KING KRULE — PHOTO BY FRANK LEBON | LOGO BY ZOE HANNAY | WORDS BY CARLA CAMILLERI
KING KRULE — 'FLIMSIER'
King Krule released his long awaited album Space Heavy last week via Matador/XL Recordings, and it has been on constant spins in my house ever since. Each song oozes out like drool, occasionally crying out in bursts of calculated delirium, bathing in delays and synths that you want to fall into and swim amongst — until you realise that the liquid has covered you in a sticky grit. Space Heavy displays Archie Marshall's gravelly voice in all it's glory, and I think it's gearing up to be one of my favourites of the year.
You can buy King Krule's new album Space Heavy via the Flying Nun shop HERE.
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K M T P — '2:45: GETTING OLD'
Tāmaki Makaurau's jangle-rock outfit K M T P, led by Keria Paterson (Polyester, Dead Famous People, Dirty Pixels) have announced their debut album With Love, K M T P (Coming September 28 via Sunreturn) alongside the release of its fuzzy first single, '2:45: Getting Old'. Written in 2020 and recorded by Peter Ruddell, the track is flushed with emo-rock nostalgia and earworm melodies that capture some of Paterson's earlier flatting experiences. "It’s kind of a check-in song for me; a reminder to make sure I’m doing ok and to not take things too seriously all the time.” They muse. "2:45 (Getting Old) marks the middle of the record, and sort of lifts the vibe back up before getting into some heavier tracks near the end of the album. I’ve tried to guide the listener on an emotional journey throughout the album, so I think the track serves as a bit of relief before things are kicked up a notch". The song comes alongside a fantastically fun music video directed by Sports Team — press play above!
You can preorder K M T P's forthcoming album digitally and on vinyl & cassette With Love, K M T P via Bandcamp HERE.
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GIRL FRIDAY — 'PLUTOCRAT'
"We have come out of the woodworks yet again to bring you another song, Plutocrat." — Girl Friday (the fantastic duo project of Vera Ellen and Libby Hsieh) have dropped their first song since 2022's 'It Needs You'. 'Plutocrat' is the song you put on as you dance alone in your lounge, or as you drive down the street with the volume turned all the way up. It balances sweet floating riffs with infectious hard-hitting punchlines, giving us the best of their undeniable musical synergy.
"We were in the middle of our West Coast tour and feeling particularly sweaty and joyous. We certainly miss playing Plutocrat to strangers in bars and hope the song makes you dance and connect to your strength (we hear you're pretty tough!)" — Girl Friday.
You can listen to this track via Girl Friday's Bandcamp HERE.
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RINGLETS — AOTEAROA TOUR
Tāmaki Makaurau band Ringlets dazzled everybody with their debut self-titled album earlier this year, a musical jigsaw of prismatic riffs and patterns. They've played a handful of shows in the big smoke, but last week announced their debut tour around Aotearoa where fans in Ōtepoti, Ōtautahi, Te Whanganui-A-Tara and Tāmaki Makaurau can experience their expansive sounds live and in person, thanks to Banished Music. Don't sit on this if you're planning on going, because they're known to pack out a show or two.
You can listen to Ringlets' self titled album via Bandcamp HERE. Tickets to their tour are available HERE.
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SANULLIM — 'DON'T GO'
(FROM LATE NIGHT TALES: KHRUANGBIN)
Late Night Tales is a compilation series that allows music fans to glimpse into the ears of some of their favourite artists, with a carefully curated playlist of tunes that have influenced them in some way — a series "worth staying up for". We recently received one of my favourites from the bunch, put together by psych trio Khruangbin, which features songs and deep cuts from almost every corner of the globe, including Japan, Belarus, South Korea, Nigeria and their home-city, Houstoun. This is a no-skip collection for me, and I highly recommend you check it out for yourself.
You can order Late Night Tales: Khruangbin via the Flying Nun store HERE.
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KELELA — TĀMAKI MAKAURAU SHOW
Kelela's gorgeous sophomore album for Warp Records — Raven — seeped into our ears earlier this year, highlighting her experiences as a queer Black woman through masterful synth-drenched atmospheres and with weightless beatscapes. Her allure is unmatched, and Tāmaki Makaurau will soon be able to experience this for themselves with her first show since 2017 announced for August 31 at the Powerstation. You don't wanna miss this.
Tickets for Kelela's show are available HERE. You can also order her latest album Raven via the Flying Nun store HERE.
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SQUID — 'SIPHON SONG'
I was sold on UK post-punk band Squid as soon as I watched their explosive KEXP session, and they have been on my musical radar ever since. Last week, they released their brand new album O Monolith after a string of singles revealed in its lead up, each accompanied by fantastic visuals in the form of music videos and video games. This new album (which follow's 2021's Bright Green Field) dives deep into existential questions about corroded urban life and drifting freedom through a myriad of coarse sonics and smelted melodies, shimmering with celestial synths that erupt into flame at any given corner.
You can buy Squid's new album O Monolith via the Flying Nun store HERE.
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PICKLE DARLING — 'LAUNDROMAT'
Bedroom pop sweetheart Pickle Darling has revealed their new album Laundromat today, a collection of sparkling vignettes that showcase Lukas Mayo's sweet sentiments through a balance of computer glitch-core and organic folk elements, linked together by their honeydew vocals. It's an intimate, gorgeous tracklist of kaleidoscopic sounds that draw us even nearer to the Ōtautahi artist. Laundromat is out now via Father/Daughter Records — hit play and get cosy.
You can purchase Pickle Darling's new album Laundromat via the Flying Nun shop HERE.
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KARL SÖLVE STEVEN — TĀMAKI 5000 (PROTEINS OF MAGIC REMIX)
It's always a happy day when I receive news of a new cut from Karl Sölve Steven's upcoming project All of Human Emotion on Microfiche (The Remixes), in which Steven teams up with some of the best of Aotearoa's ambient, experimental and electronic scene to spin his All of Human Emotion on Microfiche into new dimensions. The latest, remixed by Proteins of Magic, is explosive, gleaming with 8-bit sonics. If Rocky Horror Picture Show was somehow based in Auckland and turned into a video game, then this would be the soundtrack.
You can preorder Karl Sölve Steven's upcoming album All of Human Emotion on Microfiche (The Remixes) via Bandcamp HERE.
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DON MCGLASHAN — TAKE IT TO THE BRIDGE TOUR
Mutton Birds frontman Don McGlashan just announced a ginormous 18-date tour around the motu, showcasing his 2021 #1 album Bright November Morning in hand-picked intimate venues, accompanied by the wonderful Anita Clark on violin, keys and backing vocals, who will also open as Motte at every single show. Don't miss your chance to see him live, and this time I can confidently say he will likely be visiting a city or town near you — so check out the details and dates via his website HERE and get your tickets.
Buy tickets HERE. You can purchase Don McGlashan's album Bright November Morning via the Flying Nun shop HERE.
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