13th Floor New Song Of The Day: Roulettes – Hullabaloo

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Here’s a new Kiwi track from Roulettes…its Hullabaloo.

The band has whipped this baby together around lockdown and its another slice of classic riff-infused power pop. Here’s the record company blurb with more details:

‘Hullabaloo’ is the first single from Roulettes’ forthcoming EP Rocket To You out May 29.

‘Hullabaloo’ sports a killer guitar riff and sizzles with crackling energy.

Says frontman Justin McLean, “Hullabaloo was born out of annoyance, and irritation with those who talk, dictate, and explain (without saying actually anything) and never listen. The song is one big riff and it’s short and to the point.”

The indie-rock trio has faced a series of tough life events since early 2020. The loss of loved ones, the deconstruction of the band, and the logistics of recording from three different geographical locations have all posed challenges, but it is sheer will and the healing power of music itself which has compelled this band to emerge with a stunning new 5-song EP, due out May 29.

Rocket to You is dedicated to Andrew Brough, who died in February 2020. Andrew (Straitjacket Fits, and frontman for Bike), was Justin Mclean’s stepbrother, and a musical mentor for bassist Ben Grant and Justin in their first band Funhouse in Dunedin in the 1990s, producing recordings and giving invaluable advice that has stayed with them to this day.

“When you lose someone you love you look back and realise that all relationships are finite.” Says Justin. ”What seemed mundane and ordinary was in fact all too brief. Ordinary glories are the moments you spent together, never to be reclaimed, that are now memories to return to.”

The 5 songs on Rocket to You were recorded in New Zealand where Justin resides, Vietnam, where Ben now calls home, and Australia. Justin and Ben called upon Ben’s brother Damon to record the highly accomplished drummer Davey Porter at Red Iris Studios in Melbourne just before lockdown in 2020. Damon added sax, percussion and Fender Rhodes also. Final mixes were completed during lockdown in April 2020.

To date, Roulettes have released 2 EPs, a self-titled album and the 2017 album Venus Burns. The band has garnered very favourable reviews from local music connoisseurs Grant Smithies and Graham Reid, and Roulettes also recently opened for Teenage Fanclub at the Power Station, receiving warm and extensive praise for their live show from at 13th Floor.

‘Hullabaloo’ is now available exclusively from Bandcamp.

Marty Duda
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