Lester - EP Review: Lost and Found
28 Aug 2023 // review by JamieDenton
Tamaki Makaurau / Auckland-based MC Lester (ex-Round Buddha) is not a new name within Aotearoa New Zealand’s independent music scene. Indeed, Lester has carved a distinct presence for himself since his early releases in 2017.
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Arrays - Single Review: Glass Traps
06 Jun 2022 // review by JamieDenton
Auckland-based rock/metal act Arrays is the brainchild and ‘creative sandbox’ of musician/producer JP Carroll (ex-Armed in Advance, and currently also with Swerve City). Having known JP for a number of years, and having followed his career through Stitches, which became Armed in Advance, and then into Arrays and later Swerve City, he has consistently remained a strong creative force, a passionate and prolific producer and performer of music, and possibly kiwi-music’s most genuine, nicest, and most down to earth personalities (albeit one that is loaded with a plethora of terrible puns that he will unleash at any and all opportune moments).
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Steven Hue - EP Review: Assembly
15 Feb 2022 // review by JamieDenton
At the start of December, I had the opportunity to review the double single Brainstare / Manatorquim by Tasmanian-based ex-pat Kiwi, Steven Hue. At that time, I noted that another three songs would be following shortly, and that, based on the strength of these original two, I was eagerly anticipating what this next batch would have in store.
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Steven Hue - Double Single Review: Brainstare / Mantorquim
06 Dec 2021 // review by JamieDenton
Ex-pat Kiwi now based in Tasmania, Steven Hue may be familiar to many through his previous work as former vocalist and co-writer for popular experimental band Full Code, his stint studying at the Nelson School of Music, or his commission work which has seen him produce work for art installations, short files, and video games. Turning his hand to solo electronic music, Steven has just released a double single of two new tracks: Brainstare and Manatorquim.
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Justin Sane - Single Review: You Bout That
10 Jun 2021 // review by JamieDenton
Ex-UK, now Auckland-based DJ/producer, Justin Sanehas a long history in the music industry. He has been releasing music for over 15 years, both within Aotearoa New Zealand and the UK, and has a long list of collaborations with a wide range of artists (including Dane Rumble, Kids in Space, {3Oh!
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House Of Downtown - Single Review: Rise Above (OOJ Remix)
27 Apr 2021 // review by JamieDenton
Auckland-based electronic scene-legends House of Downtown break a near twenty-year hiatus with new single Rise Above (OOJ Remix). Coming from their forthcoming album entitled Re-Release (an album that revisits, remixes, remasters, and re-conceptualises their debut album Release for its twentieth anniversary – my review for that is also coming soon!
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theajsound - theajsound and NEEKOH - Single Review: Minefield
04 Dec 2020 // review by JamieDenton
Collaborations are inherently risky propositions; how will two distinct and strong personalities work together? Will their visions of the output align?
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Hotel Death Star - Single Review: You're Not Jesus
03 Nov 2020 // review by JamieDenton
Bali based Hotel Death Star is a collaborative EDM project between expat singer-songwriter Phil Stoodley (perhaps best known for his solo work and his early rock band Stoods) and Bali-national producer-composer-multi-instrumentalist Andreas Arianto. In contrast to the guitar-based rock and pop that dominated Phil Stoodley’s earlier projects, Hotel Death Star’s first single, You’re Not Jesus, sees the pair dive into electronica, especially deep house territory.
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Reignmaker - EP Review: Demos from Uranus
23 Jul 2020 // review by JamieDenton
Reignmaker, who identify themselves as a "brutal aliencore duo … from the Swamp and from the Hutt", have just released their first two-track EP, entitled Demos from Uranus. With a total run time of just 3-minutes, the EP blasts out of the gate and past the listener as a lightning-bolt of uncontrollable, frenetic, schizophrenic energy.
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Matt Bizzle - Single Review: Ride
15 Jun 2020 // review by JamieDenton
Auckland based musician/DJ/producer/saxophonist, Matt Bizzle has been active within the New Zealand music scene for many years (including stints with Cornerstone Roots, Strangely Arousing and Jupiter Project among others) before more recently branching out on his own. Through 2018 and 2019, Matt Bizzle has released a number of singles culminating in the most recent release Ride, which also features Emily Rice (Aro).
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Junus Orca - EP Review: One Arm Pack
29 Mar 2020 // review by JamieDenton
Junus Orca’s debut EP, One Arm Pack, is a collection of four dark, ethereal, glacial, and emotive soundscapes. A quick bit of searching identifies Junus Orca to be the alias of Josh Holmes, Christchurch DJ, producer, experimentalist, sonic innovator, and member of Your Indigo.
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The Upbeats - EP Review: No Sleep 'Til... New Zealand
17 Jan 2020 // review by JamieDenton
Wellington-based drum and bass duo, The Upbeats, have been steadily carving out a place for themselves in the dance music scene both in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas. Perhaps because of the increased international gigs coming their way, The Upbeats, in what I assume is a generous and potentially cheeky nod to the Beastie Boys, launched their No Sleep ‘Til… E.
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And$um - Single Review: Tell No Lies
23 Nov 2019 // review by JamieDenton
Earlier this month, Christchurch hip-hop artist And$um dropped Tell No Lies, the first single from his forthcoming debut album. Produced by scene-legend Dera Meelan, this is not your stock-standard approach to hip-hop/rap.
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Odds & Ends - EP Review: Odds & Ends
14 Nov 2019 // review by JamieDenton
Earlier this year, I was fortuitous enough to have reviewed the debut single Tasty from Auckland-based genre-defying-‘rock’-band Odds & Ends. Having been impressed with the debut single, I was anxious to hear what else this young band had up their sleeves.
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Lee Mvtthews - Album Review: Bones
05 Nov 2019 // review by JamieDenton
Lee Mvtthews, the award-winning Auckland based producer/DJ duo of Graham Matthews and Tom Lee, have been making waves for themselves over the last few years. Self-described as “high energy bass music”, Lee Mvtthews’ debut album, Bones, is solid, slick, lean, hungry, and infectious follow-up to their previous singles and EP.
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Black Pug - Single Review: My Enemies
11 Oct 2019 // review by JamieDenton
Black Pug, the pseudonym of solo/multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Mo Ackermann, is a one-man punk/rock/metal band from Queenstown. With Mo handling all tracking, singing, and recording duties, the music of Black Pug is a true representation of Mo’s uncompromised vision.
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Odds & Ends - Single Review: Tasty
04 Sep 2019 // review by JamieDenton
Tasty, the debut single from Auckland-based rock band Odds & Ends is exactly that. Bursting out of the starting line with a confident, tight, phat, and funky groove, it takes literally seconds before I feel my body moving along with it.
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n1ghtmar3cat - Album Review: n1ghtmar3cat
19 Aug 2019 // review by JamieDenton
Better known as the drummer/backing vocalist of Auckland-based rock band Villainy, Dave Johnson has stepped out from behind the kit with his solo electronic music project entitled n1ghtmar3cat. With its sights firmly set on indie-electronica, n1ghtmar3cat’s eponymous debut album is an ambitious, sonically-rewarding, and highly immersive experience.
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Makeshift Parachutes - Single Review: Ferrari Gosling
25 Jul 2019 // review by JamieDenton
Originally formed in 2013 after a jam session in Houston, Texas, Auckland-based ‘psych-rock’ four-piece Makeshift Parachutes have just released the first single from their upcoming debut album. The intriguingly entitled Ferrari Gosling, is an infectious, time-and-mind-bending, hook-laden, gem of a track.
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The Response - Single Review: Tallest Walls
28 Jun 2019 // review by JamieDenton
Christchurch indie-pop duo The Response have launched their latest single; a 3-minute 40-second slice of crisp, catchy, saccharine-sweet, electro-pop. Tallest Walls is a subtle ear-worm of a song, it grows from slender, minimalistic beginnings into a big, hook-laden chorus that will have your head bobbing, and foot tapping.
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The Snake Behaviour - Album Review: Serpent Psychology
15 Jun 2019 // review by JamieDenton
Christchurch-based rock band The Snake Behaviour have recently released their debut full-length album entitled Serpent Psychology. Having been familiar with the band’s name, but not their music, I was nervously excited to check this out.
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Kahika - EP Review: Mosaic
27 May 2019 // review by JamieDenton
Based in Auckland, Melbourne, and London, Kahika is a group of three Kiwi musicians, who have just released their most recent EP entitled Mosaic. Tentatively described as acoustic-electronica, Kahika note that the EP was largely written in snow-covered Denmark, and it is these echoes of a secluded, snow-blanketed cottage that reverberate throughout the EP, providing a sense of warmth, comfort, within a white, snowy vastness.
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Cheshire Grimm - Single Review: Shadows
26 Apr 2019 // review by JamieDenton
Originally formed in 2012 as a three-piece alternative-rock band in Hamilton, Cheshire Grimm have released a series of EP's and singles, while completing a number of high-profile gigs and tours (including touring Australia twice), before more recently evolving into a two-piece after the departure of founding bassist/vocalist Kat Waswo. Shadows, the first single released as a two-piece, sees guitarist/vocalist Lora Thompson and drummer Craig Gilliver continue to evolve the trademark Cheshire Grimm sound.
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Keepingfaka - Album Review: Digilies
18 Apr 2019 // review by JamieDenton
Information about the background of Keepingfaka is sparse. The official Facebook, YouTube and Spotify pages offer no biographical information, or even the slightest hint of an about section.
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