On their quietly assured debut album Eyes Over There, Sadsmiles, the collaborative project of Mahoney Harris and Wayne Bell, offer a collection of songs that reward stillness and attentiveness. With Harris on lead vocals and Bell playing every instrument, the album is a notebook of understatement: poetic, emotionally intelligent, and beautifully unhurried.
Southland’s own Lachie Hayes returns with his long-awaited sophomore album Subsatellite, released today—and it’s clear from the first track that the alt-country-blues troubadour has leveled up: in storytelling, in sound, and in soul.
Awning is Christian Dimick, originally based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, where Dimick was, not only making music, but also working part-time making coffee, toasting sandwiches, and studying Fine Art. All the while releasing songs on Bandcamp since 2023, before moving to Tamaki Makaurau and releasing the magnificent Gold Star EP in 2024.
This is no ordinary country album. But we should expect nothing less from Ketch Secor: writer, archivist, public speaker, multi-instrumentalist and founder of Old Crow Medicine Show.
Mark Stewart was a giant of an artist (stature as well) vocalist for agit-pop anarchists The Pop Group, an English group that in four short years (1977-1981) traversed punk with dub, jazz and funk creating a sound that impressed Nick Cave, Mike Watt (Minuteman) and gained fans afar a field as Matt Groening (the creator of […]
Echo is the latest and 8th release from My Baby, the blended trio made up of Dutch siblings Cato and Joost van Dijk with Kiwi-born Daniel “DaFreez” Johnston, playing their distinct sound of what they describe as “Blues Rave-up”.
Tami Neilson proves that blood, sweat, tears, talent and tenacity pay off as she releases an album that makes her troubled trip worthwhile and sets a new standard along the way.
On their 2022 debut, Wet Leg made a splash with slacker wit, post-punk cool, and a deadpan sense of fun. With moisturizer, Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers return, but this time, the songs are about love, and Wet Leg now sound like a tight, fully formed band.
Makin’ dirty mischief since at least 2012, releasing dirty records since 2016, Bloodbags the scion of past outfits Bloody Souls and The Dirtbags, after releasing wha 7”s and a split LP with US band Brain Bagz have finally released their debut album – Bloodbags.
Nelson trio Shedheads introduce themselves with Big Milk, a debut album that barrels out of the gate with intent, throwing funk, rock, and noise into a blender. Across ten tracks they make noise, play fast, and say a lot. Whether every moment lands is debatable, but there is no doubting their skills, ambition, or energy.