Living up to the hype

WHEN Noel Gallagher, the chief songwriter of defunct-Brit-pop pioneers Oasis, says he's not reforming his old band because he's sussed out the competition and is busy telling his former colleagues about how good Jagwar Ma are, you know immediately that is an act to keep your eye on.

Comprising Gabriel Winterfield (vocalist and guitarist), Jono Ma (producer) and Jack Freeman (who joins the duo on the bass when they play "live"), the Australian psychedelic indie electronic group has been building their fast-growing fanbase all over the world while touring on the back of their debut album, Howlin'.

"If we play South-east Asia, which is obviously this tour, I think (we've played) everywhere except Antarctica, but I don't know what penguins think about our music!" jokes Winterfield in a recent phone interview, ahead of their show here as the opening act for veteran acid-rockers, The Flaming Lips.