Karate Boogaloo bring the funk and more

Music Moving the Metro Chart

Melbourne’s Karate Boogaloo have some serious funk pedigree in their stocks, boasting the rhythm section of the always-solid soul movers The Cactus Channel. The group’s second mixtape – funnily enough titled Mixtape 2 – sees the band continuing their interpretations of 80s tracks that got sampled by future hip hop hitmakers. Hitting number eight in the Amrap Metro Chart this week is Karate Boogaloo’s cover of Rapture, the disco era smash that saw Debbie Harry getting her rap on upfront of Blondie, taking it to a slow, sweet and simmering level. These guys are serious about their groove but also a hell of a lot of fun, making them a must-see as they tour around the country. Even bigger though on this week’s Metro Top 10 is another Melbourne outfit, Cool Sounds, leaping right in to the number one spot with their latest, Hula Hoop Group. This one paves a hazy way to summer with a warm melody and feelgood vibe – it’s no surprise it’s in heavy demand across community radio airwaves.

 Leading the Amrap Regional Charts

Roots music is dominating the Amrap Regional Charts this week – last week’s number one tune, Drive Slow, from Darwin’s Melanie Gray is still kicking on in the top 10. Joining her this week at number five is Asheligh Dallas, part of three generations of Australian country music by following in the footsteps of the revered Rex and Brett Dallas. Ashleigh’s Settling Down is a laidback song about the virtues of a happy domestic life and getting back to simple pleasures with the one you love. Settling down may be one thing but roots music is synonymous with a road trip and the honky-tonkin’ Red Dirt Road Trip from NSW-based Aly Cook is a fine inclusion into the canon. Also hitting the road on her track Reno is Brisbane’s Sinead Burgess, a punchy piece of Americana about escaping the drudgery of day jobs and making a fist of your music career. Such ambitions has found her at number six this week.

 Beyond the Charts

Australian icon Archie Roach bares his soul on Open Up Your Eyes. The heartrending story is the first song Roach ever wrote, penned during a stint at a rehab facility in the late 1970's, but never recorded until now. Archie's signature gravelly voice carries you through his life's hardships alongside a stripped back band performance, as he encourages the listener to look not to their woes but to hope. Open Up Your Eyes precedes Archie’s next album Tell Me Why, and a memoir of the same name. The album and memoir are greatly anticipated and Open Up Your Eyes is set to be a big song on community radio.

If you are a community broadcaster and looking to find the latest tracks from across the country, get involved with Amrap's AirIt and start browsing what Australia's independent music scene has to offer! The Amrap Charts show the top ten tracks ordered for airplay by community broadcasters through the Amrap’s AirIt music distribution service in both metropolitan and regional areas of the country. Amrap is an initiative of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia which distributes new Australian music to community radio stations nationwide & empowers broadcasters to promote new Australian music on air & online.