23 Dec 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Primmers - Durham Lane Album Review

13 Apr 2012 // A review by Peter-James Dries

One can find many pleasures in music.  Durham Lane from Primmers satisfies three of my main sources of pleasure; old, obscure, semi-forgotten music, previously unreleased music and true punk rock from the 70s, not that cringe-worthy neo-punk that emerged after the slow death of the boy band era.

Now some people may be put off when I say punk, I’ve done my rounds in circles who think all punk sounds the same; a boring harsh noise created by a bunch of filthy bastards who can’t sing or play their instruments.  To these people all punk is the Sex Pistols, and the Sex Pistols are shit. 

Rest assured this collection of live and unreleased tracks is no Sex Pistols tribute or rehash.  It is neither boring, nor shit and not only can these guys (and girl) sing, they can play their instruments too.  The stand out track is the anthemic “You’re gonna get done” and if you listen to nothing else on the album listen to the cover of “Germ Free Adolescents”.  It was definitely a “wow!” track on my first listen.

The style of the Primmers is dynamic.  It sounds like the band took all the best punk and rock bands of the seventies.  While retaining most of the grimy punk aesthetic, some of the tracks are more in the style of Joy Division, all the while retaining the ambience of the well-polished classic Flying Nun tracks.  Not bad for a collection of pub tracks and rarities.

You won’t find many bands that wait thirty two years to release their first CD, but I’m glad they did.  If like me, you overused your punk collection during your punk phase and feel like there is nothing new to be had this CD is perfect.  I won’t try and sell you on the fact it’s a piece of New Zealand’s often forgotten underground music history that shows that New Zealand punk and rock was equal to the big hitters in Britain and to a lesser extent America.

 

 

 

Durham Lane
View Track Listing
 

About Primmers

Primmers CD Press Release

It was 1979 in the midst of the heady New Zealand punk explosion that the Primmers first unleashed their own brand of no nonsense rock to an enthusiastic Auckland public. With their call to arms anthem ‘You’re Gonna Get Done’ hitting a raw nerve with diehard fans and subsequently being included on the infamous AK79 compilation album of that year, the Primmers had claimed their rightful place amongst a select number of underground New Zealand punk bands.

Now fast forward some 30 odd years and in 2012 the band have compiled 11 of their best songs from that era packaging them into this limited edition press release only debut CD entitled Durham Lane. Sourced from an archived selection of demo and live recordings, these never before released tracks offer a rare insight into the 1970’s Auckland punk scene giving the listener the opportunity to hear the Primmers at their vociferous best…..live

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Primmers

Releases

Durham Lane
Year: 2011
Type: Album

Other Reviews By Peter-James Dries

AJA - Album Review: Kawai
13 Dec 2024 // by Peter-James Dries
Bilingual albums shouldn’t be special; they should be the norm. Or at least more common.
Read More...
Ra Charmian - Album Review: Waiata Wairua
08 Oct 2024 // by Peter-James Dries
Waiata Wairua is an album that wouldn’t feel out of place performed in a late night jazz hall in some alternate history where the successes of the Maori battalion lead to a proliferation of Te Reo worldwide. The sort of interest that saw your dad singing in French in the 60's, when Mireille Mathieu was knocking about.
Read More...
Ben Lloyd - Album Review: Leap of Faith
26 May 2024 // by Peter-James Dries
For over 30 years, this self-taught rocker from Mt Maunganui has been writing music. Now, for the first time since 2013, we finally get to hear his songs.
Read More...
Yann Le Dorré - Album Review: The Circus is Closed
19 Dec 2023 // by Peter-James Dries
“We are Sex Bob-Omb and we're here to make you think about death and get sad and stuff!” - Scott Pilgrim vs.
Read More...
Sanoi - Album Review: Echoes Of Home
25 Nov 2023 // by Peter-James Dries
Electronica offers no escapism for me. It’s more of what I already have.
Read More...
Throng - EP Review: Decoherence
20 Oct 2023 // by Peter-James Dries
You know that thing where the letter B has a personality, or words have textures and colours? That’s called synaesthesia.
Read More...
Fortress Europe - Album Review: Old World
10 Oct 2023 // by Peter-James Dries
Have you ever been torn between listening to Mozart or Periphery? Does Epica have too much of that darn singing for your tastes?
Read More...
Yurt Party - Album Review: Yurt Party
07 Sep 2023 // by Peter-James Dries
It sure isn't summer, and this is really not the Balkans, but Yurt Party’s new self-titled album refutes that. Back with another one of them Balkan rocking beats, Yurt Party’s debut is jazzy, erratic, and full of zest and energetic grooves, with flavour notes of ska, dub, and bergamot.
Read More...
View All Articles By Peter-James Dries

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem