NEW MUSIC: Street Chant – Pedestrian Support League

They’ve been quiet for a while now but finally Auckland trio Street Chant are back with a new song and video ahead of the release of their second LP. ‘Pedestrian Support League’ is an epic 5 minute track that ebbs and flows across wistful guitar, some great melodic basslines and some incisive observational lyrics from Emily Littler. Pedestrian Support League is a song loosely about Auckland … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Street Chant – Pedestrian Support League

ALBUM REVIEW: New Gum Sarn – New Gold Mountain

The Auckland quartet have made an auspicious start to their recording career, signing to Spunk who are releasing their debut album across Australia and New Zealand. They’re one of many acts currently making waves with a 90s flavoured sound yet theirs is a blend of influences that makes it hard to pin them down as recyclers of any one band’s sound. That is of course … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: New Gum Sarn – New Gold Mountain

ALBUM REVIEW: Trust Punks – Discipline

Aucklanders Trust Punks have carved themselves a healthy reputation over the last couple of years and now they have a debut album under their belts. It’s a strong showing too with twists and turns aplenty as they deploy their melodic post-punk sound across seven songs in a brief 24 minutes. Their range and ability to blend dissonance and melody are the cornerstones of the band’s … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Trust Punks – Discipline

ALBUM REVIEW: Thee Rum Coves – Thee Rum Coves

This self-titled debut finds Auckland-based Thee Rum Coves continuing the strong lineage of garage rock from ‘60s originators like The Sonics, through the UK beat and punk scenes, the power pop of Sunnyboys and onto its modern manifestation in bands such as The Hives and The Datsuns. Two members (singer/guitarist English Jake and bassist Jimmy Christmas) were founding members of New Zealand’s The D4 and … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Thee Rum Coves – Thee Rum Coves

VIDEO: Beach Pigs – 333

Auckland quartet Beach Pigs have released a new clip for their song 333, taken from this year’s mighty fine LP Grom Warfare. The track is one of the many highlights of the album of which we said: The band’s strength is in the way they combine post-rock tonality with lush Byrdsian harmonies and the structural curiosity of a band like Pavement. That band was always … Continue reading VIDEO: Beach Pigs – 333

NEWS: J MASCIS ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIA & NZ TOUR

Dinosaur Jr’s J Mascis has announced a full run of dates across Australia and New Zealand next February on the back of his album Tied To A Star. Read our review HERE Tour Dates Melbourne @ Melbourne Recital Centre, Friday 13 February 2015 – Tickets $44.00 + bf Special Guest Adalita www.melbournerecital.com.au, Adelaide @ Garden Of Unearthly Delights, Adelaide Fringe, Saturday 14 February 2015 – Tickets $49.90 www.adelaidefringe.com.au Hobart @ Republic Bar, Sunday 15 February 2015 – Tickets: $35.00 … Continue reading NEWS: J MASCIS ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIA & NZ TOUR

ALBUM REVIEW: Die! Die! Die! | S W I M

Die! Die! Die! formed their sonic aesthetic early in their career, those waves of coruscating guitars, tumbling melodic bass-lines, pummelling drums and Andrew Wilson’s passionate punk yelp. S W I M (someone who isn’t me) hits all the same marks while also sounding wider and more worldly, no doubt informed by relentless touring. The fuzz and repetition of ‘Angel’, the hyper speed MBV sound of … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Die! Die! Die! | S W I M

ALBUM REVIEW: Minderbender | Emotions

Christchurch natives, now based in Wellington, Minderbender are a duo that clearly have a taste for post punk and electronic music in equal quantities. Emotions is their debut album and it successfully embraces both organic and synthetic musical sounds and revels in their primitive and direct application. The title of the album sums up its theme of twelve different human emotions from ‘Expectations’ through ‘Evasion’, … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Minderbender | Emotions

ALBUM REVIEW: Beach Pigs | Grom Warfare

New Zealand has a knack for churning out skewed indie guitar-pop music. From the heyday of the Flying Nun roster through to modern day exponents like Popstrangers there is a unifying seam of bristling, effervescent melodies colliding at interesting angles with chaotic guitars and rhythms and Beach Pigs are another gem from the same goldmine. The opener ‘Daydreamer’ sets the bar high and yet it … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Beach Pigs | Grom Warfare

ALBUM REVIEW: Grayson Gilmour | Infinite Life!

This is Grayson Gilmour’s second album and it shows a marked advancement in poise and maturity. The drums are pulled back and instead the focus is on a rich and ornate palette of guitars and synths that provide a cinematic and immersive backdrop for his considered vocals which bring to mind fellow art-pop luminaries such as Wild Beasts, Talk Talk and Scritti Politti. This is … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Grayson Gilmour | Infinite Life!