Romy Hoffman just can't stop the rock. Best known as cerebral hip hop femme fatale Macromantics slightly less known as one half of weird punk act Heavy Mental, Romy is a musical machine. Now she has turned her hand electro-dance-pop! It sure ain't cerebral but it is interesting.

Sleep, her first single as just Romy is full of bombastic synths that sound good loud but is unfortunately starkly devoid of the switched-on and impressive lyrical gymnastics that she fiercely spits as Macromantics. She is keeping the message simple here. Very simple. Very, very simple.

However, the eclectic and prolific Ms. Hoffman is allowed to make music in the style of edgy, mass-produced, factory-floor dance pop! It's like she has sort of earnt this little indulgence. Plus you can just imagine her recording this track first thing in the morning, in her bedroom, in a pair of Adidas trackpants - working the whole assembly line by herself.

Nick Maher

Pop Jew is our essential blog for details on great new Brooklyn bands and reviews of cute boys. Rahael runs the show and provides the low down on a bunch of ace records you should get your hands on.

We enjoyed her guest programming on US radio station BTR so much, we asked her to pick the top 5 must have songs for your next summer mix tape. With her excellent slection you're guaranteed a kick start to making the perfect mix tape for your new summer crush. Go on, we dare you.

First thing's first, I have a confession to make: I don't know how to drive a car. It's true, put me behind the wheel and I'll break down into a panic attack and yell at you until you take over. So, if we go on a road trip together, please take care of the driving, I'll take care of the tunes. Here are my PopJew 5 essentials tunez for a rocking drive:

Last Caress by Misfits

Important for any road trip are classic songs that everyone wants to sing along to. No song gets me belting and fist pumping like Last Caress, maybe the best Misfits song of all time, a total crowd pleaser for even your squarish friends. Who doesn't want to sing about killing babies?

Punk Trips by Eat Skull

This is probably the catchiest Eat Skull song, puts you in the right mindset for letting shit just HAPPEN. Who the fuck cares what we do? We're punnnnx bro. Let's parrrrrty.

ADP Blues by Thomas Function

No list of essentials would be complete, in the PopJew world without a Thomas Function song, and for speeding down the highway, nothing is better than the first track off of their new In The Valley Of Sickness EP. Feel punk as shit and feel like you're fleeing the po-po while chanting "The only goooood cop is a deaaaaaaad cop". Instant fun.

Me And The Boys by NRBQ

An oldie but a goody, this song is the ultimate summer vaycay song, all about chill vibes and good times with your bros. Ultimate hanging out party anthem. Makes me wanna just put on some shades and cruise with my best budz.

The Concept by Teenage Fanclub

This year is all about the 90s for me, and the best part of the 90s (besides Doc Martens) was Teenage Fanclub. This song has one of the most shoutable choruses of all time and makes you melt with siiiccck jamz.

We caught up with Charles Rowell, one half of San Diego two piece Crocodiles. He and band mate Brandon Welchez had just returned from their tour in Mexico. We spoke of summer, idols and making music.

WHL: So are you a Crocodile Dundee fan? What made you call yourselves ‘Crocodiles'?

CR:Well number one, I love his work, I'm a big fan [laughs] and number two, we originally wanted to call the band crocodile tears.

WHL: When did you start making music together?

CR: We've been in loads of bands before this together - maybe 10 or 11 years ago.

WHL: You seem like you're both close friends, so is it a jamming process that develops your sound, or does one of you lead things more strongly than the other?

CR: We both add in bits equally I'll bring a guitar line, or he'll bring a melody. It's just whoever can contribute to the song, so we do it collaboratively.

WHL: What sort of influences would you choose to describe your sound?

CR: Reverb, delay, distortion.

WHL: So you've just been touring through Mexico. How did you find it?

CR: How did we find it? Well the airplane took us there [laughs]. It was great, Mexico City was amazing. Probably the best shows we've played this year have been in Mexico City and Rome.

WHL: I really liked the way you described the need to leave your hometown San Diego. "If you live there, then you slowly die." Is that what propels you to tour?

CR: Yeah , well it's not a reaction to leave San Diego per se, it's more a chance to travel to other places and friends around the world. If we lived in Chicago or NY we'd still want to get out and see the world I'm sure.

WHL: Is there anything in particular you think about when you're playing?

CR: I don't think so, I just kind of shut off when I go on stage rather than thinking about anything. I guess I'm more locked in the moment as a performer, thinking about which pedal I'm using and the sounds I'm making.

WHL: It's great you're coming out to the Meredith Music Festival, have you been to Australia before and do you like playing big outdoor festivals?

CR:Yeah we've  both been to Australia before. We love playing festivals, we're definitely excited about it.

WHL: What's your favourite summer activity?

CR: It doesn't necessarily need to be done during the summer, but it feels really good to walk through the park of the San Diego Museum or San Diego Balboa Park is really nice.

WHL: What do you remember about being seventeen?

CR: I think that's around the time that Brandon (Welchez) and I started to play music - yeah, we met around then, so I guess that'd be the thing that stands out most.

By Anaya Latter

The Crocodile's blisteringly sweet album Summer of Hate is out now on Fat Possum records. Crocodiles hit Australia this December. For full tour details check here.

Yeeha, SBS show RocKwiz are busting our of The Espy, packing their bags and heading around the country for a live run of concerts.

Mistress of ceremonies Julia Zemiro; firm but fair co-host Brian Nankervis; the legendary RocKwiz Orkestra and Dugald (with mystery guests in tow) will be touring live for the first time ever in the show's five year on-air history! It will be just like you see on your tellie every Saturday night on SBS - but this time, so close you can smell them!

Tickets are on sale now.

Warpaint are three smoking hot girls and some dude, hailing from Los Angeles, California. Their E.P. Exquisite Corpse is a dark and interesting sonic chronicle of the adventures and experiments of sad space-fairies. I read that their fan base includes some hot, edgy celebs but I'm going to ignore that to deter cynicism.

What's striking throughout is their unashamed use of effects. Decimated vocals, flangey phasey business and layers of echoed guitars colour their long dark songs and for the most part it works. There are also lots of keyboards including a classy use of synth strings which, like saxophones, can be very dangerous in the wrong hands.

Warpaint have a damn cool relaxed spooky groove that comes out in some songs, as do urban folk drones and heaps of psychedelics, possibly courtesy of John Frusciante, who worked the knobs for this record. At one point they veer from the dirt alley into Cat Power's backyard but came out on the other side relatively unscathed. They even borrow lyrics from Mary Wells' 60's hit My Guy but make it sound stalkery.

I really like the mood and music on here. There is no saxophone on this EP but I would trust them with one and that's saying something, believe me.

By Nick Maher