RIOT GULL — PHOTO BY LIAM HOFFMAN / LOGO BY ZOE HANNAY / WORDS & CURATION BY CARLA CAMILLERI
RIOT GULL — 'UMAMI'
Ōtepoti noise-pop quartet RIOT GULL (made up of Deborah Olusina, Gemma Goldstein, Lucy Pollock of Porpoise & sir queen, and Madison Kelly of HŌHĀ) seized my attention with the release of their debut single and video 'ROUTINE FOR CHAMPS'. As I said, I could not wait to hear more — and lucky for us, their debut album SCABBING does not fall flat. Oozing with femme-prowess, irresistible tongue-and-cheek lyricism and undeniable catchiness, RIOT GULL take no hesitation to reach every extreme; as they put it, creating "songs that awhi the abrasive and the pensive bits of life". 'UMAMI' is the opening track; a pop-punk earworm about an unsatisfying relationship that captures their gripping energy in a tidy 3 minutes and 12 seconds. I am very excited about this band, who have crashed so well onto the scene with lively, urgent flair.
RIOT GULL's debut album SCABBING is out now via trace / untrace — listen to it on streaming services and buy it on Bandcamp HERE.
You can catch them live on their SCABBING tour kicking off tonight in Tāmaki Makaurau — AKL tickets HERE and Hamilton tickets HERE.
MIHARU KOSHI — 'SCANDAL NIGHT'
This track by 80's Japanese art-pop artist Miharu Koshi is one of the standouts on a recent arrival at our store; the third installation of the Japanese city pop compilation series, Pacific Breeze. 'Scandal Night' (スキャンダル・ナイト) comes from her 1983 album Tutu (チュチュ) and turns the idea of glittering, stainless city pop on its head, enriched with a darker tone than some of its sunset-drenched comp-mates. Featuring dissonant melodies and repetitive samples of telephones and conversations atop a clomping beat, the track's production (honed by ex-Yellow Magic Orchestra member Haruomi Hosono) captures an industrial, busy energy and occupies a lot of space, whilst Koshi's sugary-sweet vocals dart playfully around the electronics.
This track is available on the Japanese City Pop compilation Pacific Breeze VOL. 3 which you can find via the Flying Nun Record Shop HERE.
BRANDN SHIRAZ — 'youngin from kuki'
Brandn Shiraz has been spinning word webs since his his teens, with albums such as Jive Days with frequent-collaborator LSJ becoming underground hip hop staples in Aotearoa — released when they were just sixteen. Seven years later, and Shiraz has released his debut solo, self titled album. Involving a slew of features from the likes of Soufsyde P, Diggy Dupé, TheWesternGuide and more, the project weaves traditional Pacific sounds with modern hip-hop elements, splashing in heavy hints of reggae, trap and afro-beat amongst his effortlessly eloquent lyricism that invite us to lean into more intimate pictures of his life.
"The album cover is a photo of Shiraz' father at his haircutting circa 1974 - Tupapa, Rarotonga.
Pakoti rouru: The haircutting ceremony is a tradition in many polynesian cultures throughout the pacific. Regarded as a rite of passage for boys coming of age, the hair is grown from birth until the day of the ceremony."
Brandn Shiraz's new self-titled album is out now — buy it on Bandcamp HERE.
UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA — 'MESHUGGAH'
Unknown Mortal Orchestra have unveiled their new album V today, a few days after revealing its funky final single. Seeping with frontman Ruban Nielson's classic guitar tones and vocal sensibilities, 'Meshuggah' evokes a certain carefree danceability, most likely due to the band's choice to record the record in hotter destinations to reflect a more easy-going perspective.
“In Hawaii, everything shifted off of me and my music,” Nielson said. “Suddenly, I was spending more time figuring out what others need and what my role is within my family. I also learned that things I thought were true of myself are bigger than I thought. My way of making mischief - that’s not just me - that’s my whole Polynesian side. I thought I was walking away from music to focus on family, but the two ended up connecting.”
Unknown Mortal Orchestra's new album V is out now — buy it on the Flying Nun Record Shop HERE alongside an exclusive bundled Mint Chicks 7"!
WEYES BLOOD — 'CHILDREN OF THE EMPIRE'
DENNIS FARNON — 'SNOWMOBILE'
Much of the film music of the 60's and 70's has been a huge influence for producers from all genres, as well as sampled to death, for a reason — it really transcends time and remains indisputably assured. 'Snowmobile' by Dennis Farnon plays on a sinister jazz tone, incorporating reeds melodies and brass stabs with electric bass and keyboard that provide a brilliant canvas for action and imagination.
An epic tune — one side of two on this beautiful 7", part of the Cavendish Series — find it HERE via the Flying Nun Record Shop.
SEQUENTIA — 'RESONANT TUNING'
Tāmaki Makaurau-based label Related Articles are at the forefront of releasing some of the most forward-thinking electronic music in the country, responsible for some incredible releases such as Hardcore by Van Staden & Böhm in 2021 and SALT LICK by GG Mothra in 2020. Their compilation VA001 (which was launched to raise funds for MusicHelps) highlights their immense parameters, from cool-toned beatscapes to industrial maximalist acid house and everything in between, my favourite on the collection being 'Resonant Tuning' by Sequentia — an all-immersive, rhythm-driven sound piece which leaves "what's left of your trance is shattered by megalithic subs and broken patterns". You can catch Sequentia at this weekend's Beacon Festival — more info/tickets HERE. Related Articles have also just announced their 3rd birthday celebration at Whammy headlined by Australian-based Hextape alongside local club legends Fu Fu, Current Bias and AJ Honeysuckle. Tickets HERE.
This track is only available on Bandcamp and cassette, as part of their VA001 compilation — find it HERE.
KÉDU CARLÖ — 'U NEED ME'
Techno duet Kédu Carlö (AKA Jess Penson and Carly Gill) have announced a couple of shows to celebrate their upcoming album Space Girl Finds Cash, visiting new club b.space in the capital, as well as Neck Of The Woods in Auckland (where, legend has it, the country's largest disco ball resides). Their latest single 'U Need Me' leans further into their kaleidoscopic, space-disco sound, with acid bass and infectious drums patterns woven expertly amongst their pristine vocal melodies to create something truly multi-dimensional. If you haven't caught these two live before, you are truly missing out on something very impressive.
Buy this track via Bandcamp HERE. You can also find tickets to their upcoming Space Girl Finds Cash tour HERE via Undertheradar.
MĀ — 'GHUZNEE'
I recently watched Mā perform for the first time at Newtown Festival and was absolutely blown away. Delivering an effortlessly cool performance alongside a full band that supported her flow with ease, Mā captivated a packed out street audience who, despite oncoming grey clouds and torrential rain, had no plans of leaving, blissfully dancing along to her compositions and word play, reimagined to full band arrangements. It was a truly mesmerising performance and since then I haven't been able to stop listening to her debut album Breakfast With Hades, released in 2021.
Mā has also been announced as a support act for the Room Service Festival featuring Ice Cube and Cypress Hill as well as fellow Aotearoa hip hop legend Savage and many more — find out more HERE.
Listen to and buy Mā's album Breakfast With Hades via Bandcamp HERE.
JONATHAN BREE — 'MISS YOU' FEAT. PRINCESS CHELSEA & NILE RODGERS
Jonathan Bree returns with a new song from his forthcoming album Pre Code Hollywood, this time featuring the sparkling vocals of Taite Prize finalist Princess Chelsea. Taking a dive into a brighter synth pop wave than the previous, more caliginous singles bathed in, the duet is driven by groovy guitar strums (played by Chic founder Nile Rodgers, who also has producer credits).
Jonathan Bree's forthcoming album Pre-Code Hollywood is available for preorder via the Flying Nun Record Shop HERE.
☆☆☆
