Funkommunity - Pass It On

From the hook, to the steadily-stepping guitar line (comes in at 1:15), to the brilliantly-placed synth pads, this groove is superb. I had heard it before, not sure if it was on the radio, or on C4, and had mentally registered it without knowing who it was. Someone recommended it on Twitter so I chased it up, this post being a testament to the efficacy of Twitter as a marketing tool. "Funkommunity" is Isaac Aesili (ex-Solaa) and Rachel Fraser. You can buy their music at the link here: http://funkommunity.bandcamp.com/ . I know I will be.



Funkommunity - Pass It On

Street Chant - Frail Girls

Street Chant have a follow-up album to their debut "Means" due sometime soon. "Frail Girls" is the first single release off the new album and has been out since late 2011. Reviewers have been kind to the band so far, often citing the strong combination of punk influences. I can plainly hear late 1970s New Wave in there, but it doesn't feel derivative, and they have some great hooks. I have read that there is substantial offshore interest so the new album will be important in terms of capitalizing on that interest. "Frail Girls" bodes well for the album's quality.



Street Chant - Frail Girls

The Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo

I understand The Phoenix Foundation (TPF) are in the studio, or maybe have just finished. The new album is eagerly awaited, "Buffalo" being a triumph - a logical step in the ongoing integration of the disparate talents of the group. It didn't feel like a combination of songs by different writers. The loss of drummer Richie Singleton to environmental enterprises will be significant, this song being an example of his influence. The drum riff that drives the song, and is an essential linch-pin, is his. But Richie is on the new album so we will have to wait for some time to find out the extent to which his loss slows down TPF's creative freight train. In the meantime, the proverbial lips are getting licked. "Buffalo" is a reminder of how good they can be.



The Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo

Lydia Cole - Hibernate

I am going to spend the next few days on the road in the US Pacific North-West so I am posting a couple of videos up-front of which this is the last. I suspect I may have been judged against, for my judgement (expressed through the banality of a tweet), but I must call it as I see it. I am only one person and my opinion is essentially of little consequence. But I do hold my opinions with vigour. Most guitar-hugging singer/songwriters are mediocre, possibly because they are not prepared to take risks. The risks don't have to be comprehensive, are not prescriptive, but they must be defining, and the reason I like Lydia Cole's music, despite its flirtation with the occasional predictable motif, is the raw soul-baring authenticity of the material. Sung in a real "New Zilland" accent, and when layered up with incidental arrangements, it is beautiful, and very hard to resist. I can see this material being used on television and movie soundtracks. The faster that Lydia Cole's management get it in front of these people (offshore - not locally), the faster this will be recognised for how good it is. And then it will really sell. The song is from the album "Me and Moon" available at the link below. The video is by Claire Littler. It works well with the material.

http://lydiacole.bandcamp.com/album/me-moon



Lydia Cole - Hibernate

She's So Rad - Circles

There is an intentionally dumb irony to the use of "Circles" as a means of closing off my circular She's So Rad/Junica love-fest for now. A great song, great video. I don't really need to say anything more about how good these guys are. Junica is in the same class. I am looking forward to new albums from both...and will post the videos when they turn up - assuming I like them. Fingers crossed...but don't really think I need to.



She's So Rad - Circles

Junica - Living In My House [ Feat. Ladyhawke ]

Today I put Iva Lamkum's "Doo Bop" on the blog, and postulated the creative integration of her marvellous voice with the songwriting of either the She's So Rad team (Jeremy Toy and Anji Sami), or Nik Brinkman (Junica). Iva has a vocal depth, some gravel-like personal integrity, and I believe that, her intuitive understanding of grooves, and her lyrical acuity, coupled with the songwriting/arranging nous of both of the aforementioned, could be very interesting. My hypothesis needs some empirical evidence, and so I present Junica's joint venture with Pip Brown aka Ladyhawke. I know it's not "like for like". But think laterally. In my (humble) opinion it would work, but there would need to be some rhythmic/thematic compromise from both parties. The end result could well be more than the sum of its parts. A good time to now rest my case (and shut the proverbial up).



Junica -  'Living In My House' Ft. Pip Brown

Iva Lamkum - Doo Bop

First time I heard this, I could recognize it was a well-rounded, commercially-viable offering from one of the best voices in the New Zealand music industry...but I just couldn't warm to it. I suspect that it is the predominance of (a great) riff over melodic variation/dynamics. But this morning, the penny has finally dropped, having played it again, and being on the road in the USA, it was a welcome groove to start my day with. I just love Ms Lankum's voice. I would like to see her doing something unusual with it though...say working with someone like She's So Rad or Junica. "Doo Bop" is very well-produced by P-Money. It is also an excellent video by AskewOne. All round good.



Iva Lamkum - Doo Bop (Produced by P Money) (Official Video)

Wet Wings - You're Not

Wet Wings are a Wellington indie band made up of "Lucy" and "Darian". I have no other information on the principals at this time! I love the textures they put together. And of course melody is an important and attractive part of the the layers that they build over simple ostinato-like samples. After pressing the play button, you will be happier in 2 minutes and 46 seconds. Or you're a grinch.  You can buy their music at the link here: http://wetwings.lilchiefrecords.com/



Wet Wings - You're Not

Janine and the Mixtape - Bullets

There is definitely something here. It is not quite fully formed, and this video hints at maybe a lack of resources so far. The video is my least favourite thing about this offering, but that aside, here is a songwriter capable of putting together a song that soars, and is extraordinarily appealing. The production quality is ok, the vocal performance w/ sampled harmonies is lovely, but what brings me to post today is Janine's tantalizing potential. "Bullets" contains a a great melodic hook, nicely balanced arrangements, superb dynamics, and feels like it should be a hit. Here is someone who knows what she wants, and has a 360 degree awareness of her craft. Apparently she is in the studio at the moment. Looking forward to the outcome of that. You can buy "Bullets" at this link here: http://www.amplifier.co.nz/release/89315/bullets.html



Janine and the Mixtape - Bullets

Luke Buda - Weekend Dad

Luke Buda, is one half of New Zealand's Lennon & McCartney (oh no...bad I know), that being himself and Sam Flynn-Scott of The Phoenix Foundation (TPF). They have matured into superb songwriters and now execute on a reliable basis, unlike some of the earlier years of the band. I have an intuition that the gorgeous melodies/harmonies of TPF comes more from Luke, whereas the biting lyricism is Sam's stomping ground. But what do I know? (Luke is New Zealand's Abba to Sam's Rolling Stones?...stop it!). Luke Buda's music is hard not to like, and it amazes me that more don't know of it, but I suspect he has a conflict of interest with TPF, which they have clearly decided to keep going for the foreseeable future. That probably precludes him from a commitment to full-on promotion, hence this video has under 3,000 views at time of writing. I have been listening to Luke for years, starting with his first release "Buda - The C Sides" back in 2002, followed up by "Special Surprise" around 2004 (I think), and his last offering from late 2008, "Vesuvius". What keeps me listening, is everything I am looking for on this blog. Melody with unconventional melodic sequences, interesting harmonies, song structures, dynamics. But what sets this all off are the lyrics, which are often clever, with lashings of gentle irony. And they can sometimes be quite poignant, or even sentimental. Its a rich mix. You can buy "Vesuvius" at www.lukebuda.bandcamp.com. "Special Surprise" is available through the more usual commercial channels.



Luke Buda - Weekend Dad

Aaradhna - Wake Up

Aaradhna is a great vocalist. I have watched her through the years and recognized this, but often the material just hasn't done it for me. My old gripe (ok so this is only one amateur's opinion) is that so much of what is put out in NZ is too derivative, genre-blended and/or formulaic to really make it outside these shores. And that's what I would like to see New Zealand artists do. Create sustainable careers outside of New Zealand, being based here much of the time. And one doesn't necessarily need to sell out to do so. Aaradhna's previous material has been competent, enjoyable and it clearly has a market within New Zealand, and maybe a little wider in the Asia Pacific. But the point of this blog is to highlight and reward those acts that might have some international leverage. And that demands differentiation. I haven't historically found enough of that in Aaradhna's material, both musical and visual. There have been several exceptions, one being "I Love You Too" which is a beautiful song, albeit quite conventional. Interestingly, that song I think is closest to "Wake Up" in terms of the correct direction so far. The reason I am posting "Wake Up" is I think this song, and this direction, has potential for Aaradhna offshore, and I don't just mean Australia, which is also a bit of a dead-end. Ok, there is clearly a bit of the retro, "Winehouse" genre in here, which is getting a little long in the tooth, but the genre will probably continue to sell for some time as it has broad demographic crossover potential. The thing is, where Aaradhna has lined herself up next to this genre, it has tended to work. And this works. All round. I love it. I can also imagine huge potential commercial usage so there will probably be a pay-day in there somewhere. As usual, Special Problems have delivered a superb video which just seems so appropriate to the material. The whole thing sparkles. They should continue to work together. I hope this does very well for Aaradhna as it deserves to, and I look forward to hearing about her offshore exploits as a result.



Aaradhna - Wake Up - (Official Music Video)

Dear Time's Waste - Fortune

Last week I posted "Alice", an older track from Dear Time's Waste (DTW) as I couldn't get the Vimeo link for "Fortune" to work. I was a little frustrated as this video is one of the best videos I have seen recently. Growing up in the early-mid '80s, the visual vernacular is familiar, from the David Lynch "Blue Velvet" references, all the way through to that jacket with shoulder pads on steroids. But it is not just the video, the song itself is beautiful, with lyrics that clearly Claire Duncan is proud of (on the DTW Twitter intro), and justifiably so. "I am a legion of concrete reason / A buried basis of shifting seasons / A pleading treatise in brazen armour / Some kind of Eden with flooded gardens". I am a male, and no genius, but I suspect the three dancers are metaphors for a woman's progress through early stages of a relationship. [out on a very shaky limb there...] The quality of the lighting, photography and direction marks this video out. I am not surprised to find members of the Dryburgh dynasty attached to something that looks as pretty as this, its in the genes [camera,lighting, directorial assistance]. The video was directed by Veronica Crockford-Pound, an arts graduate (and ex-international model) now making a name for herself in photography and film (see Ruby Frost's "Moonlight" video). We have a new Honour Roll member. [Sorry Collapsing Cities, its brutally Darwinian. "Regret" is a superb video but the Honour Roll will always evolve.] Just a reminder what the Honour Roll is about. Any video that combines a strong song, performance, production and video is a candidate. "Fortune" hits all those marks. You can buy Dear Time's Waste music at www.deartimeswaste.bandcamp.com .


Dear Time's Waste - Fortune

Glass Owls - Griffin Boy

Glass Owls are an Auckland-based indie-rock outfit who have been around for roughly five years, originally emerging out of schools in east Auckland. I have heard this song many times, liked it but actually thought it was The Strokes! Today I saw the video for the first time and the whole package works for me. Glass Owls might just fly. I look forward to catching them live at some stage. The band's debut EP "Dead Love" was released in 2010, contains "Griffin Boy", and is available at this link here. http://glassowls.bandcamp.com/



Glass Owls - Griffin Boy

Live Reviews Now At NZMusic4U LIVE

As we now have a site dedicated to live performances by New Zealand artists, it made sense to move live reviews across to that site. Today we review last night's performance by Sola Rosa at San Francisco Bath House in Wellington. The gig was notable for my introduction to Estere, who I believe has international potential. You can read the review by going to NZMusic4U LIVE at the following link: www.nzmusic4u-live.blogspot.com .

Sola Rosa - Spinning Top [feat LA Mitchell]

This clip has been posted in celebration of my first attendance at a Sola Rosa live gig - at Wellington's San Francisco Bath House. It will be difficult to refrain from embarrassing myself as I bust my moves through the crowd, but I am a sucker for syncopation. (Thankfully you don't know what I look like). "Spinning Top" is a great example of what Sola Rosa consistently comes up with. A strong song, good production with an innovative video. Sola Rosa's core is Andrew Spraggon who has consistently built teams of very talented instrumentalists and vocalists around a hybrid hip hop, funk, soul, and jazz meld. He writes great songs, often built around a basic riff, then fleshed out through the arrangements. The songs typically make it onto a recording in good shape. I don't remember hearing any one of his tracks being poorly produced. The new album is "Low and Behold, High and Beyond" available at the link here: http://music.solarosa.com/.



Sola Rosa - Spinning Top [feat LA Mitchell]

Glass Vaults - Gold Star

Put it this way, combine Sigur Ros, Brian Eno, New Zealand's Jakob and Boards of Canada, and you are getting somewhere close to Wellington's Glass Vaults. But they are their own...I am just giving a perspective from which to come at them. Last night I bought everything on their Bandcamp website and have spent hours listening to it. And my initial impressions have been confirmed. It is wonderful. Haunting, evolving, complex electronic textures, occasional percussion, with vocals only when needed, and often beautifully effect-laden. There is one tremelo-like effect which I am dying to find out how it was put together. They have just finished touring offshore from what I understand. The band members directed the video, and it is perfectly suited to the material, and of similar-level production quality. You can buy their material at www.glassvaults.bandcamp.com .



Glass Vaults - Gold Star

Die! Die! Die! - We Built Our Own Oppressors

Early Die! Die! Die! (DDD) I didn't quite get, but I am a stickler for strong production values, and superficial though that may be, that is where they were weakest early on (in relative terms to their material only). The songs have always been good. Originally hailing from Dunedin, the band have matured, and as they have done so I have found their music has become more accessible (that might be a problem for them..!), and I find it both challenging and rewarding. For me Auckland's Popstrangers (on this blog's Honour Roll) are a natural successor to DDD  although I hope DDD will be around for many years. I am  going to post some of DDD's live material on NZMusic4U LIVE. This is an older video (2010), shot on location in New York, and is well-directed by Rohan Thomas. There are plenty more videos to post so expect regular appearances of Die! Die! Die! on this blog. The band appear to have had label issues over the last few years, but now have a new album out on their own label Etcetera Records. The album is called "Harmony" and was recorded at Blackbox studios in France. You can buy it at the links below:

catalogID=1022842 http://www.amplifier.co.nz/release/86884/harmony.html;

http://www.marbecks.co.nz/detail/index.lsd?



Die! Die! Die! - We Built Our Own Oppressors

Vince Harder - Far From Here

I first came across Vince Harder when he collaborated with P-Money some years ago on "Everything" - a great track with clear commercial upside. I am not sure how it did, but I assume at least pretty well in NZ. It was clear back then that he was a talented vocalist with a great vocal range. He made the song. His material since has been of a reasonably high standard but the problem I have with much of it is it is too formulaic. I don't think NZers can do well internationally without differentiating themselves strongly from some perspective. I would like to see Vince Harder do some more challenging work with less conventional writers and producers to see what came of it. Not sure if that is likely but with a talent like that, surely it is worth giving it a go? Anyway, this blog is about music I like. Where does this clip stand? I don't have a problem with this song. It is a competent pop song performed strongly by Vince. But the reason this clip is here is the video which I think is one of the silliest and most overblown New Zealand videos I have seen in a long time, and I love it. Now this is differentiation! Who has filmed a faux runaway drama in Santiago recently? Not Chris Brown. Stunning camera work and direction by Shae Sterling. If they didn't get paid by the Chilean tourism authority, they should have. I only post clips I like, and this is one.



Vince Harder - Far From Here

Computers Want Me Dead - Little Steps

A stylish offering from Computers Want Me Dead (CWMD), who are Sam Harvey and Damien Daniels. With previous histories in a range of indie/electronic bands, they met in late 2007 and after discovering shared interests , they very quickly formed CWMD in 2008. The band's sound has morphed a little since they first started and I have to say I am warmer to it now than I was previously. Less noise, more melody. But that's just me. "Little Steps" is well-produced and musically I can't fault it. The video looks pretty good for what was probably a small budget but I do think it misses, and therefore slightly weakens, the strong "taking little steps" hook in the song, therefore probably doesn't sell the song as well as it could. Still, all in all, reiterating what I said at the beginning, it is a classy offering overall.



Little Steps by Computers Want Me Dead (Official)