat, Dan Patlansky, Yesterday’s Pupil and Markus Wormstorm, 2012 has already seen the release of a number of remarkable albums from South African musicians. To keep you up to date, Perdeby has compiled a list of albums that local music lovers can still look forward to this year.
Having just signed with Sheer Music, Peachy Keen is releasing their debut EP, Backseat Bingo, this month. This 50s-inspired rockabilly band from Cape Town has already set tongues wagging with the release of their first single “I Shot a Man Down”.
VanFokKingTasties is the combined touring concept of South Africa’s very own rock family: Van Coke Kartel, Fokofpolisiekar, aKING and Die Heuwels Fantasties. Each band contributes an acoustic rendition of previously recorded material to the album. Fans can also look forward to one new song from each band. VanFokKingTasties is currently touring the country to promote the release of their acoustic album.
Desmond & The Tutus are set to release their highly anticipated second dose of indie-kwela-pop-rock after signing with Sony Records earlier this year. Mnusic should be out by the end of May but the band is famously elusive about the exact release date so fans should be prepared for a delay.
Experimental indie rockers Zebra & Giraffe are teaming up with producer Darryl Torr once again to release their third studio album in July. MK by die Dam marked their final show as a five-piece band so it will be interesting to see how their sound has evolved this time around.
The masters of live performance, Isochronous,are set to release their fourth album in September. If that is too long a wait for your Isochronous fix, the band is releasing a DVD of their tour to Germany, where they opened for German superstar Marius Muller-Westerhagen. The DVD launch will take place on 27 June at Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria.
Trash/electro genius Haezer will be releasing his EP, The Wrong Kid Died, at the end of August. Electro enthusiasts can expect great things from this self-confessed perfectionist.
Canadian-born South African singer/songwriter Zaki Ibrahim is set to release her full-length album, Every Opposite, this year. The album was produced by Tiago of Tumi and The Volume and 340ml fame.
After recently winning an MK Award in the Best Indie category and after their video for their track “Infinity” reached number one on MK’s Top 10, Dance, You’re On Fire have proven that they are a band worth keeping an eye on. They started recording their second album in mid-March so fans can expect some more radio-friendly pop rock in the coming months.
Afro soul songstress Lira is preparing for the release of her sixth studio album, Rise Again, this year. The star’s newest venture sees her poised to take on the world. Rise Again is set to be released in the USA as well.
The December Streets started recording their debut album at the beginning of April. It will include songs from their previously released EP as well as a selection of new material.
In March this year, pop/rock outfit Fire Through The Window released Live Long, the first of two parts of their EP. The band plans on releasing the second part, Prosper later this year.
Illustration: Simon-Kai Garvie
