Valar

After disappearing into hibernation for more than a year, Sydney-based Valar are back with brand new material, something I'm rather excited about. In fact, a new EP entitled Chocolate Cake is just around the corner -- their first new release since 2011's The Belly of the Whale.I don't mind waiting a little while for good music, and Valar has certainly delivered this with the EP's first single "Astronaut." I wouldn't usually compare a band with Radiohead, but these guys earn the comparison with ease. Vocalist James Blackwood's York-esque tones are ably supported by their typically celestial soundscapes. The highlight is its off-beat, jazz tempo which aids the track's tranquil vibe to a tee.Valar make music that you should listen to without distraction so that you are able to take in all its brilliant subtleties. Self-produced at a number of homes around the state, Chocolate Cake is due for release on July 31.