Molly and The Chromatics – Pressure Moving: Album Review
Molly and The Chromatics want to convey that the tension is breaking and resolving. Their debut album Pressure Moving is full of songs of soft Soul Jazz with a little Funk. A dynamic Neo Soul Revue band on stage. The group coalesced around the little music delta that is Takapuna to Devonport. A hub for […]
Billy Bragg – The Million Things That Never Happened: Album Review
Billy Bragg – the Folk Activist Bard from Barking comes forth with new music reflecting the mood of his island nation. As the world became mesmerised with the strange shift in consciousness that is the Contagion.
Dion – Stomping Ground: Album Review
Dion – the heart and soul of New York City in human voice, presents Stomping Ground as an immersive Rhythm’n’Blues experience with a harder edge than last year’s great Blues With Friends. He brings along with the usual suspects – big names and cult faves – as accompanying artists.
Adam Hattaway and the Haunters – Rooster: Album Review
Adam Hattaway and the Haunters double album Rooster reveals the band in the thrall of the spirit of Exile on Main Street. That presence, which was there on the previous Woolston album has blossomed in full.
The Monsters – You’re Class I’m Trash: Album Review
The Monsters are Trashcore Rock’n’Roll obsessives from Switzerland, who proudly describe themselves as cheap suits and chainsaw guitar mayhem.
The Rolling Stones – Tattoo You: 40th Anniversary Edition
These anniversaries are just coming along too fast! Its been 40 years since The Rolling Stones released Tattoo You and so, here we are presented with an expanded, remastered version for consideration (and Holiday gift buying).
The War on Drugs – I Don’t Live Here Anymore: Album Review
The War on Drugs is a human failure of the greatest kind. The band though, led by Adam Granduciel play Americana as vast as the land it comes from. The land is where the spirit resides that shapes the people who inhabit Middle North America. There is a musical tradition which stretches from the Carter […]
Courtney Barnett – Things Take Time, Take Time: Album Review
Courtney Barnett brings us bright drone pop filled with melodic hooks in a distinctive spoken singing voice. These songs were worked up in the first phase of world Lockdown, when she returned home to Melbourne early in 2020. All the songs have a lift in spirit and sound light and buoyant rather than weighty. Something […]
Joan as Policewoman – The Solution Is Restless: Album Review
Joan as Policewoman / Tony Allen / Dave Okumu – The Solution is Restless is out on vinyl November 27th 2021. Multi-instrumentalists make the best collaborators. Even though they could walk down the Stevie Wonder or Prince path of the ‘self-saucing pudding’ and go it alone, they don’t. Instead, they enjoy the ‘chemmie’ that is […]
French for Rabbits – The Overflow: Album Review
French for Rabbits made an appearance at the Auckland Arts Festival back in March and band leader Brooke Singer made a comment that was at once humorous and insightful: “Excuse us being a bit awkward. We’re a band of introverts.” The Overflow, their third album, is a glorious celebration of that introvert disposition. Its tracks […]
ABBA – Voyage: Album Review
ABBA – Voyage: Album Review Expectations run high and the excitement could not be denied as we all waited for a brand-new ABBA model to makes its way out the door. Talked about for the last five years, delayed by virus madness just like the rest of the world. Equal to the drama that would […]
Le Ren – Leftovers: Album Review
Le Ren is a young Folk artist who sounds like an old spirit. Or she channels an old spirit. Raised on Bowen Island off the west coast of Canada, which sounds idyllic and a place of spectacular natural beauty. Then a move to Montreal and the gradual launch of her professional music career.
Lana Del Rey – Blue Banisters: Album Review
Lana Del Rey is all tangled up in blue on her latest album Blue Banisters. An expansive and soaring body of songs, literary and cinematic and riding along on an angelic voice.
The Courettes – Back In Mono (Damaged Goods)
The Courettes present a thoroughly retro and immersive dive back into the period of music when Rock’n’Roll defined itself as an Art Form. This is Brazilian Flavia Couri voice and guitar and Danish Martin Couri drums and percussion. As The Courettes, they are simultaneously a Tribute Band whilst presenting all original songs.
Hollie Smith – Coming In From The Dark: Album Review
Hollie Smith ’s distinctive powerful voice lays out an intensely emotional ride of an album. Themes of loss, grief and death but you can climb on board this Gospel train and sense salvation. There is some of the Spirit in the Dark of Aretha. A little choke and sob of Gladys Knight. The soaring songbird […]
The Beatles – Let It Be (Apple/Universal)
The Beatles have just reissued Let It Be, an album that, when originally released 51 years ago got mixed reviews. Many years and many remixes later, it’s time to reconsider Let It Be, the album.
Headless Chickens – Stunt Clown (Flying Nun)
Headless Chickens debut album, Stunt Clown, was no doubt quite a departure, possibly a risk, for Flying Nun Records when they released it in 1988. Now, 33 years later, it looks like quite the inspired move.
Amyl and the Sniffers – Comfort To Me: Album Review
Amyl and the Sniffers are a ferocious young Melbourne Punk quartet who can slice through your head and explode it whilst making you feel hot, sweaty and high. Amyl nitrate poppers are a fast surge and fade. So is Amy Taylor the singer and probably chief lyricist.
Alien Weaponry – Tangaroa: Album Review
Alien Weaponry – Tangaroa (Napalm Records) – Maori Haka and Metal makes for a thrilling warrior trio band from Northland New Zealand. Two brothers who combine their Northern European Dutch ancestry with a passionate and heart-felt activist expression of their Maori heritage.
Vera Ellen – It’s Your Birthday (Flying Nun): Album Review
Vera Ellen debuts on Flying Nun with It’s Your Birthday, but this far from her first release.