Ruby Frost - Water To Ice

Continuing on with the theme of talented female singers from New Zealand, someone who may (or may not of course) be waiting for Kimbra to break the USA is Ruby Frost, a multi-talented singer-songwriter from Auckland (real name: Jane de Jong). She has a marvellous voice which she throws all over the place. But she is not just a singer. She writes interesting songs, and I have not heard one that I haven't thought had at least some merit. There are some very good singles just waiting to get high rotate...but so far the music industry investment appears not to be as committed as it might be - hence Kimbra's success would probably bring copycat capital, and might launch Ruby's career internationally. Ruby deserves to be successful. The video below is for her latest single "Water To Ice" and again is by the very talented Special Problems.



Ruby Frost - Water To Ice

Jess Chambers - Pieces of Love

Following on from yesterday's post I thought it appropriate to post one of Jess Chambers' videos. I adore her voice. It seems able to turn the most mundane of material around (not implying that the song in this video is mundane). So what do I like here? Jess's voice lifts the song substantially, and with a creative video well-executed, a sparse but balanced production and with interesting dynamics around the string arrangements and vocal harmonies, the whole package works. But I would love to hear her do more material outside this genre...



Jess Chambers - Pieces of Love

Rhian Sheehan - Sunshine (feat. Jess Chambers)

I was complaining in the previous post that there is little quality video available from the prolific Rhian Sheehan. Ironic considering his live shows utilize video installations very effectively. There is some though. Much of it is live, but this post highlights a partnership with Jess Chambers, a talented contemporary blues/folk singer-songwriter, whose intoxicating voice I actually prefer in this electronic context, 2004's "Sunshine". This is from the "Tiny Blue Biosphere" album, one of my all time favourites. That being said, there is always some Rhian Sheehan (off any album) on my shuffle mixes. The quality level does not vary much between his albums. The video below was shot around Castle Point on the Wairarapa's south-east coast - wild and beautiful. You can find a link to Rhian Sheehan's website on the "Established With Good Reason" links list to the right of this post.



Rhian Sheehan - Sunshine (feat. Jess Chambers)

Rhian Sheehan - Waiting At The Airport

It's a bit frustrating when  trying to post some of the best New Zealand music around, and there is a dearth of good video for one of the best composer/producers there is...but adapt I will. Rhian Sheehan. Look him up. Superb. This is a recent piece of his. Click the link below.

Rhian Sheehan - Waiting At The Airport

Rhian Sheehan - Waiting At The Airport

Concord Dawn - These Prison Walls

Time to move the tempo up a touch. I have always found Concord Dawn exciting, as I find much D&B. But it is Concord Dawn's ability to move outside a hedonist agenda and have a go at some bigger questions that I have always respected. It is typically subtle if there -and in this case, oblique. But the political aspect of this video is still controversial and asks an interesting question of the current capitalist system. Thinking man's D&B? (sorry)



Concord Dawn - These Prison Walls (ft. Thomas Oliver)

Cool Rainbows - Southern Summer Sun

As promised earlier this week, here is a more representative (and more recent) track from Cool Rainbows, "Southern Summer Sun" off their album "Whale Rocket". I have purchased the album this week and it has been on high rotate as I have wandered around New Zealand's urban environment on my daily walks in the sun (some partial irony in there). The album makes great walking music. There does appear to be a Cool Rainbows "sound", but this album is still wonderfully diverse and has a strong emphasis on, and variety of, melodic textures, harmonies and dynamics - all those characteristics which tend to attract me to an artist's music. The album is available for sale directly from Lil' Chief Records. One recurring image that comes to me when listening to "Southern Summer Sun" is Napoleon's troops trudging through the snow trying to escape Russia. Where on earth that came from I don't know but I am sure they were thinking of similar things.



Cool Rainbows - Southern Summer Sun

Nightchoir - Glass Tiger

Nightchoir emerged out of the break-up of Pluto, being Mike Hall (vocals, guitar), Matthias Jordan (keyboards) and Michael Franklin-Browne (drums)."Glass Tiger" is off their first, and well-received album, "24 Hours of Night". The band members are well-known in the New Zealand music scene, having supported individually and together, other local musicians such as Dimmer, Gin Wigmore, Anna Coddington, Anika Moa and The Brunettes. I am looking forward to their new album "See The First Star", due out on August 10th, 2012. This song is a personal favourite of mine (always a sucker for slide guitar). I spent some time trying to find out who sang it after hearing it on the radio several times.



Nightchoir - Glass Tiger

Cool Rainbows - Lights

This is one of the better videos I have seen for awhile, awesome in the stark simplicity of the idea. This is probably atypical of Cool Rainbows material from what I have heard so far, but I liked it so much I wanted to put it up first. I will post a more recent, and more representative, Cool Rainbows video on Friday. I had never heard of them until I had a good look at the Lil' Chief Records roster and this is one of my favourites. Cool Rainbows is Djeisan Suskov, previously the frontman for Trees Climbing Trees. There is an album out, "Whale Rocket" which I will be purchasing imminently. You can sample on the Lil' Chief website. Apparently Djeisan has been working with Artisan Guns on their new album, Coral (due out August 25th). Artisan Guns can be found elsewhere on this blog and I will link their new single sometime soon.



Cool Rainbows - Lights

Josh Fountain - Hold On (feat. Loui The ZU)

From my contacts I understand you've probably already heard Josh Fountain's music, and not even realised it. Josh Fountain aka Get Well Soon aka Whiz Kidd has been working out of Woodcut Studios for the past few years doing music for television and ads, as well as production for artists such as Annah Mac and his other band Kidz In Space. This song 'Hold On', is about his personal experience with a relationship that is slowly falling apart. Josh was recently announced as a Silver Scrolls long list nominee. This is the remix of 'Hold On' featuring another new NZ artist, Loui the ZU (more to come on Loui at a later date).
      
   
Hold On (feat. Loui The ZU) - Josh Fountain

Jakob - Safety In Numbers

A simple but stunning one-shot video filmed over the Southern Alps. The video perfectly accompanies/enhances a song from "Solace", one of my favourite Jakob albums. It's a pity that the video is pre-HD. I love the combined aerobatics/break at about 2 minutes. If you are a fan of cinematic soundscapes (e.g. Rhian Sheehan, Sigur Ros), then Jakob might well interest you. I have all the albums. Highly recommended.



Jakob - Safety In Numbers

SJD - Superman You're Crying

Simply one of the most beautiful songs ever produced by a New Zealand artist. No extra words needed.



SJD - Superman You're Crying

Scratch 22 - Medicine Man

At time of writing this video only had 551 views! Incredible considering it is one of the better pieces of work I have seen out there, and the song  carries one along effortlessly. A great ethnic cross-over groove. Scratch 22 seem a little enigmatic with not much information available and a website address that doesn't appear to work. But maybe that just reflects my web detection incompetency. I see he represented New Zealand in the Red Bull World Thr3style championships in Paris. "Medicine Man" is from Scratch 22's 2011 debut album, "Distance From View" and is available from Round Trip Mars. Scratch 22 is based in Auckland and is apparently well-respected for production/mixing work and guest spots with artists such as the Mint Chicks, Sola Rosa, Ladi 6 and Shapeshifter. I note he has also worked with Jeremy Toy of She's So Rad on this album. That fact alone would have got me interested prior if I had not discovered this video.



Scratch 22 - Medicine Man

Kimbra - Two Way Street

In a way this blog is about promoting those that need further promotion. And it is clear that Kimbra is surging internationally, so probably doesn't need an underdog blog to help her out. But she is brilliant and that does need to be recognized. I just hope the system doesn't destroy her magic. Not sure about "Warrior" - the mix and the video. To me the "Cameo Lover" song and video was the sweet spot (to be posted at a later date). "Two Way Street" is also good, but not quite as good as "Cameo Lover". It's up for a reason though. I like it.



Kimbra - Two Way Street

Grayson Gilmour - Loose Change

Happened upon this 2010 track and enjoyed it. Grayson Gilmour is from Wellington and this song is off his album "Constellation" on Flying Nun Records. The video was shot on 16 mm film using an antique Russian industrial camera which apparently created a few technical problems. It was directed by independent filmmaker, Jesse Taylor Smith.



Grayson Gilmour  - Loose Change

The Peasants - Letting Go

A talented bunch from Nelson who managed to win the 2011 Smokefreerockquest. The song has grown on me.



The Peasants - Letting Go

The Popstrangers - In Some Ways

The thing with the Popstrangers is that they sort of sound all wrong at the start...but then after listening to a whole song...everything else sort of sounds all wrong...  

Please click the link below for the free download from one of the best bands to come out of NZ in a long time.

Click here: In Some Ways


The Popstrangers - In Some Ways

The Adults - A Part Of Me

Not much to say apart from...in my opinion this was clearly one of the album tracks most likely to succeed - and it's performance disappointed me (and a bunch of record salespeople as well I guess). It's an excellent video, and a great pop song. Sometimes mass gets mistaken for bulk...?



The Adults - A Part of Me

Princess Chelsea - The Cigarette Duet

Another tale, this time of disagreement, conflict...and was that tragedy? Princess Chelsea is Chelsea Nikkel, an Auckland-based art schooler who is helped out at various times by other artists, most who seem to be on her home label, Lil' Chief Records. On this track it is Jonathan Bree from The Brunettes. Chelsea is a former member of that band. I did a double-take when I saw over 4 million views. But of course this is a very clever little song.



Princess Chelsea - The Cigarette Duet

Pikachunes - Shout It Out

How does something as good as this get missed in 2009? Some sad irony in the unknowing pre-apocalyptic references...Japan, Christchurch. Lil' Chief Records here I come...



Pikachunes - Shout It Out

The Phoenix Foundation - Orange And Mango

I saw The Phoenix Foundation at the San Francisco Bath House (SFBH) back in November 2010 and enjoyed the gig immensely.(I am enough of a fan to have hired them for a private party of mine the year before.) One of the highlights of the SFBH gig was Orange and Mango, or more specifically, the extended break which sounded better live than on record. Cosmic, psychedelic etc etc. I read somewhere that one of the band members heard it playing on the radio in France so maybe it has been released as a single? The video here was apparently a fan video which they liked so much, it became the official video. (Happy to be corrected on that).



The Phoenix Foundation - Orange and Mango

The Naked And Famous - No Way

This video further highlights the directorial brilliance of Special Problems. They continue to generate some of the best videos internationally, let alone in New Zealand. One for the honour roll.



The Naked and Famous - No Way

Eden Mulholland - Shanty Town

Eden Mulholland is better known to many as a key member of Motocade. This song has been nagging away at me for awhile. It's soaring chorus has now nabbed another victim...



Eden Mulholland - Shanty Town

Sir T - Forgot Me Featuring Cavell

A bitter, biting and sad piece of social commentary from Sir T. Available from Move The Crowd Records.



Sir T - Forgot Me Featuring Cavell

Kidz In Space - Ghost feat. Dan Black



Kidz in Space - Ghost Featuring Dan Black

Five Mile Town - Saturated

A young folk/blues trio from Auckland with a poignant song about disconnection...



Five Mile Town - Saturated

Lawrence Arabia - Travelling Shoes

Lawrence Arabia is touring New Zealand at the moment and I am looking forward to his new show "The Sparrow" in Wellington's Opera House next Sunday 22nd July. His music, as always, takes a few listens to wind it's way around one's heart...



Lawrence Arabia - Travelling Shoes

David Dallas - Caught In A Daze (ft. Freddie Gibbs)

Had one of "those moments" running round the streets of Paris at 5:30 am earlier this year with David Dallas' "Caught in a Daze" on the iPod. The sun was coming up on a beautiful morning and I found myself running down the Champs Elysees listening to lyrics that made perfect sense for that moment. David Dallas deserves to be massive. I hope it follows through for him.



David Dallas - Caught In A Daze featuring Freddie Gibbs

Collapsing Cities - Regret

Collapsing Cities with a visual tale of error, escalation and tragedy. Says much in 3 and half minutes...



Collapsing Cities - Regret

She's So Rad - Iceblock

Please click the link to hear some more from interesting new New Zealand band, She's So Rad. The song is Iceblock and is available on Soundcloud. Iceblock

Family Cactus - Kingmaker

Family Cactus must be doing something right. They are back on nzmusic4u again. Can't wait to see them live.



Family Cactus - Kingmaker

OMC - 4 All Of Us

Pauly Fuemana. RIP. The body was ravaged but the soul was in good health. Pauly's art got better with age.



OMC - 4 All Of US

Artisan Guns - 'Autumn'

Nominated for a Silver Scroll. Great video.



Artisan Guns - Autumn

Knives At Noon - Handshake of the Heartache

The inclusion of swimsuit models is gratuitous in this context? Please compare and contrast...



Knives at Noon - Handshake of the Heartache

Family Cactus - Moss Green Cape

My son's guitar teacher (from a couple of years ago) is in this band. And that has nothing to do with the fact I love this dreamboat of a song...



Family Cactus - Moss Green Cape

She's So Rad - Confetti

This bunch have been touring the UK recently to great reviews. Adore this. Takes me back. But do I hear echoes of "She's In Fashion"? I don't care. She's So Rad are Jeremy Toy and Anji Sami, with live member Tom Healy. Having released one album so far "In Circles", they have a new album featuring "Confetti" to be released in 2013. This song and video for "Confetti is so good, it assumed its place on the NZMusic4U Honour Roll quite comfortably as of July 2012. You can buy their music at the link below.

http://shessorad.bandcamp.com/album/in-circles



She's So Rad - Confetti

Ladyhawke - Sunday Drive

Off to see Ladyhawke at the San Francisco Bath House (Wellington) tomorrow night. Will report back. (I do like the album despite it being reviewer-challenged at the moment). Given enough time, it grows on one...



Ladyhawke - Sunday Drive

The Wyld - Full Circle

A very effective video, (not obviously) done on a limited budget. If these guys follow through I sense some international success...



The Wyld - Full Circle

KidsOf88 - Tucan feat. Alisa Xayalith

Having heard this about 20 times, I suddenly realized its brilliant!



Kids of 88 - Tucan featuring Alisa Xayalith

Time to spread the word...(or the links that is)...

Hi, I am a believer in the creativity of New Zealand bands, and having been in a few over the years, I would like to help build and awareness of this small, but innovative, community of musicians. This blog is my contribution to their success. I wish them all the best of luck!