The Aussie quartet rising from Down Under

Name: Shy Panther

Where They’re From: Perth, Australia

When They Started: 2010

Genre: psych-folk, trip-hop

Most Similar: Massive Attack meets Black Keys

Sounds Like: A romantic mission to Mars

While I’m tempted to make some kind of corny joke about trip ‘hoppers’ and kangaroos, I’ll just stop myself right here, and reboot. These guys are too good for fooling around. Aussie boys Rhien, Ben, Dan and Michael make up Shy Panther, an indie rock band with hints of refined ambiance and psychedelic twang.

Released in July, their debut EP Dozens Cloud Wide features resonating, twinkling trip-hop beats reminiscent of the Sneaker Pimps, all tied down by soulful vocals from frontman Dan Fragomeni. Even jazzy at times, Fragomeni’s range brings you from a mellow groove to soaring, improvised runs a la Jamie Cullum. In their single “Erving,” Shy Panther layers the tones on thick, stacking poetic lyrics on top of spacey synth and treading bass riffs.

Shy Panther is rising to the top of the underground scene after playing Australia’s Groovin’ the Moo festival in Bunbary and getting some serious love from Australia’s alternative radio station Triple J. Next up on the quartet’s agenda is a set at the Parklife Festival in Perth this October, and a new video for their single “Lipstick Cigarettes,” said to be released in the upcoming weeks. I have a feeling these guys won’t be shy for long.

Check out their video for “Erving” here, and feel free to drop a line ‘down under’ in the comments section!