Introverted Dancefloor - Happiness is Such A Mess

This is music for musicians, and for those who like to think about their music as much as feel it. Introverted Dancefloor is the name of a new project from Bevan Smith, known for running a variety of monikers over time...Aspen, Skallender, Signer...and also for being one half of one the great NZ bands of the mid-2000s, Over The Atlantic. The new self-titled album from which "Happiness is Such A Mess" hails has taken four years to arrive. It sounds like it was an almost tortured genesis. Bevan deliberately put himself under a lot of pressure to create an album that was difficult to make. Limiting himself to only two synths, one mic, one filter and one effects processor, many of the songs were scratched and restarted. "Happiness.." demands quite a few listens to get inside one's subconscious, but it is a pleasure after several. And it is not just an aural experience, bringing with it some simple, hopefully helpful, existentialism...(!)

"If you ever feel unhappy,
don't forget that things are bound to change,
not that change is such a good thing,
there's a chance that things might get much worse" 

The stunning video that accompanies this single  was directed by Rowan Pierce, with photography by Matt Henley. Choreography was by Victoria Colombus with dancers Errol Anderson and Emma Martin. Bevan has been on the Carpark Records label since 1999 and says he feels grateful to still be one of what we know to be a stable of well-respected artists. But his continued presence on the label is not accidental. Here is an artist who must continue to interest music fans. And there is an integrity to the intellectualism he brings to it. It is also fun. A range of links are provided below to enable the reader to get to know Introverted Dancefloor better. Highly recommended. Watch out for the album release in September. Hopefully we will get a few more video releases ahead of the release date.

https://www.facebook.com/introverteddancefloor
http://carparkrecords.com/press/introverteddancefloor/
https://soundcloud.com/carparkrecords/happiness-is-such-a-mess-introverted-dancefloor
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/nat-music/audio/201762935/introverted-dancefloor

Introverted Dancefloor - "Happiness is Such A Mess"

The Impending Adorations - When The Wind Blows

I am pretty confident that people who should know, do. But not sure how many others realise Paul McLaney is a bona fide New Zealand musical treasure. Much of his music might be an acquired taste, but like all the greats, time tests his music well. After a period of releasing a more electronic loop-driven series of albums (which I adore), he clearly couldn't fight the British progressive rock lurking in his genes. As a result we get a three song musical cycle that presents much in the way of great post-progressive rock music of the late 1970s and 1980s. The first of this cycle was "The Best Is Yet To Come", seen earlier this year on this blog. "When The Wind Blows" is a complex, multi-layered masterpiece, and an honest message to a friend in trouble. Mr McLaney knows how to use dynamics. "When The Wind Blows" starts as standard Impending Adorations electronic fare, but evolves into something that clearly has some inspiration in the sort-of-forgotten-but-amazing late 80s, early 90s Talk Talk/ Mark Hollis' albums. Those albums are so influential and if you haven't heard them...go there! The Auckland Gospel Choir stump up beautifully in the single. The stunning video is by RedKidOne who is responsible for this three-song cyle. You can buy this very special single at the links below.
 
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/when-the-wind-blows-single/id985884635?uo=4&at=10lrHH

Also on Spotify...

The Impending Adorations - When The Wind Blows

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Ffunny Ffrends

From 2011's "Unknown Mortal Orchestra" album (their first), and to mark my first time attendance at a live performance of Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO), here is the first track released by UMO back in 2010, "Ffunny FFrends". UMO are Ruban Nielson (vocals/guitar), Jake Portrait (bass) and Greg Rogrove (drums). Described as an "American and New Zealand band" due to their Portland, Oregon base, and American band members, nonetheless, to me this is a quintessentially New Zealand offering, with Ruban Nielson (ex-Auckland's "Mint Chicks") dominating the creative process. Pitchfork magazine said the following about the first album - "an expert use of space rare for such a lo-fi record, UMO manages a unique immersive and psychedelic quality without relying on the usual array of bong-ripping effects". That very lo-fi "space" meant it took me awhile to warm to UMO, but I am now pretty much fully onboard, although I find my affection quite polarized between tracks, with some of the tracks still not dragging me in. That might just be my problem though. I do love "FFunny Ffrends", "Thought Ballune", "How Can U Love Me", "Nerve Damage", "Little Blu House", and "Strangers are Strange"- yup, pretty much the entire album! UMO have a new album "II", to be released on the Jagjaguwardue label sometime in February 2013. The band are touring as part of the release process. I am very much looking forward to seeing them live. You can buy the first UMO album at the link below:

http://www.fatpossum.com/products/unknown-mortal-orchestra

UMO wiki here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unknown_Mortal_Orchestra

For details of their Wellington gig on Friday January 4th, 2013, please see the link below:

http://www.bodega.co.nz/2013/01/04/unkown-mortal-orchestra/



Unknown Mortal Orchestra -  Ffunny Ffrends (OFFICIAL)

Dictaphone Blues - Spicy Fruit Loaf

With a commentary on the industrialization of modern society (including some possible "Soylent Green" references?), Dictaphone Blues give us "something to chew on" (nooooo!), and a great song to go with it. The video is by Ready!Steady!Studio! (www.readysteadystudio.com). Dictaphone Blues are Edward Castelow, Myles Allpress and Rob Collins. The "Spicy Fruit Loaf" single is a free download, and is taken from their sophomore album, "Beneath the Crystal Palace". Everything is purchaseable at the link below.

http://dictaphoneblues.bandcamp.com/

Here is an excellent little interview/monologue with Edward Castelow from the great www.cheeseontoast.co.nz website. http://cheeseontoast.co.nz/2012/04/08/watch-our-interview-with-eddie-from-dictaphone-blues/



Dictaphone Blues - Spicy Fruit Loaf

Bailterspace - World We Share

From the 2012 album "Strobosphere", Bailterspace give us the video for "World We Share", filmed in it's entirety in the Manhattan area around the Hurricane Sandy period. The video was directed by fellow ex-pat Stuart Page. Bailterspace have been with us since 1987, but in reality, longer, as the genesis of the group was in The Gordons, at one stage promoted as "the loudest band in the world", and credited as an influence by Sonic Youth. They initially came together in 1980! The album is the first since 2004, the band members coming out of what turned out to be temporary retirement in 2008. After a range of line-up changes, current core band members are Alister Parker, and Brent McLachlan. Both were members of The Gordons. I am really enjoying this quite laid-back groove from the band. You can get a free download for "No Sense" off the new album, as well as buy the album at the link here: http://www.archhill.co.nz/profile/Bailterspace .

Here is a link to a Gordon's video to give you a taste of what they used to be like. The Gordons - "Adults and Children": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oThSPqmIRxQ



Bailterspace - "World We Share" - Music Video

Teen Fortress - Say

I first came across Teen Fortress a couple of months ago and liked the "Tepid Vapid Callow" album enough to purchase it. Teen Fortress is the solo project of Christchurch-based Zach Doney from Bang Bang Eche, and is a further example of the high quality of music coming out of Christchurch scene at the moment. The album was released in May 2012 but has since been remixed and remastered which has improved the sound substantially. Zach has put the video for "Say" together himself. In his words, "I conceived the video as a collage of the video art relevant to me at the time of completion". It is excellent. You can buy Teen Fortress' music at the link below. I am also a bit of fan of the track "Sick". Have a listen.

http://teenfortress.bandcamp.com/



Teen Fortress - Say

Princess Chelsea - Frack

In space, no one can hear you giggle. Directed by Simon Ward (director of Lawrence Arabia's latest - also posted on this blog), this video is an ode to a variety of science fiction movies/shows (including Battlestar Galactica) and features spaceships, cryostatic bed hair and the Princess looking a bit bored in space. Psychopathic traits exhibited in terms of a lack of empathy for the loyal skeleton. Fun video. Great "futuristic" production. Also contains personal biblical themes apparently! You can buy the track at the link below.

 http://princesschelsea.lilchiefrecords.com/track/frack



Princess Chelsea - Frack