MEDaL - Album Review: Sequela
14 Dec 2022 // review by darryl baser
Christchurch trio MEDaL are a combination of many years of New Zealand musical history. Singer and guitar slinger David Mulcahy was in JPSE and Superette, bass player John Billows has spent time with The Renderers and Dark Matter and drummer Mark Whyte is part of Into The Void.
Read More...
Mad Cow - Single Review: Same Boat
01 Dec 2022 // review by darryl baser
Same Boat is the latest single to be released
Taranaki 3-piece Mad Cow.
Mad Cow are
mainstays of the New Plymouth have been around since the 1990’s in the North
Island’s music scene, evolving from school band No Comment.
Read More...
Nika - Single Review: Saviour Complex
03 Nov 2022 // review by darryl baser
A song with an interesting title will always grab my attention, and the idea of people with a saviour complex has always fascinated me, so when the new song by Nika called Saviour Complex was offered to me to review I almost somersaulted. The song opens with a gently and alluring piano melody before Nika’s voice kicks in and from the first notes some vocal training is obvious.
Read More...
VÏKÆ - EP Review: Love Games
25 Aug 2022 // review by darryl baser
Veronika
Bell, known to music fans as Vikae, has been composing and producing music for
a good few years, and is gaining some crossover traction between the dance and
pop worlds.
While she
writes many of her tunes on a piano, and can perform them beautifully with
piano and her impressive voice, it is the dance-styled pop versions of her tune
which have been garnering her acclaim.
Read More...
Mecuzine - Album Review: Locksmith Thief
21 Jul 2022 // review by darryl baser
Now that’s a
great way to open an album.
Bruised and Broken is the first track of Mecuzine’s new
album Locksmith Thief, and my god
what an epic track to open their new record.
Read More...
The New Things - EP Review: Pink Chocolate
20 May 2022 // review by darryl baser
If I had to sum up The New Things four-song EP Pink Chocolate in two words they would be ‘perfectly imperfect’. The New Things are Tina McIvor and Jason Tamihana-Bryce, both have been around the indie music scene for a number of years separately and together; touring Japan a few years back.
Read More...
Tony Jacob - Single Review: Just One Step
11 May 2022 // review by darryl baser
The 2021 released single Just One Step by Tony Jacob is a sumptuously produced song, with lyrics and a very positive vibe. "You can move on mountains with just one step, you could take the world on with no regrets..
Read More...
This Little Badge - Single Review: Think of A Number
01 May 2022 // review by darryl baser
Think of A Number is the first of a series of seven singles being released by This Little
Badge, a project led by Dave Pope.
This song is
an upbeat little number, based around the house lyrical phrase "think of
a number", with the title line
being repeated for the chorus.
Read More...
David Sutton - Album Review: X
11 Mar 2022 // review by darryl baser
Wellington based songwriter David Sutton has been regularly releasing albums of his original songs for a good few years now. This year he’s changed tack a bit and released a covers album.
Read More...
Tryonics - Single Review: Hey
08 Feb 2022 // review by darryl baser
Tryonics is the solo project of Hap Richardson, formerly of My Little Pony, Go Victim and Freezer Child. And that’s about there is to know about Tryonics, apart from a growing catalogue of tunes.
Read More...
Nigel Parry - Single Review: One Word War
02 Dec 2021 // review by darryl baser
“Me job to pick off the Hun, In the sights a
lad like me, One shot, and I’m alone;” just a few of the lines of this
stunning, beautiful and at times harrowing poem based on Nigel Parry’s family history
of relations serving in World War I.
7:56 is typically too long for a single, Queen found
that out when they first tried to release Bohemian Rhapsody.
Read More...
Aidan Ripley - Single Review: Let Us Bloom
24 Nov 2021 // review by darryl baser
Teenage singer-songwriter Aidan Ripley released his new single Let Us Bloom on all platforms October 2021. The song is a stripped back acoustic guitar song which sounds like a solo love ballad, until Ripley’s partner Caspian Wilder adds her voice.
Read More...
Bundy Lore - Album Review: Failures Peach
30 Oct 2021 // review by darryl baser
Duncan Harwood (Dumb Dumb Head, Happy Hearse) releases his debut solo album Failures Peach under the moniker Bundy Lore. I’ve heard a lot of great first albums and Failures Peach sits nicely amongst them.
Read More...
Michael Llewellyn - Album Review: Oh My Darling
14 Oct 2021 // review by darryl baser
Even though the press for Michael Llewellyn’s Oh My Darling album describe it as "a break up album in its purest", it seems he may have
worked through some of the heartache and misery by the time he recorded it.
It begins with the up-tempo Doolie, which sounds like a new romance beginning, full of love and
hope.
Read More...
Montgomery - Single Review: Lonely, Only
17 Sep 2021 // review by darryl baser
George Manning AKA Montgomery releases Lonely, Only today, and, oh my gosh, it’s a hauntingly beautiful song. In a world where for many artists their next single release has to be even more of a banger than their last, Montgomery’s Lonely, Only is packed full of heart and gentle charm.
Read More...
Miss Leading - Album Review: Minor Thing
23 Jul 2021 // review by darryl baser
When reviewing albums by artists you’ve never heard of can be a lottery, sometimes you don’t quite ‘get’ the album, and sometimes you’re like ‘wow’. Minor Thing by Miss Leading is totally in the ‘wow’ category.
Read More...
Jiahu Symbols - Single Review: Northern Exposure
17 Apr 2021 // review by darryl baser
An interesting song, Jiahu Symbols' Northern Exposure opens with a guitar swathed in chorus, maybe a little tremolo, with a couple of bars before the song crashes into life. The verse structure is played a couple of times, before Andrew Murray-Brown begins singing.
Read More...
The Infinity Chamber - Single Review: No Honey (Anymore)
22 Mar 2021 // review by darryl baser
For those of you who aren’t amongst the 1340 subscribers to his YouTube, or the nearly 47,000 who follow his Facebook page, The Infinity Chamber is Dylan Paul Ware. PC, or Pre-Covid, he travelled in the true style of a troubadour, spending time in many countries across Europe, which is kind of documented in one of the lyrics in the song; "…it’s just my old guitar and me..
Read More...
Loud Ghost - Album Review: All In A Day
06 Feb 2021 // review by darryl baser
Loud Ghost are a self-described "Rock n Roll trio from Auckland, New Zealand." It’s been 4 years since the first Loud Ghost record, and band members say they’re looking forward to getting All In A Day out and available to the public.
Read More...
Viices - Single Review: Viices: Double Denim 7”
01 Dec 2020 // review by darryl baser
Viices, known to his mum as Jake McComb, has been making music for a number of years, releasing the Toxic EP in 2017. Double Denim is released on a grey marble 7", which was lovingly packed well in a box.
Read More...
Jolandi Ford - Single Review: You Ain’t In The Picture
28 Nov 2020 // review by darryl baser
I love me a good break up song, and You Ain’t In The Picture is such a song with a good dose of ‘don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out’. The joy in the subject of the song comes across in the lyrics; it's in the way you can hear the smile on her face as she delivers the lines, and also in the song’s composition, especially in the lift to the leading note of the chord, when Jolandi sings; "…will I cry a million tears?
Read More...
Redwoods - Single Review: Redwoods
11 Nov 2020 // review by darryl baser
In their brief blurb, Redwoods describe themselves as "a Kiwi band formed on the Jurassic lake of Tarawera, featuring members of Fire at Will and Dead Favours". The band comprising of members Josh Dillner, Will Kearney and Hannah Kearney have recently released their debut single, which is self-titled.
Read More...
Delaney Davidson - Gig Review: Delaney Davidson @ ADJO, Dunedin - 3/11/2020
04 Nov 2020 // review by darryl baser
Cantabrian entertainer Delaney Davidson is on a smaller venues tour which saw him play in Ophir this week, along with shows at Dunedin’s boutique venue ADJO and at The Galley in Port Chalmers. A mostly seated crowd of around 30 people waited, looking at the stage set up in the corner of ADJO, before Delaney Davidson swaggered his way through the crowd from the back area.
Read More...
Mecuzine - Single Review: Same Boat
30 Oct 2020 // review by darryl baser
Same Boat is Mecuzine’s first release in two years, showcasing a new direction for brothers Joseph and Tony Johns. Lyrically it reflects the global climate situation, "we’re all in the same boat and it’s sinking" from the chorus, spells it out pretty well.
Read More...
Keeltys - Single Review: Humans of Hanrahan
15 Oct 2020 // review by darryl baser
Keeltys, a new five piece indie/garage rock band recently formed in Christchurch. The band members are all studying music in some way; front man Samuel Keelty is in his second year at ARA, Ben Townshend is also in his second year at ARA, Liam Makinson is in his second year studying jazz guitar, Ben Henderson is also in his second year studying bass, and Josh Derwahl is in his first year studying the noble art of jazz drumming.
Read More...
Jam Fish - Single Review: Jane’s The Name
01 Oct 2020 // review by darryl baser
Jam Fish, AKA Sam Higham, takes a step back from his usual full band arrangements to bring you an emotional stripped back song titled Jane's the Name. Featuring just acoustic guitar and vocals, this song portrays 4 different aspects that could control one's life, represented by different names.
Read More...
Casey Evans - Single Review: Wild & Free
01 Oct 2020 // review by darryl baser
Casey Evans is as contemporary pop country as they come - if that’s your jam, this is a track for you. Wild & Free was #1 on the NZ country Charts, and #7 on all genres on iTunes upon release, which is no mean trick for an independent artist from The Catlins coast, currently spending time in Dunedin.
Read More...
PRINS - Gig Review: PRINS & Vikae @ Dive Bar, Dunedin - 26/09/2020
27 Sep 2020 // review by darryl baser
With most of New Zealand at Covid alert level 1, dancing is allowed at bars and clubs, and a good number of those who came along to see Auckland-based musicians PRINS and Vikae with local support from Molly Devine and Bryn Massey.
Bryn Massey is the first of four women with amazing voices for the evening.
Read More...
Andrew Masseurs - EP Review: She’s So Nasty
19 Sep 2020 // review by darryl baser
Well, being either a PC softy or a bit of a feminist, I didn’t warm to the title track She’s So Nasty, but being a professional I opened my ears and had a listen to Andrew Masseurs’ new EP. And I’m glad I did.
Read More...
Molly Devine - Interview with Molly Devine
17 Sep 2020 // interview by darryl baser
With an impressive resume of singing with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and performing with the likes of Martin Phillips (The Chills), Shayne P Carter (Straightjacket Fits), Nadia Reid and Anthonie Tonnon, Molly Devine is definitely one to watch for.Darryl Baser from Muzic.
Read More...
VÏKÆ - Interview with Vikae
12 Sep 2020 // interview by darryl baser
Originally born in Ukraine and seeking refuge in New Zealand post Chernobyl; classically trained musician VïKÆ has done a full 360 dance through the music sphere. Trained as an opera singer, she switched genres when she felt the need to create art that provokes thoughts, is catchy, exciting and fresh.
Read More...
Bingo Fighter - Single Review: Kama Sutra
03 Sep 2020 // review by darryl baser
Well, as bloody obvious things to write go, music is in the entertainment industry should be fun and entertaining. With that premise in mind, Bingo Fighter go to the top of the class with their new single Kama Sutra.
Read More...
Marlin's Dreaming - Album Review: Quotidian
21 Aug 2020 // review by darryl baser
Having been a reviewer of life and recorded music since the late 1980's, it is a rare and wonderful feeling to discover a band from my hometown who I haven’t heard of, until they drop a recording that takes my head clean off. Dunedin band Marlin’s Dreaming have released Quotidian, and are about to (Covid willing) head off on a NZ tour in late September and early October.
Read More...
Grant Duncan - Album Review: Contemplate
07 Aug 2020 // review by darryl baser
Grant Duncan is a well-seasoned singer-songwriter based in Auckland, New Zealand, who’s just released his new 12 song album, Contemplate. The album is available on Duncan’s Bandcamp page as is the modern way of doing things.
Read More...
Phil and Lana Doublet - Album Review: Play Nice
12 Jul 2020 // review by darryl baser
Multi award winning Christchurch based musicians Phil and Lana Doublet have teamed up to write, record, and release the stunning album Play Nice. The pair wrote all but one of the songs on the album.
Read More...
Roonie - Interview with Roonie
01 Jul 2020 // interview by darryl baser
New Pop artist Roonie, previously known as Michaela Pointon, is making lead-way with her electrifying writing about loneliness and love. She moved to Auckland in 2019 where she is studying, writing new songs and building a name for herself in the music scene.
Read More...
Mojo Crow - EP Review: The Badlands
15 Jun 2020 // review by darryl baser
Auckland’s Mojo Crow have been around since 2012 in one form or another, and have just released their brand new EP, The Badlands. Right from the start of the opening track, High Plains Drifter, Mojo Crew’s up tempo country sound is to the fore.
Read More...
Roulettes - EP Review: Rocket To You
29 May 2020 // review by darryl baser
The Rocket To You EP is dedicated to Dunedin musician Andrew Brough (Straitjacket Fits, Bike) who passed away at his Dunedin home in February this year. Two members of this three-piece have close ties with Andrew Brough, Justin McLean is Andrew’s stepbrother, and Ben Grant was (along with Justin) played in the band Funhouse, for whom Andrew was a mentor.
Read More...
MEDaL - Album Review: Replica
25 May 2020 // review by darryl baser
When it comes to bands having quality pedigree, Lyttelton based MEDaL are the equivalent of a top quality show cat. Dave Mulcahy (JPSE, Superette), with Mark Whyte and John Billows who have been in bands like Into The Void and The Renderers, among others.
Read More...
Superturtle - Single Review: WTFRU
21 May 2020 // review by darryl baser
WTFRU, or, Who The Fuck Are You is the new single by Superturtle. It’s not often that the scant information in a release about a band’s single is so spot on.
Read More...
Tim Allen - Album Review: The Last Bastion of A Lad
10 May 2020 // review by darryl baser
‘Lad’ culture has its roots in Northern England, just like recently transplanted musician Tim Allen. The Last Bastion of A Lad is the sophomore album from now New Zealand resident Tim Allen, and he’s got some high-calibre Kiwi musicians on board.
Read More...
LA Thompson - Single Review: Don’t Take Me Back
19 Apr 2020 // review by darryl baser
LA Thompson is a seasoned campaigner, with a solid history in the music industry and her newest single Don’t Take Me Back is another well-crafted song, which has been recorded and produced suitably. Her voice sits on top of a lush but sparse mix of rhythm and melodic guitars, electronic drums and subtle bass, and her vocal line begins after a couple of bars.
Read More...
Tony Lee - Single Review: Taking A Chance
22 Mar 2020 // review by darryl baser
Taking a Chance is the third single from Tony Lee's upcoming new album Man on Mars. Lyrically the song is about getting out and making the most of things and taking necessary risks to get ahead.
Read More...
Michael Signal - Single Review: Who U R
12 Mar 2020 // review by darryl baser
For a starter, I’ve got to say 80's and 90's inspired hair metal really isn’t my thing, however, just with any other genre, when it’s done incredibly well, it is always going to be good. Michael Signal is an extremely talented composer and player, and on his latest single Who U R his abilities shine like polished diamonds on fine bone china.
Read More...
LA Thompson - Album Review: New Sun Rising
10 Feb 2020 // review by darryl baser
The two opening tracks of LA Thompson's 2017 LP New Sun Rising, titled Changed My Life and You Said have a particular Country feel, being driven by guitars and her voice. Song three Divided has a dance music feel and is really quite ‘boppy’ for want of a word that doesn’t make me sound like I’m 90 years old.
Read More...
David Sutton - Album Review: Eternal Memory
03 Jan 2020 // review by darryl baser
Dad, or maybe Granddad, rock is alive and well. Looking on Bandcamp, Eternal Memory appears to be David Sutton’s 8th release, following titles such as Upside-Down World, Binary, V, 40 and more.
Read More...
Malchicks - Single review: Head to Head
16 Dec 2019 // review by darryl baser
Auckland band Malchicks were ahead of their time in the early 1990's, riding the wave of sonic charged guitar driven rock and roll genre which would eventually be called ‘shoegaze’. Now around 30 years later, a collection of all of their recorded works called Everything is set to be released.
Read More...
Iveta & Simone - Single Review: Weeping
07 Dec 2019 // review by darryl baser
Dueling divas Iveta & Simone have dropped the single Weeping, and it’s a power ballad with production values and a sense of drama which could make Jim Steinman or a drag queen blush. If production values were shoes, this tune would be an 8“ sparkly pink platform stiletto.
Read More...
Urlwyn and Friends - Album Review: Seascape
06 Dec 2019 // review by darryl baser
It’s always a joy to hear players with more chops than a butchery. This album features some of the finest musicianship I’ve heard in years, and is like the fillet steak of chops, at the risk of mixing my meaty metaphors.
Read More...
Bingo Fighter - Single/Video Review: Sexy Rock
15 Nov 2019 // review by darryl baser
Well it’s always good to have a little levity in life, and Bingo Fighter’s video and single release fits that brief to a tee. There have been some great piss-taking bands and musicians over the years, from the great Victor Borge, to ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic.
Read More...
The Crystal Project - EP Review: Love's Dark Ways
13 Nov 2019 // review by darryl baser
The Crystal Project is a Hawkes Bay based musical collaboration blending pop, rock and folk music with a sneaky, yet well placed, cello. This four-piece released their debut EP, Love’s Dark Ways at the end of October this year, and what a superb release it is.
Read More...
Molly Devine - EP Review: Rain in the River
05 Oct 2019 // review by darryl baser
Dunedin contemporary vocalist Molly Devine has been entertaining Dunedin crowds for a few years now, sharing stages with Martin Phillipps, Anna Leese, the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, and more in the Tally Ho series of concerts, as well as playing her own shows at many local bars. She’s just released a four song EP, Rain In The River, which signals a slight shift in musical direction for her.
Read More...
Samuel & Micaela - EP Review: Birdsong
03 Oct 2019 // review by darryl baser
Lhasa's Birdsong EP is just four songs, but it’s a clear case of 'all killer no filler'.
The EP opens with the title track, Birdsong, and right from the get-go the crisp capturing of excellent performances is apparent.
Read More...
VÏKÆ - Single Review: Truth
26 Sep 2019 // review by darryl baser
Ukrainian born New Zealand vocalist and songwriter Vikae, also known as Veronika Bell, was based in Dunedin performing in a duo called VTMNK, until her Auckland home called. Truth is the first single from Vikae, and it opens with atmospheric air noises before Bell’s crystal clear voice chimes in with the first verse: "Run run run, I fall into nothing, dreaming of falling who am I becoming?
Read More...
Tommy and The Fallen Horses - Album Review: OpenHearts
19 Sep 2019 // review by darryl baser
Wellington band Tommy and the Fallen Horses have just released a new album OpenHearts after a 5-year hiatus. The band is firmly straddling the Alt-Country, and Folk-Rock genres and are being hailed as one of the most compelling groups to emerge from New Zealand’s rich musical landscape in the past decade.
Read More...
Grant Duncan - EP Review: Journey To The High Road
27 Jul 2019 // review by darryl baser
Grant Duncan’s Journey To The High Road EP follows an album he released a while back. It’s a great follow up, sticking with his style of writing in a country tinged way, while hinting at broadening the styles of music he’s been listening to.
Read More...
Will Saunders - EP Review: All That Has Ever Been
24 Jul 2019 // review by darryl baser
Will Saunders’ 5-track EP All That Has Ever Been opens with Come On Down, a raucous indie pop tune, either written from the perspective of a child looking up at a balloon as it floats away, or potentially a person who sees a friend who’s constantly out of it. It’s a ripping song; guitars, drums, words and noises all chugging along at around 100 beats a minute, until the wailing guitar feedback finishes.
Read More...
Crooked Royals - Interview: Crooked Royals
30 Jun 2019 // interview by darryl baser
Described
as a band who have "musically hit the ball right out of the park"
with their newest EP Rumination, Auckland five-piece Crooked Royals
ability to craft songs with a combination of heavy and clean vocals mixed in
with huge crushing riffs earned them a spot opening for London prog rock
monsters Monument in Auckland earlier this year. Crooked Royals will also be supporting Polaris during their upcoming August tour in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Read More...
Hobnail - Album Review: Boots And All
29 Jun 2019 // review by darryl baser
Wellington band Hobnail is celebrating 25 years of making music with an album called, Boots and All. The LP spanning the band’s first quarter of a century is out this week and the band is set to tour the country in July.
Read More...
Molly Devine - Interview: Molly Devine
10 Jun 2019 // interview by darryl baser
Molly Devine is a contemporary vocalist and songwriter based in Dunedin.She’s performed alongside some of the city’s rock royalty as well as fronting the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra in the Tally Ho series of concerts.
Read More...
Hallelujah Picassos - Album Review: Voices of Exuberant Hellhounds
01 Jun 2019 // review by darryl baser
Hailing from the late 1980's, Hallelujah Picassos have a bunch of history, having released a mini album on cassette in 1989. Fast forward to 2019 the band’s 5th album Voices of Exuberant Hellhounds follows reissues in 2011/2012, which saw Hallelujah Picassos returned to the live scene, playing a handful of shows with the likes of The Drab Doo Riffs and Labretta Suede and the Motel Six.
Read More...
Escape - Album Review: Take Me To The Field
11 May 2019 // review by darryl baser
This album is excellently engineered and produced very well, with each instrument captured and tweaked to perfection. Ben Ruegg has done an incredible job, and it's a job he should be praised for.
Read More...
Gig Review: Tally Ho 3 @ Town Hall, Dunedin - 13/04/2019
14 Apr 2019 // review by darryl baser
The idea of an orchestral concert featuring some of the best known songs from the often debated ‘Dunedin sound’ began with two main drivers: Verlaines founder and music lecturer Graeme Downes, and ‘godfather’ of Dunedin music, Roy (Roi) Colbert, having its first installment in 2015. While Downes again led the evening from the stage, the spirit of Roy who passed away in 2017 was also in the room.
Read More...
Caroline Easther and the Cinnamon Girls - Album Review: Lucky
03 Apr 2019 // review by darryl baser
The name Caroline Easther has been in the lexicon of New Zealand’s music industry since the heady Flying Nun days when she drummed with The Chills and the Verlaines. Now after a career behind a drum kit she’s staking a place centre stage as a songwriter with her debut album Lucky.
Read More...
Sam Bartells - Single Review: Mistaken
17 Mar 2019 // review by darryl baser
Auckland’s Sam Bartell, who plays under the name Sam Bartells, is a contemporary singer-songwriter with a country streak as wide as the Mississippi. He’s working towards an Australisian tour next year and is dropping new tunes like leaves drop in Autumn.
Read More...
Rob Joass - Album Review: Pencarrow
28 Feb 2019 // review by darryl baser
Pencarrow is the third album released by musician Rob Joass, who calls the Kapiti Coast home, or Turangawaiwai, if you will. With more than 25 years as a musician under his belt he’s no stranger to writing, playing and recording music to a high standard.
Read More...
Seafog - Album Review: Animal Lovers
27 Feb 2019 // review by darryl baser
Dunedin band Seafog have been together through the mists of time in one way, shape, form or another for many years with singer and guitarist Robin Sharma. Animal Lovers is the third album from Seafog and was released by Zelle Records.
Read More...
Little Dove - EP Review Buried in the Backyard
16 Feb 2019 // review by darryl baser
Not particularly loquacious, and certainly not overly verbose, are probably the best ways to describe the web pages of an Auckland 17-year-old woman who’s recording music as Little Dove. Her Bandcamp page says “This EP is a collection of music made, entirely and messily in my little sleep out, by myself.
Read More...
Tiny Ruins - Album Review: Olympic Girls
15 Feb 2019 // review by darryl baser
As a proud owner of the Tiny Ruins mini LP Hurtling Through, which was recorded with Hamish Kilgour (The Clean, The Great Unwashed etc) my anticipation levels for this LP were high. Not quite Johnny Cash eating cake in a bush high, but pretty up there.
Read More...
Electric Universe - Album Review: Electric Universe
11 Feb 2019 // review by darryl baser
Tauranga based band Electric Universe says 2019 is a year of completion for them, with their self-titled album being one of a few projects being completed during the course of the year. The band’s name should give a little away; the first four songs, from City Boy through to Acid Train, all having influence from Hendrix to Santana but with the subtlety and restraint of Hendrix, and not the album length solos of prog rock.
Read More...
Superette - Interview: David Mulcahy from Superette
04 Feb 2019 // interview by darryl baser
David Mulcahy is somewhat of NZ music legend. He's been writing and recording music since the early 1980's and as a member of the Jean-Paul Sartre Experience, Superette, Spider, Eskimo and many others, he's gathered a significant back catalogue of memorable albums, EPs, singles and videos.
Read More...
Mike Puke - Album Review: The Sound of Puke
25 Jan 2019 // review by darryl baser
The Sound of Puke is possibly the best, and most fitting, title for an album ever. The album begins with the title track, The Sound of Puke which starts with a sample of The Sound Of Music straight from Julie Andrews' mouth, but don’t worry she’s vocally run over before she can say ‘music’, as Mike sings "Puke" over her singing the word ‘music’…If you’re unsure what I mean, give it a listen.
Read More...
Anxiety Club - Single Review: Ginger In The Summer
17 Jan 2019 // review by darryl baser
“Our love burned-up like a Ginger in the Summer, halfway
down Dominion Road...”
Now if this up-tempo fun and friendly song with the above lyric, amongst many clever turns of phrase, doesn’t become a huge hit, I’ll buy a hat
just to eat it.
Read More...
David Edwards - Album Review: Other Islands: 2012-2018
13 Jan 2019 // review by darryl baser
Fiff Dimension is an umbrella label for audio visual projects by David Edwards (AKA Dave Black), solo or with various collaborators. Other Islands is a collection of work spanning 2012 to 2018, recorded by Edwards and a wide plethora of collaborators, in a myriad of styles.
Read More...
Wendyhouse - Album Review: Banana Wine
22 Dec 2018 // review by darryl baser
It’s not often you put on an album and there’s no two songs which sound the same, but that is especially true for Wendyhouse’s Banana Wine CD. The 24-track album opens with a brief but wonderful song Lucky.
Read More...
Brendan Pyper - Single Review: Falling For You
14 Dec 2018 // review by darryl baser
The new track from Brendan Pyper, Falling For You is heavily auto-tuned into the chorus intro. This then fades into the first verse about the 20 second mark, then the chorus hits at 50 seconds, back to verse two at 1:17.
Read More...
Sam Bartells - Single/Video Review: Extraordinary Girl
06 Dec 2018 // review by darryl baser
There’s something pretty cool about the whole DIY ethic, from the early Flying Nun years, and now with many artists producing their own material. Sam Bartells, who creates music under his last name, has just released the single Extraordinary Girl with an accompanying self-filmed video.
Read More...
Tempist Fujit - Album Review: Time Flies
27 Nov 2018 // review by darryl baser
Up until this month 4-piece Northland band Tempist Fujit had released the No More Time EP and a single titled Midnight Train. This month the team of Lisa Walters (vocals, guitar), Douglas Gordon (guitar, backing vocals), Harlen Keepa (bass) and Chris Butler (drums) have finally released their first full length album.
Read More...
VTMNK - Single Review: Red Wine
20 Nov 2018 // review by darryl baser
VTMNK ('Vitamin K') are a Dunedin duo, Latham Hunt on guitars and Veronika Bell (VK) on vocals. The pair came together spontaneously at one of Dunedin’s many open mic nights and have been performing regularly in Dunedin with a foray to Christchurch earlier in 2018.
Read More...
Superette - Single Review: Pretty Picture
16 Nov 2018 // review by darryl baser
It’s been a long time between drinks for fans of Superette and Dave Mulcahy’s exceptional songwriting. However, a thirst quencher is being poured in the form of the release of the song Pretty Picture.
Read More...
Alae - Interview: Alae
25 Oct 2018 // interview by darryl baser
Alae are quite possibly New Zealand's hardest working musicians at the moment. The video for their latest single All Gived Up was released in early October and followed the release of another single Stone Cold in April.
Read More...
Jaggers x Lines - Album Review: Burn Cycle
05 Oct 2018 // review by darryl baser
Dunedin EDM (Electric Dance Music) duo Jaggers X Lines have
been putting in the mahi (work) over a few years; headlining their own shows and
playing support slots to some credible touring acts including looping
wunderkind Tash Sultana.
The pairing of Eliana Gray and Morgan Smilie describe
themselves as ‘alt-pop weirdos’, and it’s a fitting description.
Read More...
Hallelujah Picassos - Single Review: Voices of One
27 Sep 2018 // review by darryl baser
The new single from Auckland indie cult band Hallelujah Picassos, Voices of One, seemed to come from out of the blue. The flip side is a Picassos' tune that anyone who listened to the student radio network in the mid to late 1990's will know that Black Spade Picasso Core was a favourite for many - possibly due to the profanity in the chorus…or maybe that was just me.
Read More...
Emma G - Interview with Emma G
27 Sep 2018 // interview by darryl baser
Emma Ghaemmaghamy has recently released her third studio single Superhero. Described as a straight-to-the-heart, raw and honest helping of acoustic rock, Superhero encourages audiences everywhere to choose love, compassion, and humanity, over racism, bigotry and conflict.
Read More...
Sam Bartells - Bartells Newsletter Interview
31 Aug 2018 // interview by darryl baser
According to
his brief bio on Facebook Sam Bartells is an "Auckland NZ Based
Singer/Songwriter releasing new music throughout the world". His slickly
produced music video for the song Our Love May Go Away has been viewed 16,000
times in its first month online.
Read More...
Bill Direen and The Bilders - LP Review: Cut
23 Aug 2018 // review by darryl baser
It’s kind of weird reviewing
an album which came out 24 years ago. I remember Volt Studios, the enigmatic
Brendan Hoffman, he even mastered a cassette release of mine in 1995… but I digress… one
wouldn’t want to blather on about a venue and not the music; that would be amateurish…
Dunedin, 1994.
Read More...
Gig Review: World Domination @ The Crown Hotel, Dunedin - 4 August 2018
05 Aug 2018 // review by darryl baser
The coastal settlement
of Waitati just north of Dunedin has been described as a refuge for creative
types for generations, like Brunswick in Melbourne, or how Grey Lynn used
to be pre-housing boom, or Wellington’s Aro Valley, except Waitati
is rural and more 'down home'.
The good folks of
Waitati wanted to buy a PA system for people to use out there, to encourage
bands with talent, but not resources.
Read More...
This Sporting Life - Album Review: Alms For Children
03 Aug 2018 // review by darryl baser
With the postal service in steady decline it's always great when a CD arrives unsolicited. Especially when it is a band you've never hear of from 30 years ago, then you put it on and it sounds as fresh as it would have to the people who grew up with it.
Read More...
LatinAotearoa - Album Review: Influecis Et Collabis
01 Aug 2018 // review by darryl baser
If there’s one
word which sums up LatinAotearoa’s newest offering Influecis Et Collabis, it’s
collaboration.
Every cut on this incredible full-length album features guest artists, and it’s a who’s who of
the New Zealand jazz, blues and other similar genres.
Read More...
NRG Rising - Album Review: Say Yes To Life
14 Jul 2018 // review by darryl baser
Say Yes To Life has been described as a highly anticipated new
album from whanau band NRG Rising. This group is a mother and two daughters, and
right from the outset the whanau bond is obvious as the three women harmonise
very well, with the sort of effortless styles which only comes from a very
close family unit.
Read More...
ASHY - Single Review: Jersey
01 Jul 2018 // review by darryl baser
Ashy (Aswini Batchelor) is an exceptional song writer who is
currently recording new material in Auckland. Her single Jersey was released at the start of June, and
immediately gained traction on mainstream radio.
Read More...
Running Stitch - EP Review: Brightside
15 Jun 2018 // review by darryl baser
Auckland three-piece Running Stitch are a high-volume group of experienced musicians.The Brightside EP is a four-song offering which has been independently produced and released.
Read More...
The Bats - Gig Review: The Bats @ The Cook, Dunedin - 09/06/2018
11 Jun 2018 // review by darryl baser
Jay
Clarkson opened her supporting performance to The Bats with Farewell to the
Highlands, her contribution to the second Zelle Records compilation of mostly
southern NZ musicians’ interpreting Robbie Burns poetry. It was just her and Alan Haig for this gentle beginning to what would become a rollicking night.
Read More...
Sola Rosa - Single review: Leave a Light On
03 May 2018 // review by darryl baser
The man behind Sola Rosa, Auckland's Andrew Spraggon, has
returned with a tune as strong as anything he's released previously.
A steady bass groove wends its way around a thumping kick
drum which is off-set by an excellently syncopated high hat, perfectly timed
between kick and snare, to be on the 'and' of the phrase.
Read More...