11 April 2024 - 0 Comments

Te Whanganui-a-Tara musician Night Bus is proud to present his latest dreamy piece of electronica - Emerald Hill.

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On Emerald Hill a hooky melody weaves it's way through atmospheric electronics, vintage electric pianos and a lo-fi drum machine. It all could have quite happily ambled along like this for it’s runtime but there are melodic variations and dynamic shifts throughout - and some glorious crescendos when sparkly synths emerge out of breakdown sections. It really is worth staying for the full 5’47”.

Ultimately it sounds a bit like something Air, Nightmares on Wax, or Groove Armada might have made in their prime, but it’s also not too far away from contemporary acts like Bonobo or Poolside. However it’s those lo-fi (dream-pop band) Beach House-type touches that make Emerald Hill an entirely modern offering. Emerald Hill also marks a real progression in writing and production from last year's Rubicon Valley - a song that found favour on Student Radio in Aotearoa and playlists around the world.

Emerald Hill takes it's name from the place that Night Bus’s family home was built on and was inspired by a painting by his daughter - which also serves as the artwork for the release.

Night Bus is a side project of Clint Meech. Usually spotted as a Band Guy with indie outfits (Anxiety Club, Orangefarm) or in singer-songwriter mode with his brother (Meech Brothers), Clint has performed and recorded with a number of NZ music luminaries (including Riki Gooch, Andrew Bain (Fur Patrol), Tom Watson (Cassette, HLAH), Matt Langley, Darren Watson, Miles Calder, Kim Bonnington).

With Night Bus he explores atmospheric, electronic pieces with less concern for structure and even less concern for lyrics (in fact zero concern). Increasingly it is becoming his favourite sandpit of all. File under Chill-out.

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