Third3ye - Catmandu

Third3ye have featured on NZMusic4U a couple of times previously and made it into my #summershot2013 candidate list. I am also regularly tweeting their beats out on Twitter as a result of listening on my walks around London. Channelling an almost-hippie, spiritual hip-hop blend, they are one of my favourite New Zealand beats outfits. The video is good enough, but it is the continuation and development of the "Earth Raps" vibe that has me keen to hear the upcoming "Anja" EP due late May. You can buy these guys' material at the link below.

http://third3ye.bandcamp.com/

Third3ye - Catmandu (Official Video) // Lifers.Co

Mt Eden feat. Freshly Ground - Sierra Leone

Mt Eden signed to Ultra Records, a successful New York-based dance label in January 2013. This will see them release a couple of EPs and an album, as well as various videos. The new "No Man's Land" album is due in June. This video features the track that got them noticed internationally, "Sierra Leone", and is probably the most-long-awaited official video I have come across! Mt Eden are now truly are on the map globally, with over 100 million views of their YouTube channel. There has been an unusual release pattern with the band, possibly reflecting the almost accidental success of two guys who just liked putting together music they wanted to hear, out of a bedroom in Mt Eden, Auckland. It has also historically been principally a live performance business. They have previously used recorded content (aural and visual) to help build momentum for their live shows...although this is expected to change with the Ultra Records tie-up.  Jesse Cooper and Harley Rayner (Split Enz progeny yes) are now playing to massive crowds globally. I had the pleasure of meeting Jesse and manager Tim Youngson (Stereogram) in New York late last year. Their down-to-earth attitudes bode well for an acceleration of their music sales. No BS here, and it is great to see the momentum of a major label behind what is already a global success. You can buy their music at the link below. The official website is linked below that.

 https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mt.-eden/id409192448
http://www.mtedenofficial.com/#

Here is an interview with the guys from 2011. Still good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izeYHbr3QuA&feature=player_embedded

Lydia Cole - Love & Loss & Love

From the heartfelt, evocative and deeply personal album, "Me & Moon", Lydia Cole has delivered another well-put-together song/video combination in "Love & Loss & Love". The video was directed by Dan Fowler , drummer with Tom Lark and a consistent source of cost-efficient videos (which don't look "cost-efficient" if you know what I mean http://www.fowlface.com ). Lydia was responsible for art direction. It is a great looking video. I have been very impressed with the production quality on the "Me & Moon" album and see that Nic Manders (who has also done brilliant work with Brooke Fraser ) is behind this. He seems able to liberate songs, while still enhancing with sometimes lush instrumentation, which in any other hands might swamp the message of the original offering. I am a big fan. You can buy "Me & Moon" at the link below.

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

K.One - All Over Again

I have enjoyed much of K.One's (Kaleb Vitale) output over the last few years and it is pretty simple. He knows how to create hooks, his music is melodic, not overly repetitive and has dynamics. He has a strong pop sensibility which works well as he crosses it over with his base hip-hop style.  His song "So Long" w/ Scribe has been featured on this blog previously. It is a favourite. Kaleb is now Australia-based although he is one of the those illustrious Masterton alumni that include Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) and Pip Brown (Ladyhawke). Not bad for a small town in NZ. I have added a link below to an article from www.lumiere.net.nz which should serve as a good introduction if you have not come across his music before.You can buy this single, and his other offerings at the link below.

https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/all-over-again-single/id633346736

The Lumiere Reader link:

http://lumiere.net.nz/index.php/the-masterton-sound/

K.One - All Over Again (Official Video)

Pikachunes - Cinnamon Pop Dream

Pikachunes (Miles McDougall) has been featured previously on this blog with several of his minimalist electro-indie-pop offerings. Although the recent "Miles" EP retains remnants of that sound, this single (featuring Zowie) is a lush disco-stunner. What stands out for me is how well his vocals work with these production settings. Despite being known for his unconventional electronica, Miles has plenty of musical repertoire to call on, being a formally-trained jazz musician with skills across percussion, piano, guitars and brass. Electronica was something he became enthusiastic about during an extended convalescence. A superb video from Lauren Beck (dir/prod) and Rick Mereki (dir/editing) completes the offering. You can buy the "Miles" EP at the link below.

http://pikachunes.lilchiefrecords.com/album/miles

Parallel Dance Ensemble - Possessions

With an almost Grandmaster-ish early 80s style rap on the futility of  chasing 'things', and some gorgeous flashes of lushness (love that sax) against an almost lo-fi straight disco electro-beat, Parallel Dance Ensemble have given us something with recognizable roots, but original...and with a hook that could work on the radio. Parallel Dance Ensemble is the very talented Auckland MC/disco artist Coco Solid (previously on this blog in her Badd Energy incarnation), and Bobbi Sox (Danish LA-based producer Robin Hannibal). First listen didn't grab me but I was hooked by the second. The video was directed by Carthew Neal with "Concept & Creative Inspiration" from Reuben Paterson. Director of Photography was Simon Temple. You can find out more about Coco Solid at the link below.

http://www.cocosolid.com/

Great North - To Leave Someone

I would love this song to be an enormous radio success for Great North, but I don't think the structure lends itself to that...though I am pretty sure it will contribute to sales of their album. "Halves" I think is a New Zealand classic. "To Leave Someone" is also one of the best songs I have ever come across. The song's lyrical twists, structure, arrangements, dynamics and production, are all gorgeous. I adore the song. For that reason the song/video has made the NZMusic4U Honour Roll. I have a playlist ("The Beautifully Sad" - song list below) on my iPhone of which this song is one. The playlist reliably generates a dopamine hit way better than any drugs I have ever had. You might enjoy the combination also? Ralph Matthews and Claire Littler have done a good job with this video although the animated segment doesn't quite blend properly. No matter though, it is still quality enough to present the song well. If you want to buy some Great North magic, please go to the link below.

http://greatnorth.bandcamp.com/

The Beautifully Sad Playlist

Feels Like - Lydia Cole
To Leave Someone - Great North
The Man From Amsterdam - Lips
Fortune - Dear Times Waste
Hibernate - Lydia Cole
Juvenile Love Story - The Impending Adorations
We Don't Have Much Time - Lips

Randa - Orange Juice

It's a pretty basic video. But it works. And that is thanks to an artist with such charisma I just can't help thinking she could fire in a big way. While Randa might need to escape the small market that is New Zealand, (and get in front of those who will recognize the star quality), it is one of the great things about NZ that it is easy to cut through to get noticed. A career that is not though, and this stairway is long with many landings. But there is definitely enough depth here. Personality, humour, creativity and a sound that belongs only here, I look forward to Randa landing the big fish! You can get hold of a range of Randa's material at the link below.

http://randa.bandcamp.com/

Shapeshifter - Gravity

From the upcoming album "Delta", Shapeshifter give us the album's third single "Gravity"...not as good as "Diamond Trade" but still easy to like. When I look at a band I try to think whether I could live without their 'sound' in day-to-day life. It is quite an effective test, and you would be amazed what survives! I think that might be an indictment of my taste...but I believe that Shapeshifter is one of those where the body of work is so extensive, and so much part of the New Zealand cultural vernacular, that I would hate to lose them, and for that reason I think they have many years to run. I suspect there are many of us who "feel it" the same way. But at the same time, as their sound has evolved beautifully in the past, they will need to keep evolving, or risk losing relevance. Hearing the saxophone track on this song reminded these are talented musicians that know what they are doing. Fingers crossed. I look forward to the album. To hear just how good Shapeshifter's material is, go to the link below. (Awesome website!).

http://www.shapeshifter.co.nz/

Janine and the Mixtape - Cold Out

"Cold Out" is a beautiful, poignant reflection on the journey that Janine Foster has been on over the last year. She is now starting to make a name for herself in New York. I have heard her yet-to-be-released "Dark Mind" EP and was blown away by her song-writing, production and vocal talents.  Janine has a visual aesthetic going as well. I do believe artists who want to break through need to have skills across all areas, allowing them to monetize their talent in a variety of ways. Janine's ability to put together quality sketchbook videos allows her to build momentum much better than using visual-less Soundcloud uploads etc. Nik Brinkman of Junica is another example of one of these multi-talents, and others would do well to up-skill as broadly as possible. As for Janine, it has been a hard road in the USA but with support coming through from a wide and growing network, in time I suspect she will find she has strong industry momentum. As an example of the enthusiasm building for Janine and the Mixtape, have a read of the blog-post from "Vibe" at the link below. 

http://www.vibe.com/article/new-video-janine-and-mixtape-cold-out