Naarm/Melbourne’s new wave/post-punk outfit, Radio Free Alice, fresh from a 24-date tour of the UK and Europe, have dropped their latest single in ‘Johnny’, which also leads into the reveal of their second EP, ‘Polyester’ which is due out on August 21.

Accompanying the release of the new track is a music video, and the announcement of a national EP tour this August/September.

 The ‘Polyester’ EP (which also includes previous single ‘2010’) sees Radio Free Alice explore human relationships in all their forms against a backdrop of expertly crafted post-punk with a wholly unique bend.

For the first time on ‘Polyester’, songs recorded with Nao Anzai at Soundpark Studios were finished overseas, with the band recording additional parts in studios, backstage green rooms, tour vans, street corners, hostel bunk beds and train stations around London, Paris, Bristol, Dublin, Nottingham and the Czech Republic while on tour. ‘Polyester 'was mixed by Ewan Pearson (Warpaint, M83, Joy Division), mastered by Mikey Young (Eddy Current), and recorded live to retain that boundless, organic live energy that Radio Free Alice are making their mark with.

‘Johnny’ is downright charming with its anxiety-inducing nihilism, wrapped up in dark, glittery danceable post-punk. Radio Free Alice have carved out the kind of track that stops you dead in your tracks at 2am on your walk home from the dive bars, having you swing your arms and kick out your feet in brilliantly bizarre tribute to the 80s UK indie gods. Spooky synths galore, sharpened, bright guitars, and a rhythm section that playfully interweaves, all the while vocalist Noah channels his inner Morrissey.

First written at the height of summer, recording for ‘Johnny’ was completed in East London last month after running it live, all part of the band’s ritual to hone songs live on stage before committing them to tape. Synths skitter on top of bass-as-melody-riffs with sneaky cello in the second chorus by vocalist Noah Learmonth - and a healthy smack of vocal reverb at just the right times. It follows a “little runaway” who’s making moves in the face of loneliness, Radio Free Alice share, “Johnny’s about growing up and feeling isolated. It follows the narrative of a young guy who runs away from his very religious family because he feels alone in it.”

With an unlikely set of influences spanning ‘80s titans like Talking Heads, The Cure, The Smiths and Sunnyboys, alongside more recent reference points like Parquet Courts, Ought, The Strokes and HighSchool, Radio Free Alice have created their own unique sound that has struck an early nerve with fans young and old.

Formed in Eora/Sydney in 2020 before making the move to Naarm/Melbourne, Radio Free Alice are already making their mark with their wildly consistent output and vital live performances. Their debut self-titled EP (2023) is nominated for Best Independent Punk Album or EP at next week’s AIR Awards, with its singles ‘Paris Is Gone’ and ‘Look What You’ve Done’ seeing widespread support from the likes of triple j, CLASH, So Young, PBS FM, Triple R, Unearthed, Rolling Stone and many others.

They just wrapped up their first international tour across Europe and the UK including playing at Rock For People, The Great Escape, Dot To Dot and Live at Leeds festivals adding to an impressive - and growing - list of recent shows with The Snuts, Royel Otis, Django Django, Sorry, showcases at Bigsound and SXSW Sydney, all the while leaving a string of sold out headline shows in their wake.

‘Johnny’ is out now on all streaming platforms, and the ‘Polyester’ EP arrives on August 21.