I’m going to make a bold claim that if you’re listening to this podcast, you’ve got a very good taste in music. That’s why I think you’d do very well to check out Melbourne’s own Fairtrade Narcotics.
A genre-defying six-piece ensemble who are often described as blurring the edges of jazz rock and psychedelic pop, they’ve been in the game for close to a decade now, making lovers of luscious tunes swoon, and melting faces along the way.
This week, they release their second album, Recession Pop, and I believe it’s one of those albums you need to listen to in full to really appreciate. Don’t go shuffling it on streaming or picking out the singles – pop it on, sit with it, and let it musically overwhelm your senses.
Describing the record as a “soundtrack to a bubble-gum dystopia”, it’s an album which comes from a period of evolution and change for the band.
Alongside relocating studios, welcoming new members, and further honing their eclectic sound, Recession Pop is a sonic snapshot of a band who have been at it for some time, but are only now showcasing their full potential as songwriters, performers, and artists.
This week, I was lucky enough to catch up with Wilsen Conn, George Inglis, and Brooke Kymberley of Fairtrade Narcotics for a chat. If George sounds familiar, that’s because he joined in during the Sleepazoid chat a few weeks back. Much like that podcast, drummer Luca Soprano couldn’t make it – but I’m not taking it personally.
Anyway, have a listen to Fairtrade Narcotics’ Recession Pop, buy a ticket to their upcoming tour and their album launch show this evening, have a listen to our chat, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.
Fairtrade Narcotics’ Trusty Chords
Wilsen’s One Influential Artist
- D’Angelo
George’s One Influential Artist
- Connan Mockasin
Brooke’s One Influential Artist
- Jaala
Wilsen’s Three Impactful Albums
- Mort Garson – Mother Earth’s Plantasia (1976)
- Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly (2015)
- Laneous – Monstera Deliciosa (2019)
George’s Three Impactful Albums
- Men I Trust – Equus Caballus (2025)
- St Germain – Tourist (2000)
- 30/70 – Cold Radish Coma (2015)
Brooke’s Three Impactful Albums
- Jaala – Gap Tooth (2021)
- Magdalena Bay – Imaginal Disk (2024)
- Mamalarky – Hex Key (2025)
Wilsen’s Five Trusty Songs
- Eagles – ‘I Can’t Tell You Why’ (1979)
- H.E.R. – ‘Focus’ (2016)
- Devin Morrison – ‘With You (feat. Joyce Wrice)’ (2019)
- SZA – ‘The Weekend’ (2017)
- Richard Spaven – ‘Faded (feat. Jordan Rakei)’ (2018)
Honourable Mentions:
- Britney Spears – ‘…Baby One More Time’ (1998)
- SWV – ‘Weak’ (1992)
George’s Five Trusty Songs
- Say She She – ‘Forget Me Not’ (2023)
- Robert Glasper Experiment – ‘Black Radio (feat. Yasiin Bey)’ (2012)
- Oscar Jerome – ‘Sun For Someone’ (2020)
- Ebo Taylor – ‘Love And Death’ (2010)
- Mamalarky – ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ (2025)
Brooke’s Five Trusty Songs
- New Radicals – ‘You Get What You Give’ (1998)
- Laneous – ‘Work Play’ (2023)
- Magdalena Bay – ‘Image’ (2024)
- The Marías – ‘Run Your Mouth’ (2024)
- Esthero – ‘That Girl’ (1998)