After launching a celebrated debut issue late last year, Swampland Magazine is back with a cracking issue two. Founded as a reaction against the click-bait-driven state of contemporary music journalism, the independent print publication offers intelligent long-form coverage of Australian music—featuring stories that can’t be found anywhere else. Issue 02 goes across the map and into the vaults to offer another wide-ranging selection of Australian narratives. Among the goods: Tiarney Miekus discusses the legacy of Essendon Airport and the Clifton Hill Community Music Centre; Triana Hernandez sits down for an extended conversation with electronic duo HABITS; Patrick Emery records the early days of Spencer P Jones; Richard En explores the history of Perth punk venue 208s; Walter Marsh visits northern Adelaide hip-hop up-and-comers Playback 808 and Jack Mannix talks to Melbourne-based electronic artist EN.V. Photography is provided by Savvy Creative, Tahlia Palmer, Elliot Lauren and Sia Duff. ––– To celebrate the launch, Swampland put together a line-up as eclectic as the magazine itself: In a one-off Melbourne show, Marcus Whale (Collarbones, BV) performed his haunting dystopian electronica, accompanied by two unrelenting percussionists. SPIKE FUCK lent her devastatingly dreamy “smackwave”. Biscotti brought their crispy Italo-pop straight off the back of an extensive tour in support of their debut album. And, Emlyn Johnson, the wandering bush balladeer, blustered in from Tasmania, Western Australia, or wherever he’s been lately, to deliver a set of wonky folk tales. ––– This event was proudly supported by the City of Melbourne, The Curtin, and Young Henrys. ––– Videographer: Leon Rice-Whetton Editor: Alan Weedon Music: Collarbones 'I See A Wolf' (Psuche Cover), courtesy of New Weird Australia, via the Free Music Archive.