Out of the ashes...or was that the puddles? This was apparently a disastrous video shoot, with meteorological disasters, missing props, no shows...but no sign of it in the finished product. Slick, sharp and easy-to-watch, Illegal Musik's Mark Arona (director), Mikey Rockwell (editor) and Kaleb Vitale (creative direction and star) have put together an expensive-looking video. And the song? Catchy as anything that K.One has put out previously, and there is some hooky back catalogue out there. The 60s feel is helped by some backing vocals from Brooke Duff and horns from "Three Houses Down". I have bought K.One's music previously, with old favourite singles being 2010's "Walking Away" featuring a heavily auto-tuned Jason Kerrison (who clearly doesn't need to be but it worked), and 2011's "So Long" which also features Scribe. So who is K.One? Well he was a small-town forestry worker for seven years, and he ascribes his work ethic to that background. But it's not just a work ethic in play here. He clearly has an ear, and an eye, and I have thought for some time he is one of those "most likely to". "Love Don't Live Around Here" sounds very radio friendly, and with such a well-put-together video, I hope he gets noticed, not just by local fans, but also groups outside NZ which is clearly where his future lies. If you would like to buy "Love Don't Live Around Here" there is an iTunes link below. Go buy it.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/love-dont-live-around-here/id882489419?i=882489463
K.One - Love Don't Live Around Here (Official Video)
Tiny Ruins - Me At The Museum, You In The Wintergardens
"Fantasize your ideal love. With that in mind, write the most gentle, serene love song." So writes Bob Boilen of the USA's NPR. This song is one of those that many songwriters would go with to their death bed, happy, having created something of such simple, elegant beauty. And the ancillary arrangements are stunning. There's not much...just enough. It is interesting that Neil Finn liked the song enough to do a video as the song could almost be his in one of his quieter moments (when I like his music the most). He says of making the video (thanks to Arch Hill Records for the quote) "I’ve been enjoying making little films and was carrying a Pelican case with me on the road , setting up for editing in hotels rooms and the back of the bus. One night I discovered a few images which seemed to suit the atmosphere of this song , so just started making a video without even being asked .The next day I asked her if I could film her singing it at soundcheck and in the show and placed these images left and right . I like the way her hair is crumpled for soundcheck and all smoothed out at the show. I’m glad Hollie likes it and wants people to see it but I would have been happy just making it anyway." This clip is going up on the NZMusic4U Honour Roll. In this case, it is a pretty little video...but it is the song, arrangements and its production that drives this blog's recognition. Some links for you to follow below, including a Bandcamp link with purchasing links for the EP from which this song hails...."Brightly Painted One". I own it.
http://www.npr.org/event/music/331973918/tiny-ruins-me-at-the-museum-you-in-the-wintergardens?ft=1&f=1039
http://tinyruins.bandcamp.com/
http://flyingout.co.nz/collections/tiny-ruins
Tiny Ruins - Me At The Museum, You In The Wintergardens (Music Video)
Doprah - Stranger People
Second week in a row we have a Doprah video, and this is their best yet. From the self-titled debut EP (album on the way apparently), this was the second single they released back in early 2013 - which pretty much confirmed "Whatever You Want" was not an accident. Less obvious, but texturally deeper, and overall, way more interesting, the song, combined with this suberb video might just catalyse something bigger. There has been plenty of blog coverage. Candlelit Pictures have come up with some very, very good videos over the last twelve months...Sheep, Dog & Wolf "Glare", Randa's "Frankenstein" and Evan Sinton's "Prisoner's Cinema". But "Stranger People" might just be out in front. There are clear J-Pop, "Lolita" fashion and Anime influences at play here, but I think it actually improves on some of those videos that might have influenced the makers...videos such as "Pon Pon Pon" linked below. Doprah are exciting, still a little raw, and unpredictable. It will be interesting to see where they take this early promise. You can buy the Doprah EP at the links below. I bought it.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/doprah-ep/id879081930
Candlelit Pictures's website here:
http://candlelitpictures.co.nz/
An influence?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzC4hFK5P3g&feature=kp
Doprah - Stranger People (Music Video)
Doprah - Whatever You Want
When I first came across the song about eighteen months ago, despite many early-adopters, it was almost as if no-one took it too seriously, even the band. That may well have been just a misperception by yours truly, but I found it odd that the creators of such a magical piece of 90s-style trip-hop seemed not to realise something pretty special had just happened. I suspect they realise now. There is an industry buzz surrounding Doprah. International blogs like them. Crowds like them. Doprah is principally Steven John Marr, and Indira Force, two substantial and versatile talents. Steven I think is responsible for the overall sound, songs, and structure, whereas Indira adds both lyrics and a stylistic counterpoint that fleshes the sound out, and defines it. I am so glad the song got the video it deserved. Featuring Rebekah Clydesdale & Jed Mccammon, the clip was directed and produced by Dunedin's "G U A R D S" (see link below), who are Daniel Blackball and Alex Lovell-Smith. I have just bought the band's new self-titled "Doprah" EP. You can own it too at the following links.
http://flyingout.co.nz/products/doprah-doprah-ep
http://doprah.bandcamp.com/
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/doprah-ep/id879081930
G U A R D S at this link:
http://www.guardsproduction.com/
DOPRAH - Whatever You Want (Music Video)
The Phoenix Foundation - Bob Lennon John Dylan
Didn't get me at first this one. But a couple of plays and the soaring chorus started to work its magic. From the "Tom's Lunch" EP, "Bob Lennon John Dylan" is an example of what The Phoenix Foundation do so well...mixing layers of melody with acerbic/ironic lyrical observations. The spectacular video is by Puck Murphy and Paul Freeman. I have no idea who they are, but they have created something that leaps off the screen. The band have described it on Twitter as "spermy man spaghetti in a cosmic vagina of light!". "Katey Melody Rodgers" gets a special mention for her costume work here. There is an April 2014 Alexander Bisley interview with Luke Buda in Rip It Up which gives us an insight into the latest material. After the less immediate "Fandango" (which I love), the band have decided to go with a more "exuberant" approach on this EP. I have linked the article below. You can buy the "Tom's Lunch" EP at the iTunes link below.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/toms-lunch-ep/id860201597
The Rip It Up interview is at this link:
http://www.ripitup.co.nz/music/interview-the-phoenix-foundation/
The Phoenix Foundation - Bob Lennon John Dylan (Official Music Video)
Louie Knuxx - Sex & Drugs
Louie Knuxx (real name Todd Williams) can be polarizing. Not afraid of painting quite hedonistic, almost nihilist vignettes, taken at face value, he can get some people's backs up. But hip hop has never been about platitudes, and it is at its best when great production (Max Throw on this occasion) is mixed with well-delivered rhymes that are honest, and from the heart...or ummm, other parts of the body. (hey - I meant brain!) "Sex & Drugs" is off Louie's upcoming album. There is a newer video out currently, a brilliant cooperative effort with Jane Deezy (at link below), and one due very soon. Louie Knuxx is one of my favourite NZ MCs and I suspect international success is finally starting to appear. I am not surprised. The almost-feline downbeat sensual menace of both his rhymes, and their performance, is really quite special. You can buy Louie's last album "Dying Slow" at the link below. I have it. I imagine the new album will be available at this link soon.
Louie Knuxx - You See feat Jane Deezy (prod by Quexxxt)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwIcrdkbQz4
http://louieknuxx.bandcamp.com/
Louie Knuxx - Sex & Drugs (Official Video)
Louis Baker - Back On My Feet
There will be many people who love this song...and that number must be growing by the day. A song that probably means different things to many people. It has had a special resonance for me. "Back On My Feet" was actually written about music. Louis Baker says "music has a remarkable way of repairing the human spirit. This is the message I intended on conveying to the listener. It is about leaving the depths of downheartedness and showing gratitude to music for gifting overwhelming hope". With a depth and maturity to his song-writing and performance that is clearly at odds with the number of years he has been with us on this planet, Louis is giving us blue-eyed soul as it should be. "Back On My Feet" is the fourth track off Louis' self-titled EP, and by far and away my favourite, although "Birds" is another strong contender for that title. That song/video combination is currently on this blog's "Honour Roll". The sparse elegant production on the EP is by Andy Lovegrove of Breaks Coop. It was always going to be a song that demanded a pretty special video. Aidee Walker has written and directed a simple but stunning visual accompaniment to the song. Alexander Gandar produced (www.humans.co.nz). The video stars Clementine Howe, Jarod Rawiri and Italia Matautia. Lovely performances. I own the "Louis Baker" album. If you haven't already bought it, go and do so at the Bandcamp link below. I have included a range of other links if you would like to know or hear more. This really is a contender for song of the year. As it is, it most definitely will be on the #summershot2015 list.
www.louisbaker.co.nz
www.louisbaker.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/louisjbaker
www.twitter.com/louisjbaker
www.soundcloud.com/louisbaker
Louis Baker - Back On My Feet
Munashe - Wide Awake Ft. Blaze The Emperor & Raiza Biza
This post is not about the video. New Zealand musicians are budget-challenged. Crime Heat has done what he can within the usual restrictions, and it works. He is a very good director (and beats producer). No, this post is about an exciting new artist...a musically-talented, lyrically gifted MC with an ear for a hook that suggests massive potential. A member of the Ammo Nation collective, Munashe (Munashe Tuwe) is a precociously-talented teenager whose "1st Impression" album released late last year is one of the most exuberantly assured local debuts I have heard. We all know it would have been made on a shoe-string, and there are production aspects that hint at those limitations. But despite that, it is superb. Munashe is from Zimbabwe, currently living in West Auckland, and the stress of a family moving countries, being permanently away from a troubled home/continent makes for great raw material for a songwriter. And Munashe doesn't waste it. The album is a combination of bravado, satire, romance, and acute socio-political insights that belie his age. Munashe cites influences such as Nas, Lauryn Hill, Bob Marley, J Cole and Erykah Badu. Though the two influences he cites that I see as most relevant here are Kendrick Lamar and Lupe Fiasco. There is also indirect artistic reference to the historical body of work we associate with old RnB such as Rod Temperton, the Jacksons etc. "Wide Awake" features Raiza Biza, a personal hip-hop favourite seen many times on this blog (and who discovered Munashe), and Blaze the Emperor who slinks in midway through the song with a sorta-laid-back style that has me looking up more of his work. Courtesy the immigration from Africa of the last twenty years, New Zealand music is benefitting from an African wave which is further enhancing New Zealand's reputation as punching above it's weight in the world of hip-hop. I have bought "1st Impression" and it has been on high-rotate as I navigate the streets of London. If handled right, I truly believe Munashe's career could be massive. You can listen to, and buy the album, at the link below.
http://illumunashe.bandcamp.com/album/1st-impression
Munashe - Wide Awake (Ft. Blaze The Emperor & Raiza Biza) (Official Music Video)
There's too much - P & S
This video may be a challenge to some readers, but it demanded a post. A brilliant interweaving of stark, disturbing aural texture with striking imagery, "P & S" is the work of two Tokyo-based Kiwis, Bryce Eden (There's too much) and director, Chris Fitzgerald. Chris is an art school alumni who has been working with Bryce for a little time now. Having spent much of the last couple of years between London and Tokyo, Bryce has come up with his new EP, "there's too much for". He describes his music as "my own style of computer pop set amongst dark landscapes",and as capturing a "running theme of psychological something's and paranoia". "P & S" doesn't make that difficult to understand. The EP, which was mixed by Ben Gibson, can be bought at the link below. Go have a listen. I have bought it.
http://therestoomuch.bandcamp.com/
There's too much - P & S
Sherpa - Love Film
Pristine pop songs, cleverly, and delicately constructed...and despite a sometimes sorta-intellectual approach to their construction, there's nothing too contrived about it. Is it wrong to call it "fun"? I was looking forward to Sherpa's new album (which is available to listen to at the link before), and they have delivered. "Love Film", the first single, was released last year. I am not quite sure how this glamorous little film didn't make it onto the blog. But it has now - sorry! Directed by Marc Swadel, http://www.marcswadel.com/ it takes us on a trip through Paris of 1962, with our starlet besotted by a slightly effete, but clearly charming young director. The album sounds like much love has gone into it - close to a work of art - hence the blog post. "Love Film" is a goodie, but I also like "Bzzy", "Can Surreal" and "Eclypse The Night Away" and "Not Today". Go have a listen at the NZ Herald link below while it is still up. The album should be released by the weekend I believe (May 16). Otherwise, there are a bunch of other links you can use to swot up on this charming band. (I love the break and the outro in "Love Film" by the way...especially the outro.)
"Blues and Oranges" album stream: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11251927
Get "Love Film" here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lov...
Like the band: https://www.facebook.com/sherpaaa
Band website: http://www.sherpaband.com/
Sherpa - Love Film