BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD — PHOTO BY HOLLY WHITAKER / CURATION & WRITING BY C.C / LOGO BY ZOE HANNAY
BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD — 'UP SONG'
English post-rock supergroup Black Country, New Road made serious waves in the global music scene with their 2021 debut For The First Time, conjuring a sound that could only be wrapped up into a collection of gut-led emotions, guided by their very evident and eclectic synergy. Shortly after their sophomore album Ants From Up There, then-frontman Isaac Wood departed the band to focus on his mental health, and their fans were left wondering what would become of the group, whose sound was so lovingly recognisable.
However, over a year later in 2023, BC,NR reemerged via an exceptionally filmed live video, documenting their three sold-out headline shows at London's Bush Hall, mixed by the legendary John Parish. Performing newly written songs intended for the live stage, the video reintroduced the band — dressed to the nines in prom-king-and-queen fashion — as a collective who have seemingly transitioned into a new phase of musical fluidity that feeds their experimentation and nurture their expression. The performance oozes an infectious energy that really makes you wish you were there for yourself, but luckily, from the sound of the first, crisp saxophone hum and the intimate whispers from the crowd, it almost feels as though you could be. The first song in the set, 'Up Song' is a bold, but perfect way to begin, triumphant and infused with proud camaraderie, leaving us with big grins. The Youtube video may have been the only way to listen to the new material up until now, but today it is released as a brand new live-album Live At Bush Hall, with vinyl formats landing late next month.
You can preorder Live At Bush Hall on vinyl via the Flying Nun Records Shop HERE.
LUCRECIA DALT — 'NO TIEMPO'
"...An ever-morphing skin of constant change" are the words that appear at the beginning of the video accompaniment to Colombian artist Lucrecia Dalt's delicious song 'No tiempo' — the opening to her latest album ¡Ay! The statement resonates throughout the piece as it morphs and unravels, floating through forms and exploring a metaphysical consciousness that sonically surprises at every bend and edge. If you haven't delved into the wonderful world of Lucrecia Dalt, you are in for a treat, and this album is a great place to start.
You can buy Lucrecia Dalt's album ¡Ay! via the Flying Nun Record Shop HERE.
RINGLETS — 'SEVER'
Tāmaki Makaurau-based band Ringlets returned with their second single 'Sever' last weekend, the follow-up to their debut song 'Feeling Of The Body'. Weaving melody-driven vocal hooks with acute guitar riffs, the band have produced something truly compelling, with enough drive to excite us all the way to their debut album's release in early April.
Ringlets' self-titled debut album is out on April 3 via Mutual Skies — you can buy it on CD and LP HERE.
YVES TUMOR — 'LOVELY SEWER'
Praise a Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume Or Simply; Hot Between Worlds (phew!) is the latest full length LP from Yves Tumor, the musical project spearheaded by producer, songwriter and musician Sean Bowie (who really is gearing up to be one of today's art rock pioneers). 'Lovely Sewer' is one of my favourites from the record; a glistening, 80's synth-pop-leaning song that explores the epiphanies of a challenging friendship. It spins like a rush to the head, and emits a carefree catchiness that garentees danceability.
Yves Tumor's new album is out now and available to buy via the Flying Nun Records Shop HERE.
REVULVA — 'THIS TOWN'
Pōneke's stupendous nine-piece Revulva have released the music video to their new single 'This Town' — a sassy, jazz-infused number which is sure to get you moving in one way or another; it's simply impossible to sit still with the fluttering beatscapes, horn stabs and fluid keyboard solos. Get ready to be transported to the Wild, Wild West (AKA Wellington's Red Rocks) for a cowboy-meets-girl rom-com, directed by Ben Ashby.
You can listen to this track, as well as more Revulva via their Bandcamp HERE. You can also buy a signed copy of their album Girl's Gotta Eat on CD via the Flying Nun Record Shop HERE.
MICRONISM — 'FIRST REFLECTIONS'
Recognised yesterday as the 2023 IMNZ Classic Record recipient (which will be presented at this year's Taite Prize ceremony) is micronism's 1998 album inside a quiet mind originally released through label Kog Transmissions. Composed between 1996 and 1998 using external, outboard instruments, the album eclipses the vastness of electronica, leaning into a freewheeling exploration of its sounds, with all its glitches, beatscapes, and ambience. It is a true Aotearoa musical masterpiece, best listened to from start to finish.
Big shout out too to the finalists for the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award announced in conjunction with the above; Chris Cudby from Undertheradar for his excellent and relentless coverage of the local music scene, Jess Fu & Amanda Jane Robinson for their Ampified series, Gareth Shute for his contributions to Audioculture and Namnita Kumar & Nadia Freeman for their Eastern Sound Stories Podcast.
inside a quiet mind is getting a beautiful repress by the good people at Loop and you can preorder it via Bandcamp HERE. You can also catch a rare performance by micronism at Auckland's Neck Of The Woods on April 15, featuring sanoi and aw b — tickets HERE.
KARL SÖLVE STEVEN — 'ACOMA (PHASE I) (STEF ANIMAL EITHNE NÍ BHRAONÁIN 1986 REMIX)'
Composer and producer Karl Sölve Steven has announced a new body of work — a collection of remixes of by some of the most eclectic and key figures of Aotearoa's electronic scene. The first single to be unveiled is a rework of his piece 'Acoma [Phase 1] by Stef Animal — a lush, spacious reimagining.
“[Acoma (Phase I)] sounded to me like the album's statement of intent. I loved the chord sequence - it was large, adventurous and a bit mysterious,” says Stef Animal. “Each chord carried a lot of weight. Some musicians throw chords around like candy - Beck for example - and that's fun too, but I do love a calm, considered harmonic progression. This can leave a lot of space for a compelling melody and this track is a perfect example.”
You can preorder the new album All of Human Emotion on Microfiche (The Remixes) - out July 6 via Sunreturn — via Bandcamp HERE.
BITCH WHISTLE — 'BANSHEE/THEY'
Te Papaioea trio bitch whistle emerged over the last year or so, revealing their impalpable sound compositions to those lucky few who have managed to catch their cacophonous live sets (most recently at Wellington's San Fran). With the release of their second single 'banshee/they', bitch whistle unleash their amorphous soundscape with sonic fury — an impressive, unwavering ghoulish racket by the transfemme trio. Catch them at Pōneke's Pyramid Club on April 15th.
Listen to Bitch Whistle via the Morris St Network on Bandcamp HERE.
HANNAH EVERINGHAM — 'SWEET TRAIN TO GERALDINE'
We were introduced to Ōtautahi-based songwriter Hannah Everingham last year with her debut album Between Bodies, were quite taken by her weightless, entrancing songs. Making her debut headline appearance in Ōtepoti to celebrate the album, she will be joined by none other than Robert Scott (The Clean, The Bats) and Fransisca Griffin (Look Blue Go Purple) for "a technically untechnical album release rendezvous" that we will have major FOMO for. If you're down south, make sure you check it out, and click play on her wonderful song 'Sweet Train To Geraldine' to hear a glimpse of what you might see live...
Hannah Everingham's debut album Between Bodies is available to purchase on CD via the Flying Nun Record Shop HERE. You can find tickets for her show via our friends at UTR HERE.
MARY LATTIMORE — 'WE JUST FOUND OUT SHE DIED'
Harpist Mary Lattimore never fails to produce some of the most spellbinding, relaxing and poignant compositions, alchemising vocals and synths with her cascading harp stokes to create celestial washes of sound. Dipping into her archives, Lattimore has released a collection of some of her earlier works from 2015-2020. 'We Just Found Out She Died' cycles two chords, her harp fluttering delicately as if treading water, and the angelic sound loops enveloping upon one another with heart-wrenching beauty.
You can find this track on Mary Lattimore's new collection via the Flying Nun Record Shop HERE.
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