Spartacus R fever to take hold of NZ
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 6:58 pm

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When 2007 New Zealand Arts Laureate Warren Maxwell, from The Little Bushman, proclaims he is 'completely turned on' by a band, there's a bloody good chance that they're worth paying attention to.

That band is Wellington six-piece psychedelic psychonauts Spartacus R, and they will be releasing their long-awaited album When the Fever Takes Hold, on January 5, 2009 and touring New Zealand.

Spartacus R have developed an enigmatic profile in their hometown through their groundbreaking productions for the New Zealand Fringe Festival, Spartacus R in Octophonic (Fringe 07) and Spartacus R's Delusions (Fringe 08 ) which featured a live audio-visual extravaganza set to original 3D film vignettes and showcased on TVNZ's One News.

The tour will see Spartacus R perform in Auckland, Wellington Christchurch and Dunedin, as well as Palmerston North, Raglan, Takaka, Lyttelton, Stewart Island, Milford Sound, Wanaka and Queenstown. See following page for tour details.

The album When the Fever Takes Hold has spent considerable time in incubation since it was conceived in 2007, recorded at Wellington's legendary The Surgery with the production wizardry of Dr Lee Prebble (Phoenix Foundation, Black Seeds, Trinity Roots).

It is an album that challenges the current musical fixation with iPod-friendly singles, featuring eight tracks some of which are long psychedelic rock jams to immerse the listener in an aural experience not delivered by any other New Zealand band.

That quest for an original listening experience has seen Spartacus R develop a head-spinning live act. Based on a foundation of blues, rock and funk, Spartacus R break loose on stage with sprawling soundscapes that explores as much as it entertains.

And what's left to say? Let's head back to Warren Maxwell: "I am completely musically 'turned on' by Spartacus R. Their music is well-crafted and intricately sincere. Fresh, contemporary retro, and completely unpredictable... Beautiful."

Spartacus R: When the Fever Takes Hold
Album launched January 5, 2009
Through Border Distribution
New Zealand tour: January 15-31, 2009