New Racehorse (Out April 17 via Impressed Recordings)

W: Lyon Bells

The Northern Rivers has always been a breeding ground for the avant-garde, but few are moving as fast—or as unpredictably—as Media Puzzle. The solo recording project of Tom Peter has officially signaled a new era with the announcement of their fourth studio album, New Racehorse, arriving April 17 via Impressed Recordings.

To break the silence, the band has unleashed ‘Knowledge’, a sharp, jittery vent of frustration that serves as the perfect gateway into their evolved sound. It’s a track that feels both nostalgic and entirely forward-facing, blending free-ranging guitars with the kind of biting, call-and-response vocals that fans of Dry Cleaning or early Beck will instantly recognize.

“The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing. ‘Knowledge’ is a satirical take on people who carry themselves like they know everything.”

Since emerging in 2023, Media Puzzle has been a prolific force, churning out three albums and two EPs in a feverish blur of creativity. They first caught the world’s attention with a drum-machine-heavy, "scuzzy" post-punk aesthetic—a sound Pitchfork previously lauded for its "uncanny creativity," placing them somewhere in the dark, melodic shadows of Suicide and the remote eccentricities of Uranium Club.

However, New Racehorse marks a definitive departure. What was once a model of fuzzy scuzz-pop has transformed into something more complex: an otherworldly post-punk entity. Backed by a formidable lineup—Kellie Eden (synth/trumpet), Eden Yeigh (guitar), Oliver Clarke (drums), and Solomon Jones (bass)—Tom Peter is building outward from the band's distorted roots.

“New Racehorse is a focus on experimentation... bringing eccentric samples and dynamic pace.”

If their previous work was about the grit, New Racehorse is about the "why." The album acts as a surrealist lens focused on the friction of modern existence: technology, ego, responsibility, and the inevitable cycle of life and death. It’s a record grounded in reinvention, likely polished by a heavy year of touring alongside heavyweights like Ty Segall and Regurgitator, and fresh off high-octane showcases at SXSW Sydney.

By taking their name from a Melbourne Cup-winning racehorse, the project has always hinted at a certain kinetic energy. With this fourth LP, they aren't just running the race; they’re changing the track entirely.

"Once a model of fuzzy scuzz-pop, to now an otherworldly post-punk entity."