31 March 2010 - 0 Comments

An album that judge Francesca Rudkin described as “instantly beguiling and absolutely gorgeous”, Chant Darling was this evening awarded the Inaugural Taite Music Prize, a new initiative on the creative landscape that awards a cash prize to the finest release by a New Zealand artist or group, specifically focusing on the artistic merit and creative excellence of one album released in the previous calendar year.

The work of UK-based New Zealand musician Lawrence Arabia AKA James Milne, Chant Darling was recorded between Nov 2007 and Jan 2009, in Stockholm, London, Auckland, Wellington and Port Chalmers, and was produced by Milne himself. Judge John Taite said that the album “feels like a love affair of an album... and completely out of fashion. And although the calculated rough shambles they've created can sound like the musical equivalent of spending an hour on your hair to look like you've just got outta bed, it's ultimately singular and passionate enough to feel real. Get on a plane. The world is waiting”.

Named after the late Dylan Taite, one of the country's most highly respected music journalists, the award is a first for New Zealand in its format. In a similar vein to several international awards, The Taite Music Prize's purpose is to recognise outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained on one album. The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000, to be spent as they wish. Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) and PPNZ are the principal music industry supporters of the Taite Music Prize in conjunction with the Taite family.

Milne acknowledged his prize via a video interview conducted at his current base in the United Kingdom, saying: “Thanks to everyone that’s helped out with this album and the making of it, it wouldn’t have happened without all of you! I’d like to thank IMNZ for giving me the award, I really appreciate the acknowledgement of this piece of work? and I hope you had a really good night!”

http://www.taitemusicprize.co.nz/

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