The Clean, Robert Scott and brothers David and Hamish Kilgour, have written some of the most invigorating songs in New Zealand contemporary music. They are a seminal act whose influence has been felt in their own country and far beyond.

bFM station manager Adam Hyde came up with the idea for New Zealand's first tribute album to bring b.net stations together in a celebration of New Zealand music. A quick call around other b.net stations and Flying Nun, the record label that The Clean put on the map, drew an instantly enthusiastic response.

"The Clean have a remarkable history. They launched the whole Dunedin and Flying Nun scene and have classic status on all b.net stations," says Hyde.

Recommendations came from every b.net station and the geographical net was cast further afield to take in American artists on the God Save The Clean wish list, acknowledging the Clean's influence beyond our shores.

"Many artists gave us an immediate 'yes' and we were soon having to turn down others who had heard about the project and wanted to be involved," says Hyde.

"It was amazing that a band like Pavement were so excited to record a Clean song, telling us that they would be honoured to be on the album."

Unlike other tribute albums, God Save The Clean was intended to avoid trite regurgitation of Clean classics. The album reflects the essence of the Clean's 'do your thing' attitude as well as the music they produced.

"We wanted artists to allow their own creative vision to be realised on God Save The Clean. It feels like the true spirit of the band has been captured because so many artists from diverse backgrounds are paying tribute to these songs in their own style."

As famous for their extended trips in rumbling proto-psychedelic grooves as their upbeat pop numbers, The Clean make perfect fodder for any adventurous artist, from the enthuasiastic rockers, chilling soloists and modern day technologists captured here. God Save The Clean even shows you how The Clean might sound with a drum'n'bass edge (Salmonella Dub) or twanging guitar flourish (Gray Bartlett).