Photo: Alex G by Tonje Thilesen

BEAUTIFUL THINGS PLAYLIST 

WEEK 18TH - 22ND JULY 

COCTEAU TWINS - ‘LAZY CALM’

The Cocteau Twins are known for their diaphanous, dream-pop sounds, and their fourth studio album, Victorialand, might be their most ethereal yet. It’s an album almost completely devoid of drums, relying on the natural ebbs and flows of the guitar and vocal cascades to push the record along. ‘Lazy Calm’ sounds like…exactly that. A lazy calm. Robin Guthrie’s escalating guitar tones and Elizabeth Fraser’s gorgeous soprano create a sweet mystique that feels like a warm bath you can sink into. 

You can find the album Victorialand on the Flying Nun Record Shop here. 

JAZMINE MARY - ‘LOVE ME TENDER’

Tāmaki Makaurau-based songwriter Jazmine Mary’s rendition of this Elvis Presley classic is a captivating lullaby, with gentle guitars, synths and strings swimming underneath their vocals, which command the space with both passion and gentleness.

You can find ‘Love Me Tender’ on their bandcamp here. 

ALEX G - ‘SPORTSTAR’

‘Sportstar’ is a perfect example of how artists utilise autotune to create an almost instrumental vocal effect, which compliments the timbre perfectly. The tune’s piano-driven riff plays with four descending chords, with synths and guitars piercing through to accompany his catchy melodies. Amongst the other fourteen tracks on the album which are more folk-inspired, ‘Sportstar’ stands out and adds an interesting edge. Highly recommend!!! 

You can find the album Rocket on the Flying Nun Record Shop here.  

BLAKE BABIES - ‘OUT THERE’

80/90’s college rock outfit, Blake Babies, were relatively popular amongst indie-heads at the time and released five records during their stint as a band, most recently in 2016. Sunburn is their fourth album, merging sun-soaked melodies, cheeky lyrics and garage rock that lay a bed in your head with their peppy energy. ‘Out There’ is a fun, indie-pop tune that sounds like it came straight off the soundtrack of a classic 90’s coming of age film. And that’s a good thing. It’s fun.  

You can find the album Sunburn on the Flying Nun Record Shop here.

MORGAN FLOWERS - ‘VALIDATION’

Morgan Flowers is based in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, and has released a small EP of demos written during lockdown. More recently released is his single 'Validation'. Drawing from elements of psychedelic folk and chamber pop, the tune is is brimmed with lush layers and pure, nostalgic undertones. Morgan Flowers is certainly one to watch.  

You can find ‘Validation’ here.

REWIND FIELDS - ‘ALMAHARA’

Rewind Fields is the project of Tāmaki Makaurau-based songwriter Callum Lee. ‘Almahara’ is a standout from his recently released self-titled project; full of breeze, and hazy synths fit for hammock swinging or laying back in a lazy boy. The vocals are rich harmonious layers which seem to draw inspiration from the sunshine pop of the 60's The Beach Boys. 

You can find Rewind Fields on their bandcamp here.  

MORT GARSON - ‘IS HE TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING? - 

Mort Garson’s music was very hard to find until very recently, when some of his sought after discography was made available on all platforms, and reissued on vinyl and CD. You may know him because of his album Plantasia, which took the world by storm; once incredibly rare and now filling the ears of humans, animals and plants alike. Lesser known is the collection of songs, Music From Patch Cord Productions, which compiles some of his best work on his trusty Moog. ‘Is He Trying To Tell Us Something’ shows both darkness and light in his compositional style. He is a true synth wizard, and we are so happy to finally be able to enjoy his music to the fullest. 

You can find the album Music From Patch Cord Productions on the Flying Nun Record Shop here.

SAM GENDEL - ‘IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD’

Experimental jazz can sometimes be met with hesitation, however saxophonist Sam Gendel hits all the right spots on his album Satin Doll. He reimagines an array of popular standards, including a sultry ‘In A Sentimental Mood’, through a kaleidoscope lens, and plays his saxophone in a hypnotic way amongst drum machines and various spaced-out synths. 

You can find the album Satin Doll on the Flying Nun Record Shop here.

RECITALS - ‘ARROW’ 

Our latest signee, Recitals, have dropped the second single from their upcoming album, Orbit I. 'Arrow’ is a striking display of the band’s sound, with a strong fanfare introduction signalling a tense, yet exhilarating sonic narrative to follow. The song features the band’s angular layers moving with flowing motion through the song’s dynamic ebbs and flows, with 3 part harmonies across the three vocalists filling the spaces in between. 

You can pre-order Orbit I on the Flying Nun Record Shop here.

ERNY BELLE - ‘CHUCK IT IN THE TRASH’

Erny Belle certainly made waves since her debut single ‘Burning Heaven’ came out last year. Since then, she has released her first album Venus Is Home and played multiple successful shows, including support slots for the likes of Andy Shauf and Orville Peck. ‘Chuck It In The Trash’ is simple on the surface (nothing more than vocals and guitar), but don't be fooled - successful simplicity never comes easy and the depth of the lyrics hit us hard in the heart. 

You can find Venus Is Home by Erny Belle on the Flying Nun Record Shop here.

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