22 Nov 2024
Running Stitch - EP Review: Brightside
15 Jun 2018 // A 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. The band is Aletta Ashdown on vocals and guitar; Gavin Botica on bass and Kayne Wilkinson on drums.
Right from the first bars of the EP’s title track it sets a solid pace, over driven guitars which sound like they’re being played through warm valves with intent. Just as the listener thinks yes, this is an A A1 B B1 structure, there’s a C part at the three-minute mark, it's like an afterthought which really works.
Track two The Wait begins more gently than Brightside, but ramps up in intensity, before a coda crescendo. I totally love the multi tracking of Ashdown’s voice in the chorus, it really hooks and works.
I know comparisons are lazy journalism, but I hear a bit of Tadpole and early Fur Patrol, along with hints of Sousixie and the Banshees in this music.
Aletta Ashdown has a huge voice, especially on the closing track, Hunted. The band is playing out of their skins, Kayne Wilkinson’s snare drum cracks through the wonderful racket made by Gavin Botica on bass along with Ashdown’s guitar.
All four tracks on this EP are strong representations of the band's power and style. It's expertly recorded and produced by Adrian Ashdown and mastered by Steve Carrao of Sage Audio in Nashville.
Brightside may not be the band's debut, but it is a great addition to their catalogue.
Brightside is available on Bandcamp.
Written 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. The band is Aletta Ashdown on vocals and guitar; Gavin Botica on bass and Kayne Wilkinson on drums.
Right from the first bars of the EP’s title track it sets a solid pace, over driven guitars which sound like they’re being played through warm valves with intent. Just as the listener thinks yes, this is an A A1 B B1 structure, there’s a C part at the three-minute mark, it's like an afterthought which really works.
Track two The Wait begins more gently than Brightside, but ramps up in intensity, before a coda crescendo. I totally love the multi tracking of Ashdown’s voice in the chorus, it really hooks and works.
I know comparisons are lazy journalism, but I hear a bit of Tadpole and early Fur Patrol, along with hints of Sousixie and the Banshees in this music.
Aletta Ashdown has a huge voice, especially on the closing track, Hunted. The band is playing out of their skins, Kayne Wilkinson’s snare drum cracks through the wonderful racket made by Gavin Botica on bass along with Ashdown’s guitar.
All four tracks on this EP are strong representations of the band's power and style. It's expertly recorded and produced by Adrian Ashdown and mastered by Steve Carrao of Sage Audio in Nashville.
Brightside may not be the band's debut, but it is a great addition to their catalogue.
Brightside is available on Bandcamp.
Written by Darryl Baser
About Running Stitch
Over the years Aletta has had her fingers in a number of musical pies. In 2012 Aletta performed back-up vocal duties for pop-folk band Cold Harvest Trust lead by Canadian songwriter Andrew Cowie whose New Bones EP was recorded and mixed at Earwig Studios by Flying Nun alumni and one-time 95bFM presenter Darren McShane. It was the Earwig connection that lead to Aletta’s recent involvement in Auckland post punk new wave outfit Superturtle.
As a solo act Aletta regularly attends open mic nights around Auckland including The Portland Public House and The Claire Inn. In the past Aletta has played support slots for Tahuna Breaks and the Phil Edwards band and featured in several live to air performances on Kiwi FM, 95bFM and the now defunct Alt-TV. In 2012 Aletta was a showcased performer at the Bunker Hill Folk Review followed by a stint in the ensemble cast for the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Tell Me On A Sunday featuring Carly Binding. Earlier this year Aletta performed with a bunch of other local Rodney musicians at the Muriwai Beach Waitangi Day Festival on the same bill as Tiki Taane, Warren Maxwell and Soljah.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Running Stitch
Other Reviews By darryl baser
MEDaL - Album Review: Sequela
14 Dec 2022 // 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...
The Bobby Holidays - Album Review: At The Beach
13 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
The Bobby Holidays' At The Beach opens with the song Jane, syncopation is to the fore with a great horn section blowing against bass, drums and guitar. The song has an up tempo happy summer vibe.
Read More...
Mad Cow - Single Review: Same Boat
01 Dec 2022 // 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...
The New Existentialists - EP Review: Last Days of the Internet
23 Nov 2022 // by darryl baser
It might seem like George D Henderson has been a part of the New Zealand music landscape for about as long as Keith Richards has been playing guitar. He’s been in the Flying Nun arena with The Puddle based in Dunedin.
Read More...
23 Nov 2022 // by darryl baser
It might seem like George D Henderson has been a part of the New Zealand music landscape for about as long as Keith Richards has been playing guitar. He’s been in the Flying Nun arena with The Puddle based in Dunedin.
Read More...
Nika - Single Review: Saviour Complex
03 Nov 2022 // 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...
The RVMES - Single Review: Simple Things
05 Oct 2022 // by darryl baser
Oh My God. There are bangers then there’s this tune.
Read More...
VÏKÆ - EP Review: Love Games
25 Aug 2022 // 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 // 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...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
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
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
Custom Search
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 Problem
