Patients - Album Review: Homemade Pills
19 Nov 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Homemade Pills is a new album by Patients, one of the projects of Christchurch's Aeneas Jones. As well as fronting heavy rockers PhatSak and performing with Chickenyard and When I Was Sexy, Aeneas drew together the collective Patients to play and record this latest effort.
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Appertain - EP Review: Sideways
29 Oct 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Auckland based Appertain consists of Adam Strang and David Hector, and between the two of them, they conjure up a nice big fat rock sound, "with powerful riffs and soulful lyrics". October 10th saw the release of their debut EP, Sideways, and I had the pleasure of reviewing it.
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Electric Tapestry - EP Review: Warship Across
09 Oct 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Warship Across is the third EP since their first in 2021 for Wellington-based Electric Tapestry. There is a large and diverse list of musical influences that have gone into making the Electric Tapestry sound.
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Goodwill - Album Review: Kind Hands
03 Oct 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Goodwill is the solo project of producer, songwriter, and former nomad member Will McGillivray. Having been songwriting over the last couple of years since the release of the Incontrol EP, Goodwill is releasing Kind Hands, a debut album of nine tracks.
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Frau Knotz - EP Review: Nextraterrestrial
13 Sep 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Frau Knotz is the performing name of multi-talented Lauren Nottingham, a singer, pianist, producer and composer based in New Plymouth. Having released the first of her singles in 2022, she now bestows her EP Nextraterrestrial upon then planet Earth.
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Jai Bartlett - Album Review: Echoes
11 Sep 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Jai Bartlett is from Wellington, where he creates his "Alternative Hip-Hop", a description that immediately had me interested. He describes his debut album Echoes as "diverse", and I had the pleasure of discovering what an understatement that is.
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The Early 20’s - EP Review: Vultures
16 Aug 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Whilst citing influences so broad and diverse as to be "way too many" to list, and those influences are drawn from "anywhere and everywhere", The Early 20's will have you believe that at the end of the day, they're a punk band. Defining one's band's genre can often be difficult, especially in cases like this where a multitude of influences are at play.
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Al Park - Album Review: Monkey
15 Aug 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Al Park is an integral part of the Christchurch music scene, woven deep into the fabric of the city's musical history. From his early days in the punk scene, through to packing houses with either Louie and the Hot Sticks or with The Latter Day Sinners, manning the counter at the iconic Echo records or behind the bar at his legendary venue Al's Bar, and being a champion of many of the exponents of the "Lyttelton Sound", Al has contributed immeasurable amounts of time, energy, and soul into his passion for music.
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Hateseeker - EP Review: More Songs About Sex And Death
02 Aug 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
First of all, I just want to say how much I appreciate a really good band name, and I reckon Hateseeker is one of the best I've heard in quite a while, one of those "man I wish I'd thought of that" names. It's a pretty safe bet that you know what you're going to get, with that name.
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Menzies - EP Review: Spaghetti Land
18 Jul 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Menzies are a four-piece melting pot of marvellously talented folk from Wellington, comprised of Chris Brown (Friendlies), Miles Sutton (Welcomer, Prizegiving), Doug Kelly (Girl Boss), Nikita Piper (Friendlies, Androgynous Lemon). They have just released their debut EP, Spaghetti Land, to riotous applause, fanfares, parades in their honour, a 21 gun salute, and the keys to the city.
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Matt Langley - Album Review: As Real As You Want It To Be
18 Jul 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
From Dunedin, but currently residing in Japan, Matt Langley is an artist who has already made an impressive impact on the New Zealand music scene, and with new album As Real As You Want It To Be, he's certainly poised to consolidate that position. Matt is an acclaimed and awarded songwriter, and has a weighty list of artists he has collaborated with, toured with, or supported, including names like Lindon Puffin, The Eastern, Martin Phillipps, Sir Dave Dobbyn, and Head like A Hole.
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Silk Cut - Silk Cut - Album Review: Silk Cut
02 Jul 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Having already released two EPs, and then followed up with full length album Our Place In The Stars, Silk Cut have returned to titillate your earholes with a brand new, self-titled album. The line-up of two guitars, bass, and drums also has shared lead vocals, and delivers a heady blend of 60's psychedelia and 90's guitar-based pop/rock.
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Cherry Slits - Cherry Slits - EP Review: Cherry Slits Are Back
01 Jul 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
So, there's a wee bit of a story to go with this one, and it's been a lot of fun to review. Nicola Cheeseman Is Back is a new play by Kathryn Burnett, detailing the story of a 50 year old woman having a midlife crisis, who decides to get her '80s punk band, Cherry Slits, back together.
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Marsha - Album Review: In Circles
01 Jul 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Marsha hail from my hometown of Christchurch, and I'm a tad ashamed to say I hadn't actually heard them up until now, but I'd heard many good things about them. In Circles is their debut album, containing some previously released singles, and has been in the works since 2021, and all the painstaking care that was put into its creation is evident in every note of every song.
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Taveets - EP Review: WINT/HER
21 Jun 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Taveets has been steadily releasing singles and EPs since 2019, including 2023's Balcony Nights EP which could almost be considered album length at seven songs. The Wellington-born and raised Samoan/Futuan artist/rapper has just released his latest HipHop/RnB offering, WINT/HER, the five songs looking at love and relationships from different angles, and in different moods.
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Dónal Gunning - EP Review: Born To Perform
13 Jun 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Dónal Gunning's travels, since leaving his native Ireland, have seen him eventually relocate to Wellington, where he has been regularly gigging as a solo artist, and with backing band The Bucks. The Bucks are comprised of a collective of Wellington session musicians and have also accompanied Dónal on two north Island tours, delivering fun and energetic shows.
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Big Sima - EP Review: Early In The Peace
06 Jun 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
The Underground King, AKA Big Sima, has just released a new EP in collaboration with Boomtown, a follow-up to 2022's full length album, Stereotypes Of A Polynesian Misunderstood. Big Sima has been relentlessly busy making a name for himself over the last few years, and that work ethic has seen him win support slots for Busta Rhymes, Bone Thugs 'n’ Harmony, Guru (Gangstarr), Mobb Deep and Cypress Hill.
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Saurian - Gig Review: Saurian @ Darkroom, Christchurch - 18/05/2024
21 May 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Dunedin's Saurian are on a sacred mission: To do anything they can to assist in saving beloved and iconic Dunedin music venue, The Crown. Nearby developments threaten The Crown's ability to host live music, and what better way to spread the word but through song, thought Saurian, and rightly so, too.
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Devilskin - EP Review: Surfacing
17 May 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
At this point in their career, Devilskin scarcely need any introduction. However, on the freakish, bizzaro-world chance that you're not already familiar, the high-octane, fire-breathing, badass rock & roll juggernaut four-piece formed in Hamilton in 2010 and have been kicking arse and stealing hearts ever since.
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Living Clipboards - Album Review: All Over Tawa
13 May 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Coming together through the vibrant Wellington indie scene, alternative rock band Living Clipboards'
Mark Williams, Denise Roughan, and Jim Abbott are already well known from acts such as The 3Ds, MarineVille, and Ghost Club. The basic guitar, bass, and drum tracks were recorded over one weekend in the band's rehearsal space.
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Triggar Happy - EP Review: Testify
13 May 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Triggar Happy is the reinvention of Regan Tucker, from traditional Country artist into an exponent of the Country/Hip-Hop scene, under the guidance of Auckland's Royalty Music Group. Growing up on a farm in Otorohanga exposed a young Triggar Happy to the Country stylings of artists like Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and George Strait.
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Beat Rhythm Fashion - Album Review: Critical Mass
07 May 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Beginning life in Wellington's post-punk Terrace scene of the late 70's and early 80's, Beat Rhythm Fashion went on an ostensibly indefinite hiatus in the mid 80's, only to reform 35 years later. Brothers Nino and Dan Birch had been the cornerstone of the trio in its heyday, but sadly Dan passed in 2011.
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TheSlacks - Album Review: Information Ape
02 May 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Scott Armstrong (vocals, rhythm guitar), Mark Armstrong (vocals, lead guitar), Blake Gibson (vocals, bass guitar) and Zane Greig (vocals, drums) are
collectively
TheSlacks, Taranaki's answer to the question "What do you reckon a cross between Johnny Cash and Sublime would sound like?" Information Ape is their new album,
their third after 2003's Suppressed Inventions and 2014's Welcome To The Rolling Vibe, and they're embarking on a 4-date tour to coincide with New Zealand Music Month to support it, their mums think they play Folk-Rock,
they themselves think they play Country-Ska, but apparently they actually play Adult Contemporary Pop...
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Dragon - Gig Review: Dragon @ Town Hall, Christchurch - 18/04/2024
20 Apr 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Dragon is a name long since synonymous with rock & roll in Australasia, and the band is currently enjoying an 8-date tour in celebration of their 50th anniversary. Starting April 12th in Invercargill, the tour will work its way slowly up the country, to wind up in Auckland on April 27th.
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Sounds Escape - Album Review: Midnight Drive
18 Apr 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Sounds Escape is the solo project of Logan Wedgwood, an Auckland based drummer, guitarist, and composer. Sounds Escape started coming into being during lockdown, and having released two EPs since 2022, Midnight Drive is his debut full length album.
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Cian - EP Review: All New Ways Of Life
22 Mar 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
All New Ways Of Life is the introductory offering from Wellington-based Hardcore Metal outfit, Cian. Connor Matthew (Guitar, Vocals), Navah Chapman (Guitar), Dylan Jonkers (Bass, Vocals) and Zed Ramsay (Drums) have delivered four raging slabs of blistering-hot Metal on this EP and are hungry to take over the world with their punishing, riff-laden sound.
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Jackie Bristow - Jackie B And The Mini Band - EP Review: Summertime
22 Mar 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Jackie Bristow has had a career on a continuous upward trajectory, since being discovered at the tender age of eight, in her primary school's choir. In the time since then, she relocated to Australia, and then on to Nashville in the USA, regarded by many as that nation's "music capital".
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The Mons Whaler - Album Review: Hold My Gun
29 Feb 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
The Mons Whaler were formed in the Taranaki area, by Hemi Coates (vocals & guitar), Andre Peri (percussion & backing vocals) and Phil Hoskin (bass, guitar backing vocals). Multi-talented Courtnay Low joined forces with them, on keys, backing vocals and lead guitar.
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Empyrvore - Album Review: Nadir: Empyrean
12 Feb 2024 // review by Peter K Malthus
Nadir: Empyrean is the latest release from Wellington-based Empyrvore, and their first full length album. It has been a labour of love for its two creators, Jared and Mike, who followed the complete DIY path for recording, mixing, mastering, and releasing...
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King Cruel - EP Review: Creeper
22 Dec 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Creeper is the debut EP from King Cruel, a 'Psychedelic Stoner Doom Metal' trio from Auckland. According to Encyclopaedia Metallum, the line up consists of Evan Cooper on drums, Josh Hodgson on guitars, and Luke Oram on vocals.
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Hecates Cult - Album Review: The Path Of Night
14 Dec 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
The Path Of Night by Otautahi Christchurch band Hecate's Cult was recorded, mixed, and mastered by the utter weapons at Audioganic Studios, and it's pretty easy to see why so many local artists are queuing up to have them do the same. Hecate's Cult are a bare-bones three piece, with no backing vocals, backing tracks, samples, or anything other than the sounds produced by drums, a bass, a guitar, and a voice.
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The Snake Behaviour - Album Review: Youthanise
27 Nov 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Christchurch's The Snake Behaviour have been slithering around the local scene long enough to make them well-recognized live veterans. Influenced in equal measures by heavy rock, metal, and punk, TSB have been plugging away tirelessly doing the self-funded thing, and by all accounts having a whale of a time along the way.
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Betsy and The Reckless - Album Review: Salty
26 Nov 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Salty is the debut album of Taranaki-based quartet Betsy and The Reckless. I've seen their style described as both "a fusion of reggae and soul", and "an RnB twist on Kiwi roots", but even that doesn't completely sum up this glorious musical melting pot.
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Saurian - EP Review: Octopedal Rock Unit
30 Oct 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Dunedin's Saurian have just released Octopedal Rock Unit, a five-song collection of rock & roll that's fun and full of melody, but also ballsy and thunderous. Saurian released the entirely self-produced album Brooding in 2020, having formed in 2015.
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CyberManic - Album Review: Cut To The Core
25 Oct 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Cut To The Core is the debut album from Christchurch's Cybermanic, a two-piece (although currently in the throes of becoming a three-piece, with a new bassist furiously learning the bass lines) Industrial Rock/Metal band. Formed in 2019 by James Williams (vocals/guitar) and Hannes Danielsson (drums), Cybermanic spent most of 2022 preparing for and recording the album and they are about to start travelling the South Island to promote it.
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Bloody Hell - Album Review: Blood Metal
13 Oct 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Bloody Hell (I mean, even the name is awesome. I love a really good band name, and 'Bloody Hell' is one of the best Metal band names I've ever heard) are from Christchurch, which as we all know, is a seething hotbed of musical talent.
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Matt Joe Gow - EP Review: Closer To Tomorrow
11 Sep 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
In early 2023, Matt Joe Gow released album number 4, Between Tonight And Tomorrow, to widespread critical acclaim. Not only did that include 5-star reviews, Matt also took home the 2023 MLT Songwriting Award.
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King Cass - EP Review: Old Days EP 1.0
03 Sep 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Hunter "King Cass" Wilson has hinted at releasing two EPs before the end of 2023, following up on a handful of singles released since 2019's The Awakening (From Dark To Light), his debut album. I reviewed one of those singles here, the catchy laid-back grooves of Yea Yea.
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Vox Capacitor - EP Review: Variance
07 Aug 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Variance is the promised follow-up to the Hindsight EP from Auckland-based solo artist Vox Capacitor.Solo in the truest sense: everything is created, performed, produced, engineered, and mixed by Vox Capacitor (aka Steve McBride) himself.
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Jethro Clarke - Single/Video Review: Human On
15 Jun 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
The Facebook page of Jethro Clarke shows a decent handful of releases over the last couple of years, and the video for latest single Human On shows an artist confident and assured with what they're doing. A lightly fuzzed guitar riff introduces the track, underscoring a black and white display of retro technology, a Jethro Clarke vinyl LP being selected for playing on a gorgeous old radiogram, before a shot of a mound of cathode ray rube TVs.
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Broke - Single Review: Need
14 Jun 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Need is the latest single from Taranaki punk rockers Broke. It leaps straight out of the gate with snarling, anthemic punk attitude, a rolling and rollicking beat with guitars up to eleven.
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Slimivich - Single Review: Grind
08 Jun 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Slim Jenkins and Morgan Galloway of Slimivich are no newcomers to the NZ heavy music scene, having both previously played with legendary NZ Metal outfit Tainted. However, if you're looking for Tainted's inimitable Death Metal style, you can do that here, because this is something quite different.
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Yaya and the Snakes - Album Review: The Whole Shebang
26 May 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Yaya and the Snakes first caught my attention back in 2020, when they released the single I Lost My Kumara On The Side Of The Road. Very much my kind of thing, a quintessentially Kiwi tale, a gut-wrenching tale of tuber tragedy.
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Dictaphone Blues - EP Review: Greetings From Glen Eden
26 May 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
This was a real treat, to get to listen to and review the latest release from Dictaphone Blues. Greetings From Glen Eden (and if you click on that handy-dandy link right there, you'll be whisked off to a magical portal where you can pay a mere NZ$5 for the entire EP!
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Gig Review: The Titans Tour @ 12 Bar, Christchurch - 18/05/2023
21 May 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
12 Bar is one of many venues that Christchurch is fortunate to have, proud and passionate supporters of the local music scene. Upon entering its warmth from a slightly damp and cold evening, I found a well-stocked merch table, and had a nice catch up with a familiar face as I treated myself to bit of the selection of home-town heroes, Pieces Of Molly.
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James Kohler - Single Review: Rhea
15 May 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Rhea is the latest single from Auckland-based James Kohler, a seasoned practitioner of "prog-pop/indie psychedelia". Rhea tells the story of the eponymous protagonist's life working in a department store, but it isn't an especially positive story.
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Bleeders - Gig Review: Bleeders @ The Embankment Tavern, Christchurch - 6/05/2023
09 May 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
I'm glad I arrived as early as I did, to secure a good spot to plonk myself to watch the show, as the place filled up pretty fast. The Embankment Tavern's owner, Martin Mantell, is a huge fan and staunch supporter of live music, and kudos are due to him
for developing The Embankment into such a popular venue, hosting some fantastic shows.
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Bad Llamas - Single Review: Can't Take You Anywhere
05 May 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Bad Llamas are based in my hometown of Christchurch, so I have encountered their name before, however this was my first time listening to their self-described "Indie/Pop/Rock" sound.As Can't Take You Anywhere opens, it would be easy to be fooled into thinking this will unfold into a sweetly pretty pop song, and stay around about there.
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Rehaab - Single/Video Review: Twisted Fool
01 May 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Rehaab will tell you that they're a "Stoner funk psychedelic blues rock eight-armed animal" of a band, and I see no reason to disagree. In fact, having checked out the video to new single Twisted Fool, I'd have to say that's a pretty accurate description A darkly suggestive little riff from guitarist Mutt kicks things into gear, with the engine room of drummer Grant and bassist Larry not far behind, laying down a superbly solid, stonkin' blues rock groove.
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Dead Favours - Gig Review: Dead Favours @ Loons, Lyttelton - 21/04/2023
25 Apr 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
This gig marked my first visit to The Loons, a venue in Lyttelton, Christchurch with an almost nostalgic NZ school/church/rural town hall type vibe, in an excellent way. It looks to have quite a decent capacity, and it's a shame that more of that capacity wasn't occupied with punters tonight, to witness the onslaught of quality rock & roll that was served up.
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Rust NZ - Single Review: Connection
18 Apr 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
OK, full disclosure: I stuck my hand up for this review, because I know Kyle Hawkes (vocals) personally. I jammed with Kyle a few years ago, when he was still finding his feet as a vocalist.
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Superturtle - Single Review: Robert De Niro
14 Apr 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
The latest release from Auckland's Superturtle is a darkly pretty post-punk gem, an absolute banger. Robert De Niro comes hot on the heels of Right The Wrong, released earlier in 2023.
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David Sutton - Album Review: Cat Food
11 Apr 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
I'd not heard any of David Sutton's previous
releases, before being given this one to review. Which is surprising, given the impressive number of albums released, Cat Food being number ten.
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Spirit Boy - Single Review: Neon Sky
24 Mar 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
I dragged my feet over this review, seriously let it get overdue, even. I haven't long been doing the reviewing thing here, so I wanted to be really sure about what I wanted to say, with this particular one.
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Grant Duncan - Single/Video Review: Initiate
23 Mar 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Grant Duncan already has an impressive
back catalogue of releases on Bandcamp, Soundcloud,
YouTube, and Spotify. The Auckland-based singer/songwriter has also spent time fronting the Tokyo-based
indie combo Pavement Candy, and the influence of his travels is worn proudly heart-on-sleeve in Initiate.
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Vox Capacitor - Single Review: Rectangle
18 Mar 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
Vox Capacitor is a solo project of "Jangly Dad Rock and Indie Guitar Pop" based in Auckland, from an artist who is clearly a quite competent multi-instrumentalist. From drums tracked "in a borrowed gym", to a suitably solid bass line, to layers of guitars topped with well-delivered vocals, Vox Capacitor certainly multi tasks with aplomb.
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King Cass - Single/Video Review: Yea Yea
27 Feb 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
The newest track from King Cass, Yea Yea, immediately grabbed me, and kept me. Starting out with a simple instrumental hook, leading into the smooth vocal line of the chorus, and on into King Cass delivering his message.
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Michael Signal - EP Review: Solway
10 Feb 2023 // review by Peter K Malthus
I'm really surprised that I hadn't heard of Michael Signal before reviewing this EP. This is far from being Michael's first release, and listening to it (repeatedly and joyfully, I might add) had me delving into his back catalogue, including a rip-snorting cover of Scorpions' Rock You Like A Hurricane.
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