GRECCO ROMANK / PHOTO BY PETER JENNINGS
It has been a lil radio silent on the Flying Nun Beautiful Things front, but that's what happens when we're all musicians who need to embark on the odd escapade here and there. But we're back and ready to catch up on lots of epic local and international releases, as well as cool staff picks from the record shop.
NA NOISE — 'OPEN THE DOOR'
We love Na Noise, did you know? Their debut record is a classic at this point, and ages like fine wine. 'Open The Door' is a joyful, tamborine-slinging, head-shaking number that really clears out the cobwebs.
Great news for our friends over in Europe, because there have been whispers of a Na Noise EU/UK tour this year, confirmed massively by yesterday's announcement that they'll be joining The Beths for a few shows in Germany this June. Also, they've announced a tour fundraiser show at Whammy Bar alongside Dick Move and Lips on Friday 24th March. So yeah, I think they're going on tour. Keep your eyes peeled for those dates.
Available on Na Noise's fantastic debut record Waiting For You available via the Flying Nun Record shop HERE. Buy tickets to their tour fundraiser show HERE (even if you can't go, you can buy a support ticket).
VERA ELLEN — 'LENNY SAYS'
Finding humour in self-loathing, award-winning Vera Ellen is back with the second guitar driven single, ‘Lenny Says’ from her upcoming album, Ideal Home Noise,
"I wrote Lenny Says to make fun of myself at rock bottom. It was actually initially for my album Beat Yr Name (2018) but I felt it was too cheesy at the time. Now, I can see the humour in it. The two verses were genuinely written three years apart — though clearly the angst did not dwindle. It's a track for us whining broke losers with unattainable dreams; having a laugh and a moan at the same time."
Ideal Home Noise is out digitally and on both red or black vinyl and CD on Friday March 31st, 2023 via Flying Nun Records — preorder it HERE.
SOFT PLASTICS — 'DARCIE'
Soft Plastics announced their debut album recently, and kicked off our ears with their first single 'Disembody' — which had one of my favourite videos of the year so far. We're thrilled to hear the fantastic follow up 'Darcie' — its grungier, duskier sister which still holds up their catchy, melodic subtleties.
Soft Plastics' upcoming album Saturn Return is available for preorder via the Flying Nun Record Shop HERE.
CHRISTOPH EL TRUENTO & HONE BE GOOD — 'LOOKING BACKWARDS'
It's always a great day when you get an email from Bandcamp telling you that Christoph El Truento has dropped a new set of tracks. Teaming up with YGB's Hone Be Good, El Truento (who recently produced the Taite-nominated Avantdale Bowling Club album, Trees), delivers glossy basslines and smooth, head-bumping beatscapes beneath Hone Be Good's effortless, tumbling vocals.
Find this track on their Bandcamp HERE.
SOAKED OATS — 'PINK BEACH' FT. MOTTE
As release day nears, Soaked Oats are getting ready to toast to their new album Working Title with the announcement of an Aotearoa tour and the release of a new single, 'Pink Beach' featuring diaphanous musician, Motte and her stunning backing vocals. It is another step in an beautifully intimate direction for Soaked Oats, who continue to sonically surprise in the best ways.
Soaked Oats' upcoming album Working Title is available for preorder via the Flying Nun Record Shop HERE. You can grab tickets to their upcoming tour HERE.
GENEVIEVE ARTADI — 'VISIONARY'
LA-based jazz musician Genevieve Artadi (of Knower fame) has announced a new album on Brainfeeder. 'Visionary' spins her silken vocals over a glistening, nu-jazz inspired soundscape that floats and transcends key-changes with seemingly no effort. It is an exciting listen, and an album that is shaping up to be a very exciting one for jazz and pop lovers alike!
You can preorder Genevieve Artadi's upcoming album Forever Forever HERE.
KELELA — 'CONTACT'
Kelela recently unraveled her long-awaited second studio album, RAVEN via Warp Records. 'Contact' is one of my favourites from the tracklist; dazzling and ethereal, with pulsating jungle drum patterns and swelling synths humming beneath her effortlessly cool voice.
Kelela's new album RAVEN is out now. Order it HERE.
3RD CORE — ‘MINDLESS & BROKEN’ (MJ COLE MIX - LIAM K. SWIGGS 160 EDIT)
"We’ve got a bloody big one on the cards here — As we’ve all seen Tāmaki Makaurau has suffered massive devastation after the floods a few weeks ago with the good people of the north being heavily affected with some losing their homes & entire livelihood’s including lots of dear friends & whanau of The Big Fresh Collective — We’ve banded together all your fave local DJs to donate a bit of their time and support to a great cause in order to raise some funds for those in need ❤ The legends that are The Big Fresh Collective have announced a fundraiser show for Tāmaki Makaurau after its significant flood damage to accompany the latest instalment of their Footmahi series. You can purchase the album on a "name-your-price" basis, with all proceeds going directly to The Auckland City Mission and if you're in Ōtautahi, head to their fundraiser gig on Friday 10 March at FLUX. Tickets HERE.
You can support this release via Big Fresh Collective's Bandcamp HERE.
GRECCO ROMANK — 'CELESTIAL POISON'
Grecco Romank have been capturing our attention for a lil while now, bending the minds and ears of everybody who has had the pleasure of watching them live. Of course, we're thrilled to hear the news of a brand new album Wet Exit. Their first single 'Celestial Poison' (the "the earworm of our album") dishes their signature pairing of Damian Golfinopoulos' metallic, IDM prouction with the contrasting singers; Billie Fee's operatic vocals and Mikey Sperrings rumbling phonetics.
You can pre-order their new album via Bandcamp HERE. Grecco Romank have also just announced a tour of Aotearoa kicking off at the end of March — tickets available HERE.
TINY RUINS — 'DOROTHY BAY'
Oh, how we've missed Tiny Ruins! Four years after their last album, songwriter Hollie Fullbrook and her bandmates Cass Basil, Alex Freer and Tom Healy have shared details of their new album Ceremony and a brandnew single 'Dorothy Bay', following up from 'Crab/Waterbaby'.
Pre-order Tiny Ruins' new album Ceremony HERE.
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Wanna keep up with more Beautiful Things? Follow the playlist on Spotify here.