DavidAside from a couple of Caravan compilations and 1 proper studio album, 1970’s “If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You”, I’m a complete Caravan and to be fair, “Canterbury Sound” novice.
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NathanA really enjoyable, laid-back 40 mins of improvisational Jazz piano
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DavidGazza was absolutely persecuted, nay despised by the music press and completely ignored by the radio jocks after his early fame.
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DavidI picked up this rather nice, vinyl re-press for bugger-all back when The Warehouse was a proper pot pouri of un-loved and abandoned musical media.
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DavidThis simply wonderful 2020 remaster by New Zealand pioneers of electronic dance music is like a big warm hug. While sounding somewhat naive these days, it’s reassuring that this record was part of my life.
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David(code only faster: crossing the line from vocal to instrumental and back) This posthumous release from Arthur Russell, who died in 1992, is certainly not the place to start your musical journey through his back catalogue.
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David1998’s “The Gathering” was a musical event I would never have contemplated ever attending, unless I was serving up curries to the masses.
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DavidThis Triple LP pressing, on hefty purple vinyl, is a compilation of “Italians Do It Better” label artists. It oozes effortless cool from every groove.
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DavidTake Massive Attack’s “Mezzanine”, give it a bit more edge ala The Prodigy, then add Toni Halliday’s calm but devastating vocals into the mix.
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DavidOriginal Heavyweight Afrobeat, Highlife & Afro-Funk. This fantastic compilation, from Strut records, is a brilliant showcase of West African music from the 70’s.
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DavidNot only frightening, frighteningly good. This debut album from Scottish duo, Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin, would not be something I’d recommend to ease your morning commute with.
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DavidI’m not sure how this album got on my Tidal playlist or how I first heard about it, but what a blinder of a record!
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DavidThis stonkingly great 6 Track, mini-album comes from the remnants of the incredible band Low. Led by Alan Sparhawk, and joined by his son Cyrus, this music could not be any further away from Low’s remarkable musical legacy.
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DavidUniversally loved or loathed, this debut record should have kick-started the demise of the dinosaurs. Unfortunately, no one was really listening.
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DavidIt must be said, grand kids and audio equipment are not in any way compatible. Usually I have just my single black box, NAD C700 amp/streamer, Theophany speakers (woofers and tweeters - which are well protected by metal) and concealed sub, in the lounge.
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DavidSometimes country music can be right up on top of my “this-genre-ain’t-for-me” list, along with some god awful Jazz. While this is most definitely a country album, it doesn’t even come close to making that list.
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DavidBob Stanley & Pete Wiggs Present English Weather. The autumnal sound of Britain at the turn of the 70’s, looking out through wet wind panes to a new decade with a mixture of melancholy and optimism to what might come next.
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David1998’s “The K&D Sessions” is a big 21 track, 2-hour plus, 6-LP behemoth of blissful bangers and downtempo/trip hop reworks of other artists material.
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DavidHoly cow! This monster is quite something else. While I don’t dig the more chaotic avant guarde elements, there are some simply stunning arrangements and performances.
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DavidAs Kiwi as Bro! This is a sensational six track EP release from Christchurch-based Mako Road. I first heard this on “A Sonic Youth” podcast (my firm favourite for better-than-decent new and re-discovered music) A band that has truly flown under the radar.
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DavidEverything about Mr. Prolific here, and even more so since the demise of former band Smog, is the richness of his ever maturing voice, along with the power of his story telling.
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DavidQuite a strange trip this evening. This French outfit play a progressive type of jazz and rock music. Listening ecxlusively on headphones and DAC, its quite an emersive experiece.
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DavidThis 2022 release, gathers together a bunch of 30 year old, dance-new wave fusion tracks from multi-cultural collective, Saâda Bonaire, natives of Bremen, Germany.
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DavidI just love it when you can hear the strings rattle on the frets and actually feel the reach of the singer’s breath.
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DavidI know absolutely nothing about Sublime. I always thought they were just another stoner, spliff-toting, skateboard pretenders. How wrong was I.
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DavidI’ve held back long enough. This is the moment to finally release the Glaswegian beast. This has been tucked away, unplayed, to allay my expectant disappointment.
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DavidHole’s second record, 1994’s “Live Through This” remains one of my top album contenders across any genre. While it’s peak grunge, it still has one of the highest, and surely not legal, quotas of hooks possible on a single record.
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DavidThis album is the 4th in the Nancy Sinatra Archival Series on “Light in the Attic” records. Beautifully packaged and remastered, they look and sound fantastic.
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DavidAlong with The Super Furries, these fellow Welshmen, proudly celebrate their musical heritage as well as their language. Mixing things up equally in both English and Welsh, it works effortlessly.
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DavidThis recording is as close to improvisational “free” jazz as I’m willing to ever venture. Can never just play their last record, they deconstruct, reconstruct or completely destroy it at every opportunity.
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DavidGod it’s good to hear Tracey Thorn’s fabulous voice again. While she’s dabbled with several great solo records, this is her teaming up again with husband and chief knob fiddler, Ben Watt.
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DavidPicture this scenario; “let’s have a look around this vehicle, pick the nearest object and use it to name our band”.
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DavidMy second and only other RSD purchase was this little gem from Dunedin’s, now long-defunct, Cloudboy. While I didn’t know anything about this record, or the musicians involved, it was a record they were running out of around the country very quickly.
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DavidSoundtrack from the Guillaume Podrovnik Documentary. It’s Record Store Day (RSD). Translation = an overhypered, completely contrived day to celebrate the market-induced scarcity and fleecing of fully suspecting vinyl buying punters.
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DavidA lovely first listen to Australian singer, Jen Cloher this evening. This beautiful recording took me completely by surprise. Folky, gritty, poppy, and at time crunchy rock.
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DavidWow! This is one of the most stunning sounding records I’ve heard in a long time. Not just production-wise, it’s a musical masterpeice.
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DavidComing up to it’s second decade, this incendiary debut album from London-based Quartet, Bloc Party, is refreshingly “rock”. No fancy keyboards or unnessecary embellishments, this is just a slam of guitars, bass and drums and some vitriolic vocals from Kele Okereke.
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DavidBy my count, this is record number 20 (since 2012) for this Melbourne sextet. The truly amazing thing is, and I take the reviewers’ word for it, they all sound different.
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DavidWhile not prolific, averaging 3 to 4 years between records, Mark Linkous is consistent in his greatness. There’s never a note wasted on all of his records.
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DavidThe Stranglers were always outliers, probably before the term was even in the common vernacular. Their first two records were right in the thick of the punk ethos but strangely dissimilar to anything else.
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DavidYou’d think I’d be sick to death of Lana Del Rey. This is her 9th record since 2012’s “Born To Die”.
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DavidUnlike the Cure’s later, post 1992’s “Wish” albums, the Bunnymen HAVE continued to make great records. While The Cure re-peddle their magnificent back catalogue, Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant have managed to be creative and sound as fresh as those early days.
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David50 years ago, Takashi Mizutani and his bunch of fellow Japanese ruffians hung out at OZ, a cafe and live performance venue in the heart of Toyko’s Kichijoji neighborhood.
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DavidRIP: The Great Ryuici Sakamoto, founding member of YMO, actor, record producer and composer/muscian, died after a long illness on March 28th.
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DavidThis 2022 half-speed-mastered, repress of The Who’s 3rd record sounds ridiculously good. Entwistle’s bass guitar especially comes to the fore but there’s amazing staging of all instruments.
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DavidThis was right amongst the pomp and excess of the times. Eno had long gone and Bryan Ferry oozed confidence as the suave frontman.
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DavidJust what we need, some bright and summery uplift. Beautifully packaged with embossed gold lettering and a big bold gatefold sleeve, the vinyl matches the cover and is pressed on gold nugget vinyl (Legendary Edition.
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DavidAnother great Alison Goldfrapp/Will Gregory Collaboration. There’s no end to the talent of these two. While nothing will improve on my first exposure, this is one slick record.
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DavidAnother all instrumental release from Tuscon’s best avant-garde, neo-psychedelic, Miles Davis Bitches Brew-era protagonists. Absolutely made for vinyl, there’s no other way to replicate and consume their retro-70’s schtick.
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DavidOK, it’s quite corny in places but that only half describes this slightly easy/uneasy, but effortlessly listenable recording from Hawaii’s premier ex-shoe shining, piano shop proprietor.
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DavidWow! This ain’t rock’n’roll, this is an electro-cabaret masterpiece. Tricky prodigy Alison Goldfrapp, croons like Liza Minelli, yodels like Melanie Oesch, and whistles like Roger Whitaker.
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DavidI didn’t know anything about this recording before playing this via Tidal this evening. As the reveiw states “Saxophonist Kirsten Edkins delivers a delightful and charming batch of mainstream jazz with her engaging and exuberant debut Art & Soul.
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DavidFor various reasons, I felt a little nostalgic this evening. Before Bowie and T-Rex came along, Elton was my goto artist.
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DavidFantastic debut from New York-based group Asobi Seksu. While firmly in the noise rock genre, it’s fabulously diverse throughout. On the very first listen there’s a lot to like about this record.
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DavidIt’s March already. Let’s kick things off with this magnificent beast. No vocals to get in the way just their majestic soundtrack.
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DavidDavid Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) Tangerine Dream - Phaedra (1974)
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DavidThis record is so refreshingly old school. Like similarly discordant outliers, Sonic Youth, it’s a messy, chunky but palatable goulash.
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DavidA very easy choice tonight. When you are out walking and the dog makes a bee line for a young American woman wearing a Lord Huron “Long Lost” T Shirt, there’s a clear message there.
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DavidHere’s yet another fantastic band from Melbourne. Several recent favourites of the last few years have come from this town. Duo Zoë Randell and Steve Hassett have breached their folky ways and delivered a rich, cinematic experience far removed from the traditional acoustic fare.
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DavidSingles 1978 to 1989. At times abrasively authentic, at other times delicately ridiculous, this rough and ready collection presents a quirky collection of non-album tracks and singles.
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DavidTime warp, flash back alert. There’s a somewhat wacky (corny even!) minimalistic analogue synth and drum machine vibe happening on this surprisingly catchy recent release.
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DavidThis is another vinyl relic that’s been added to my “Essentials” vinyl collection. This 2019 re-press is NOT the Steven Wilson remaster but the original 1980 pressing.
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DavidWhat I have here is possibly the single greatest bargain of my entire music media collection. This 4x CD compilation and 50 page, brilliantly informative hardback book, cost me 79 cents.
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DavidDon’t judge me! This is a fabulous chill-out, sonically pleasing, guilty pleasure. All the Enya you’ll ever need on a single release.
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David30 odd years ago, one of my prized possessions was a bootleg copy of “His Master’s Voice”, Bowie’s last stand as “Ziggy” at the Hammersmith Odeon on July 3rd 1973.
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DavidGoing through the top albums lists of the previous year is always a great way of letting others do the heavy lifting in one’s search for new music.
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DavidJust thought I’d dip into a track or two to sample my new laptop/DAC/headphones setup. I never left. That headphone setup is now my new benchmark for the best way to listen to serious music.
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DavidLast night’s effort, while pleasant enough and engaging, was never going to threaten these two crooners. While possibly the eipitome of polar opposites in singing styles, there is something truly other-worldly that glues this all together.
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DavidThird time lucky. I tried to listen to a couple of CDs from “The Redcross Collection” this evening. That was a painful 6 minutes of my life that I’ll never get back - they were truly hideous.
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DavidA fantastic post-Bauhaus compilation of Daniel Ash’s side project prior to establishing the equally wonderful Love & Rockets. Like some Ziggy Stardust/Mick Ronson clone, Daniel Ash exudes the combination of squalling guiter slinger and crooning frontman.
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DavidThe audiophile vinyl box set of this has just been released. While I’m not at all interested in an analogue version of a digital recording, the high resolution bu-ray version will do me nicely thanks, I did watch a YouTube reveiw by German vinyl guru Michael of 45RPM Audiophile fame.
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DavidThere’s been a recent but gradual (r)evolution in my musical consumption of late, firstly with the introduction of headphones, but now taken to the next level with the purchase of a dedicated headphone DAC.
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DavidI picked up this original 1968 pressing recently as I was aware of it’s apparent legacy as a stone cold Psychedelic classic.
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DavidThe big news of the day was the passing of guitar maestro and personal hero, Jeff Beck. I chose not to spend the evening playing his music but did play a couple of tracks earlier in the day.
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DavidI don’t know why I even bother reading reviews on “Pitchfork.com”. Despite being around for more than a decade, Alt-J is a very recent discovery.
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DavidThis multi-national collective make some of the most magical music I’ve heard in a long time. Another band that is genre-less (a favourite genre of mine) which I’d put firmly in the Broadcast and Stereolab camp.
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DavidI’ve always been really impressed with the the non-genre disclosure of this very clever English gentleman born to Ugandan refugee parents.
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DavidI’ve finally got my space/place back where I can listen to the weird shit. With my grandkids now safely back in Australia, some semblance of order or disorder returns.
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David1996’s “Walking Wounded” and this, their last record as EBTG, have aged very well indeed. Moving from acoustic folk/pop music to electrified trip hop and dance was a bit of a bold move.
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DavidFuck Yes!! While there’s some poppy, happy-clappy stuff on this record (incidently, this is the brand new, freshly minted 3CD deluxe edition), there’s still a wonderful, post-“Disintegration”, doom-laden dirge as thick as treacle.
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DavidFor some light summer reading, I’m currently plowing through Jeff Apter’s biography of The Bee Gees, “Tragedy: The Sad Ballad of The Gibb Brothers”.
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DavidBrother Angus’s stoner, melancholic alter ego, Dope Lemon was my introduction to half of this Aussie duo at least. Adding sister Julia to the equation on 2014’s self-titled “Angus & Julia Stone” pushed the mellow, chilled-out, easy going even further.
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DavidAfter the highlight of last night’s Neneh Cherry and Youssou N’Dour collaboration on “7 seconds”, this whole album is another match made in heaven.
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DavidA bit of Neneh this evening was warranted following an earlier full on, engulfed-by-music moment while driving back into Nelson this afternoon.
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DavidOne of my favourite first songs on any record in my collection is Luna’s “Chinatown” from their album Penthouse. This new record from legendary* Kiwi Muscian Dean Wareham, reignites that moment.
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DavidAnother selection from my penny each, CD haul from the Red Cross shop. There’s almost nothing much on the interweb about this Melbourne-based band or this recording.
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DavidOn paper, I should probably hate this band. Instead, and despite their electronic, dance-focused, clubiness I fully imbrace all they have done.
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DavidWhile the influences on this, Vanishing Twin’s first record are clear, it’s nearly impossible to categorise. Dream-pop weirdness interweaves with more grounded song structures and several songs clearly fit into the Stereolab and Broadcast camp.
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DavidThis beautifully presented box set from New York funky punk pioneers Bush Tetras, is a fabulous compilation of their best moments accross 6 sides of vinyl.
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DavidAfter NZ’s post-punk band The Mint Chicks broke up, guitarist Ruban Nielson formed genre-fluid combo Unknown Mortal Orchestra with his brother and ex Mint Chicks frontman Cody.
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DavidI’m not a great Cat Stevens fan but couldn’t resist buying this 2CD, 50th Anniversay edition of his best? (selling) album rather cheaply at Rotorua’s “Q Records”.
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DavidThis amazing recording has been haunting my dreams lately (as well as causing a few offline listening nightmares on my iPhone with the finiky Tidal app) The 34 minute, single track is like nothing you have ever heard, and if you have the patience, has one of the most haunting melodies ever to hit your ears.
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DavidAs a semi-completist Bowie-phile, I was inspired to acquire this 3CD box of revisited, pre-fame, early recordings. As a school kid in the early 70’s, and before I really knew who David Bowie was, I remember listening to the 1967 record “David Bowie”.
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DavidA re-listen to this fabulous record cements this as one of the very best releases of 2022. Nothing conveys New Zealand’s societal pressures and bleak outlook, perceived or otherwise, better than Tom Scott.
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DavidOk, when it really boils down to it, Hunky Dory is David Bowie’s best record. It’s best because it was my first, very innocent exposure to folky Dave transitioning into the rock’n’roll messiah.
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DavidAnother great $1 find. Fat Freddy’s guitarist Tehimana Kerr goes solo on this merge of ambient, electronica and funk. Beautifully produced as you would expect, it’s an interesting and unexpected sonic journey.
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DavidIt’s $32 Tuesday. Time to rip open another CD from The Red Cross Collection. I started out with Dum Dum Girls 2011 album, “Only In Dreams”, but gave up after a few tracks.
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DavidYou can feel the smoke and whiskey blend hit your face as the big gravelly voice of Mark Lanegan oozes out of the speakers.
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DavidOK, I wasn’t expecting this. Purchased mainly for it’s slightly unhinged cover, and because it was going cheap, I was a bit worried that this would be some weird, inaccessible, electronic squawlk fest.
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DavidBlack Friday sales bring out the worst in me. I took advantage of sales at JB Hi-fi and Flying Out and bought a few CD box sets I’ve had my eye on.
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DavidAnother $1 CD tonight. I wasn’t completely anamoured with this New York collective at first but I’m really glad I perservered.
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DavidAnother random selection from my “Lucky Strike At The Red Cross” collection. This album on the Sub Pop label, turned out to be a side project by Fleet Foxes members Christian Wargo and Casey Wescott.
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DavidThis is the first CD from my recent Richmond Red Cross haul and all I can say is it’s off to a great start.
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DavidAnother couple of days with a house full of babies equates to a huge reduction in air moving from my speakers.
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DavidA simply stunning comeback record after nearly a decade off grid. Karen O stars again and the 3 piece are as tight as ever.
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DavidI can’t say I’ve ever (intentionally) listened to The Grateful Dead. If I have in the past, its hardly been memorable.
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DavidAfter last night’s fabulous, Afro-centric jazz monster, something equally rich and musical is called for. This drum’n’bass classic from England’s then king of Jungle, has moments of bliss.
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DavidNow I remember why I still love vinyl! This remarkable recording featuring two African greats, drummer Tony Allen, and trumpet player Hugh Masekela, shouldn’t exist in any other format.
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DavidA very sad day today with the passing of Mimi Parker. I was totally taken by surprise and devastated to hear of her losing her battle with Ovarian Cancer at just 55.
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DavidThis is without any doubt at all, one of my favourite music documentaries of all time. This feature length doco highlights the magesty and splendor of Icelandic music.
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DavidIn my persute of “making do” with what I’ve already got, I’ve even gone back to wired headphones via a little DragonFly DAC.
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DavidI felt like some audio visual stimulation this evening. Part of my revelatory musical-medium rebirth, has me trawling through a rather splendid collection of multi-genre, multi-era musical collectives and individuals.
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DavidGavin Harrison is probably the world’s best unknown drummer. He’s played bongos on many sessions for other musicians, but probably is best known (in the right circles) for his stick work with Porcupine Tree, The Pineapple Thief and the mighty King Crimson.
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DavidThe only full-priced CD I bought during my sojourn to Auckland was this Pavement 2022 Redux. As a completist, this sits very nicely on my CD shelf along with the other 4 remastered/extended editions.
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DavidI tried; I really did. I had a few things to listen to this afternoon, nothing I physically owned thank goodness, but I quickly became underwhelmed and even irritated with stuff passing as entertainment.
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DavidI’m a new convert to James Mercer’s witty, whimsical stories and quirky, off-centre soundtracks. My first real taste of The Shins was a different kettle of fish entirely.
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DavidStephen McBean, front man and guitarist of the fabulous Black Mountain, takes a trippy diversion with offshoot band, Pink Mountaintops. Fuzzed-out guitars, a wonderfully swampy, lo-fi production and wonky vocals makes for a real treat.
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DavidDry Cleaning’s 2021 debut, “New Long Leg” was up there with my favourite peri-COVID releases. Despite it being a bit more restrained, this new record ups the musical ante significantly.
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DavidI picked this DVD up in Auckland recently at Flying Out Records. It was sitting all alone, on a dusty old shelf, well removed from the tsunami of vinyl.
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DavidI had a bit of a field day in Auckland during the weekend hunting for those (not so elusive) CD bargains.
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DavidI’m just reading a great, totally self-depreciating and honest book about Steven Wilson’s perceived failings as a rock star. Ok, it’s agreed, he’s no rock star but he’s a fantastic musician, producer, band leader (of several ensembles) and a complete music nerd.
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DavidIf this record wasn’t so awash with psychedelic goo, it could be a lost Beatles record. The prevalence of ultra-hooky pop hooks is ridiculous.
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DavidI actually stepped into “Stepping Out” following a very informative YouTube clip offering a list of the best sounding CDs to listen to.
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DavidBulging to the brim full of bangers, this post-rave/downtempo collection requires little listening investment. The fact that it slaps you around the ears and envelopes you with warm syrupy beats and rhythms is enough.
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DavidThis is music that simply stops me in my tracks. It’s not just a casual listen, it takes over every synapse and sinew.
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DavidIt’s time to get the Tame Impala back catalogue out. They play live on Saturday 15th at Spark Arena. It’s been a two and a half year wait for a gig originally scheduled for Thursday 16th April, 2020.
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DavidI picked up a few soon-to-be-tossed-out CDs while in Hastings over the last few days. (My Brother was having a clean out.
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DavidI had my first listen to this hot-off-the-press album {OK, I streamed and downloaded it from off-shore servers somewhere in the ethers} from Taite Music Prize-winning hip hop / jazz project Avantdale Bowling Club.
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DavidI was NOT prepared for this! Even my watch protested about the noise of the first track - screaming out something ‘bout “…exceeding decibels…30 minutes…potential damage…” It wasn’t just the volume; it was the shear harshness of the assault.
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DavidAnimals has always been my favourite Pink Floyd record so I’m in two minds about people messing with it. While I do revere the original, I must admit, this 24-bit high resolution remix is significantly subtle is bringing everything to the fore.
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DavidFabulous surf-punk-everything-including-the-kitchen-sink-psych. This is a recently discovered album from duo Stephanie Widmer (vocals, drums, didgeridoo) and Alexander Köck (vocals, guitar) aka Cari Cari.
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DavidNever, ever judge a book, (or any record for that matter), by it’s cover. While most of The Oh Sees album sleeves are butt ugly, the music is anything but.
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DavidA classic non-album from the Betas. This is a compilation of early EP’s. Nary a missed beat from these Scotsmen. Brilliant, dreamy strum-along, sing-along anthems that traverse folk, rock and indie.
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DavidFull of catchy riffage and pop-leaning hooks, this new release from The Beths should be great to see played live next week.
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DavidThe genius of John Dywer never lets up throughout an array of different band monikers, (including Orinoka Crash Suite, OCS, Orange County Sound, The Ohsees, The Oh Sees, Thee Oh Sees, and Oh Sees), and a myriad of fluid genres over the last 25 years.
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DavidNot a bad haul this. I got all three Appliance CD’s, including this debut, super dirt cheap at the big red shed during peak multi-format media acquisition days.
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DavidA courier package arrived from Flying Out Records this afternoon. In that package was a compact disc (aka CD). This also happened to be a brand-new release from the undisputed boy with the silkiest voice in Godzone.
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DavidI reached for a safety net this evening. Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree is always an easy win to stimulate the synapses and trim back the auditory neurons back to normal.
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DavidOK. I’m being right up front here. Give me actual, physical media over streaming any day. I reached for a randomly chosen CD this evening, put it in my repurposed Oppo Blu-ray transport and immersed myself in its warm, earthy, organic texture and sonic splendor.
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DavidWhen we happen to have a visiting contingent of guests, related or otherwise, I’m always conscious of playing music in the lounge that does not challenge.
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DavidThis ambient/techno record is startlingly apt for a day of national introspection. This makes a terrific soundtrack as one watches the fairy tale tributes unfold across multiple channels.
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DavidA timeless masterpiece from my favourite, post-punk/decommissioned new romantic front man, neo-reclusive avant-jazzasist. Surrounded by extraordinary musicians, Robert Fripp and Bill Nelson included, this remains genre resistant.
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DavidWhile I was completely gob smacked with the brilliance of 2018’s “Smote Reverser” , this is it’s little noisy brother. The same sentiments apply just as equally to this album.
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DavidBob Stanley and Pete Wiggs present downtempo and after hours 1990-91 Another stupendous ACE Records compilation curated by fellow clevor Trevor’s Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs.
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DavidWhile it’s all over in just over 35 minutes, there is not one wasted second. What’s remarkable is that this was their only record.
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DavidI’m just loving rediscovering my big wall of sound. This big multi-level shelf of plastic and card-board cases hold the majority of my CDs, SACDs and DVD-Audio/Blu-ray discs.
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DavidI really hummed and ha’d about “needing” to have this on vinyl. After all, I’ve already invested in the magnificent Nancy Sinatra 2 LP compilation “Start Walking” which spans the years 1965 to 1976.
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DavidWhile there were a few fleeting moments sans John Foxx, with Ultravox version 2.0, which followed on after his departure, the original Ultravox was more of a real deal.
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DavidThis record encompasses everything I like but is also unlike anything else I like. Does that make any sense? I really doesn’t need to.
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DavidIf you can find a better sounding CD than this, I’ll eat my entire vinyl collection. I can’t even contemplate why you would ever listen to this on anything other than a CD or via decent streaming media.
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DavidThe New Zealand-based “A Sonic Youth” podcast just keeps on dishing up truly splendid, under-the-radar, what-the-fuck-is-alternative-music-anyway, musical richness. That’s four absolutely killer references in four episodes.
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DavidThis is guitar heaven for alt-rock/dirgey guitar slinger freaks. J. Mascis, as on this album, remains a true shred maestro with his trusty ‘63 Fender Jazzmaster amped up to the hilt.
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DavidWho wants to listen to music when the sky is literally falling and the murky, dank flood waters are lapping at your doorstep?
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DavidI heard a great song, “Popular” by this New York-based band on a recent podcast. I really needed to check them out a bit more.
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DavidAnother faultless record from these Duluth-based, slow-core pioneering Mormons. (Incidentally, Duluth was also the birth place of one Robert Zimmerman). Recently picked up by Sub Pop records this is a major leap forward in instrumental layering and accessibility.
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DavidRecorded in Saskatoon (Saskatchewan?) Nashville and Lyttelton, this country and western tinged folk record is a brilliantly realised collaberation between Cananadian duo Kacy Lee Anderson and Clayton Linthcium, of Kacy & Clayton, and New Zealand wunderkid, Marlon Williams.
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DavidThe best of Spunk 1994-2004. 2xCD $24.95. As the blurbs says “Including rare & live tracks”. I love a good compilation.
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DavidOh yeah! Parisian disco collective completely stuck in a 70s time warp. Banging out on my big B&Ws. Awesome! This evening I have been listening on:
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DavidThe wonderful film “Screaming Masterpiece” introduced me to many great Icelandic musicians. There were many “wow” moments throughout this music documentary and it ultimately led me to this “band” and this astounding record.
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DavidGreat 2nd release that merges mainstream Jazz with street cred Hip-Hop and successfully ticks the “really cool” box. While Vol.1 was the bee’s knees, this is still brilliant.
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DavidWhile it couldn’t possibly top “Odelay”, it is a wonderful potpourri of brilliance. A decade later, his songwriting has matured like a fine wine.
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DavidHad a bit of a false start with this one. Cable connection issues this evening from my turntable to my amplifier.
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DavidWhen Alt-Country does Radiohead. This was absolutely panned by Wilco’s record company and seen as commercial suicide. Wilco refused to budge and left the label.
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DavidThis absolutely beautiful album was lent to me several year ago and I have never been able to track it down since.
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DavidWonderful debut from another Smith-led collective from Leeds. James Smith certainly sounds like a young, slightly less vitriolic Mark E Smith.
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DavidDespite an erroneous apostrophe, the Stereo MC’s produced this stunner absolutely full to the brim with funky rap-infused belters. While the track “Connected” is the best known song, there are 12 other tracks equally as addictive.
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DavidChicago two piece, Rebecca Gates, guitar and vocals, and Scott Plouf, on drums, make such a wonderful racket together. While it’s inherently a narrow soundstage, the chemistry and synchronicity between the duo is palpable.
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DavidThis really was the “band” that shocked me out of any lethargy following the mid-70s/early-80s punk/post-punk correction. This is the epitome of no-wave.
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DavidThe CD strikes back saga continues. I’m truly blown away by a few recent revelations that have now been fully implemented with spectacular results.
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DavidBoo hoo hoo! The Zeppelin purists might just spit out their dummies when they hear this. This fabulous SACD has Venessa Fernandez and her amazing band, reinterpreting some juicy Led Zep tunes.
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DavidI’m not sure why this album gets such a bad rap. Ok, it’s probably not The Massive at their peak of popularity but it certainly contains all of the elements that make it a sonically rich, refreshingly experimental and ultimately rewarding listen.
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DavidOK there’s a bit of a back story to this. On my recent trip to Melbourne, I was adamant I was not going to contravene every carry-on cabin restriction, reinvent creative and discrete storage practices, or put my back out, smuggling hefty vinyl back to New Zealand.
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DavidBlackfield - Recorded live at the Bowery Ballroom, NYC on 16th March 2007 OK, I’ve decamped all of my boxed up digital media and it’s living and breathing once more.
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DavidI recently re-discovered this wonderful, satire heavy, musically rich, dignity intact record from a few decades back. Despite it’s parody of the almighty and sacred Led Zeppelin, it works so very, very well.
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DavidHoly moly! This really came out the blue. While its clearly a side project of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, (and Sons Of Kemet’s Tom Skinner), it could really pass as an extraordinary new Radiohead record.
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DavidOK, it’s been a good decade since Porcupine Tree shed their seemingly evergreen leaves and ceased to be. Steve Wilson, of course went from strong to stronger and his prolific output continued as a solo artist and wunderkid producer/remaster specialist.
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DavidAs it says on the cover “an LP recorded in 2011” There’s definitely a tip of the hat to 1980’s goth a La The Cure, Clan Of Xymox, Sisters Of Mercy etc.
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DavidBack in late May I discovered a fabulous, genre-less, probably more-prog-than-not, largely instrumental rock outfit from Italy. That record was a compilation of great, unreleased music from the mid to late 80’s and an addendum to this, their first and at one point, very rare, under-the-radar release.
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DavidThis, the Volta’s fifth record, is their ambient acoustic country folk rock album. It’s as accessible as they ever get but if you think for a moment it’s not a proper The Mars Volta recording you will be completely deluded.
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DavidSome might say that Morphine, a rowdy trio from Boston, are a bit of a one trick pony. Comprising of singer/slide bass player Mark Sandman, Dana Colley on tenor and baritone sax and drummer, Jerome Dupree, it certainly feels “samey” through out.
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DavidThe argument about vinyl vs digital media is thrown right out the window when you stick a remuxed, DVD-Audio disc such as this into a half-decent media player.
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DavidAnother trippy, dippy stoner psych release from the Y gene carrying, younger sibling of Angus and Julia Stone fame. Like his previous records, it’s all refreshingly lethargic and wishy washy.
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DavidThis reminds me of the minimalist approach that Melbourne’s Jonnine Standish takes with her duo HTRK . While there’s more experimentation on that wonderful record, the less-is-more ethic taken on this record is similar.
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DavidEmancipation of the dissonance and temperaments in irrational wavelengths. I really couldn’t have put it better myself. Electronic music, especially post-punk retro became my staple in the early 80’s as I explored the left of mainstream with Cabaret Voltaire, early Ultravox and especially Tangerine Dream the most rewarding.
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DavidThis beyond extraordinary New Zealand film from 2003 definitely wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea (or cup o’ sick!). I’m not even going to attempt to explain it or even recommend it - if you want to know more, check it out here .
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DavidQuite a rare find yesterday. This record is pretty impossible to find and definitely one to grab if you can find it.
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DavidSome times old rock dinosaurs just need to lighten up a bit. Roger Waters especially continues to be an old misery guts and wallows in self-pity.
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DavidWonderful turn-of-the-millennium expose on British life by auteur Luke Haines and co. How can you not like a song about the English motorway system?
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DavidObscure yet outstanding 80’s Italian outfit that only ever released one solitary, self-titled album back in 1988. This FANTASTIC 2020 Record Store Day record contains 16 previously unreleased tracks from other recordings done between 1983 and 1989.
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DavidThis cracker of a live session was captured on primitive recording equipment solely for the purposes of garnering interest for potential employment around the local clubs of Athens, Georgia.
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DavidStrangeness personified. Intentionally radio unfriendly, Krautrock(y), squelchy, stoner prog. Perfect as a formulaic, poser-pop fly spray, this little gem completely tears up the rule book.
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DavidThe best ever Indo-Afro Psychedelic Jazz band in New Zealand, these recordings date from the late 60s, early 70s, with most of the tracks unreleased demos.
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DavidUsually I’m not overly bothered with a poet or spoken word artist and wouldn’t necessarily cross the street to involve myself.
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DavidAstounding, just astounding!!! Allmusic.com - Review
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DavidThis is beyond categorisation, it just “is”. Without deconstructing things too much, this wonderful recording by Tunisian multi-instrumentalist Houeida Hedfi, combines traditional folk music with an extraordinary array of contemporary genres.
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DavidThis all instrumental, trance-inducing long player from Stereolab’s Tim Gane, while not far removed from the Labs mesmeric soundscapes, is sans his dirty old, reverb-rich, overdriven Jaguar and replaced with an all analogue, knob-twiddling, (over)indulgence.
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DavidBig, brooding third record from collusive, fellow Dublin City Music College graduates now full time residents of London. They’ve done alright - three shit hot albums in as many years and a bunch of hooky foot stompers.
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DavidHalf of the music I’ve been listening to has been from Australian artists. It’s ranged from hoary old troopers to minimalist noodling and stoner folk.
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DavidDo yourself a favour and have a listen to this sure-to-be-an-absolute-classic New Zealand long player. This is without doubt the best Westie record I’ve ever heard.
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DavidI picked up Dope Lemon’s second record, “Smooth Big Cat” a couple of trips back when I ventured across the big ditch to Melbourne.
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DavidThe evening started out with a Monkees sampler. I’d just play side 1 of each of the 3 long players I’ve got of theirs.
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DavidJust sit down, shut up and listen to this. This is not a record to have in the background. This is not a record to be doing anything else while you listen to it.
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DavidOriginally recorded during his “Henry’s Dream” tour of 1993, this includes some truly incendiary versions of some stonking tunes across several albums.
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DavidThis record has been well (over)hyped for the last 6 months or so. But you know what, in my book it lives up to every accolade that’s been thrown at it.
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DavidGreat to have some new Calexico back on the turntable. Actually to be truthful, this is my first Calexico album on vinyl.
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DavidI’ve kept this one up my sleeve. With lots of time to kill during the last couple of years of unpleasantness, Mr Cave and Mr Ellis have fabricated one of the most extraordinary and records I’ve had the recent pleasure of listening to.
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DavidThis wonderful Hip Hop/R&B/Rap (whatever-you-call-it?) record from Islington born, British Ghanian, London lady, Simbiatu Ajikawo, was way up there on all of the “best of” 2021 lists.
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DavidI knew absolutely nothing about this band other than they were completely underappreciated and are now worthy of re-evaluation. Well that’s what the hype sticker on the cover says.
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DavidI managed to pick up one of only 200 copies of this, the Record Store Day release version, on beautiful yellow and blue vinyl.
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DavidBOCs first ever recording (limited to just 100 copies), was this generous 38 minute mini-album. Always extremely difficult to find, it was finally repressed by Warp records in 2013 to appease the masses.
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DavidThis second long recording from The Mars Volta takes things even further, if that’s at all possible, into more unchartered territory.
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DavidHow on earth did this astounding record slip past me. In all honesty this early 80’s classic is one of the biggest sonic surprises I’ve ever experienced.
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DavidThis is a fantastic return to top form. This is a band that just keeps being themselves. Considering that it’s been 6 years since their last album, 2016’s “Why Are You OK?
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DavidThis 2009 EP was only ever available during the tour of that year. To say it’s unconventional would be under selling it to say the least.
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DavidHoly Moly, Charlie Megira’s whole world has now opened up to me after a visit to my local recently. (The fact that my local is a combined craft beer pub and record store, means it’s the ultimate one stop shop!
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DavidI heard a great podcast this morning when out for my morning walk. “Word Podcast” (aka “Word In Your Ear) a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED music nerd-fest, mentioned the fact that Jonathan Richmond sounds like no one else on the planet.
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DavidSome of my very best purchases I’ve ever made are sometimes found in the new vinyl, bargain bins of the big mega music shops like JB-Hifi and Real Groovy.
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DavidThis remarkable album of demos, half finished pieces and other in-studio recordings by cellist and studio magician Arthur Russell was released posthumously soon after his death in 1992.
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DavidThis is a record that is bulging at the seams with wonderful invention and brilliant performance. If you have the patience, it’s a proper roller coaster experience.
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DavidThis is one of the funkiest things you’ll ever hear. Miles’s short lived spouse and better half should have set the world alight with this, her stunning debut record.
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DavidMy usual bag of coffee beans has gone up by $2.50 over the last couple of months. WTF! Now that’s serious and potentially troublesome for my boy and his two-cups-of-my-coffee-a-day habit.
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DavidI just loved Dan Snaith’s (Caribou’s sole band member) 2014 record “Our Love” so I couldn’t resist picking up this 2021 repress from a decade earlier.
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DavidI’ve been listening to this wonderful EP on repeat via streaming services over the last couple of weeks. I just can’t get enough of it.
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DavidFirst listen to this brand new release hot off the record press. What is truly remarkable is just how unique this long player sounds.
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DavidI recently found a copy of this absolute masterpiece on vinyl during my recent travels. It’s a 2009 USA pressing produced by USA label “Light In The Attic Records”.
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DavidLush is the word that sums up this wonderful mid-80s record. It’s also up and over the brim with charm. A bit dated could also apply but the song-writing and impeccable production make up for any deep dive into that discussion.
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DavidThis Melbourne outfit is another great discovery of late. Really hard to pigeon hole into any genre. As it says on the hype sticker “…this is inspired by funk, library music, cinematic scores, soul, psych-folk-rock and wonky synths.
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DavidI may or may not have seen Ragnarok at the Racecourse Hotel, Hastings as a highschool lad back in the day.
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DavidTo these ears this is one of the best records that Pavement didn’t make. While you could say that the Flying Nun label mates of this Auckland-based outfit taught the Paves a thing or two, this group are just as effective at playing sloppy, effortless and slightly off kilter pop music like the big boys of the era.
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DavidI took a bit of a gamble with my record buying this evening. It’s becoming a bit of a habit lately, buying stuff I know nothing about.
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DavidWhen these Canadian Space Rock Psych Warriors put any record out, you know it’s always a wall to wall riff fest.
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DavidA nice little, albeit dated, excursion tonight listening to some late 60’s English Loonies. I spotted this 1986, nearly mint pressing, at a second hand record shop in Napier.
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DavidThis recent compilation kicks off with a shimmering guitar, hefty with reverb, bereft of much else in the way of accompaniment and Ms.
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DavidThis record was on high rotation during the late 70’s, early 80’s as punk gave way to the much richer and diverse palate of post-punk/new wave.
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DavidI first encountered the great Mark Hollis and Talk Talk via their third release 1986’s “The Colour Of Spring”. I kind of ignored the previous two records including this one, their 1982 debut.
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DavidI’m a bit disappointed with this new “special edition” release. The music is brilliant, the packaging and blue splatter vinyl exceptional.
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DavidI didn’t hesitate one second in picking up this fabulous food-fixated first-in-class classic record at Palmerston North’s JB-Hifi during my recent travels.
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DavidI’ve just spent the last week or so travelling up North between Wellington and Hawkes Bay. After giving up hope of finding any decent stand-alone records shops I found an amazing little treasure trove in Waipawa, Central Hawkes Bay.
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DavidThis is one of those records that would have really frightened the normals. Especially considering it was the early 70’s. It’s sleazy and confronting.
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DavidHoly Moley where do you start with this?! While hailed as one of the most important rock recordings of all time when they delivered their revered “OK Computer”, Radiohead went even more left field with these evil twins.
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DavidI don’t always go for remixes, but this band just screams out for the treatment. While the Khruangbin sound takes a very slight step backwards in the mix it’s a den full of very tasty disco bangers this evening.
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DavidThis CD sits right at the very top of my collection. OK, alphabetically it’s a given, but musically it’s simply an embarrassment of riches.
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DavidShit, I’ve heard many worse records than this one. Apart from a little bit too much sax and a funky dance vibe it’s a salvable remnant from the Mr.
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DavidThis is a remarkable comeback record for the 72 year old, ex Fleetwood Mac guitar and song writing maestro. Ousted from the band in 2018, probably mostly by his own doing, and battling major health issues, he’s made a record that could sit alongside those BIG Mac records of the mid-70s.
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DavidAside from the impeccable music on this record, the first thing that really strikes you is the quality of the packaging.
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DavidTrack 1, “(Theme from) The Monkees” is one of my all time favourite childhood memories and still fills me with delight to this day.
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DavidMerseyside’s, The Coral have never made a duff record in all of their 20 plus years of existent. This new record is another album filled to the brim with greatness.
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DavidI happened upon Anne Clark via the great 2018 documentary “I Will Walk Out In To Tomorrow”. Prior to that I was aware of but not at all familiar with her music or her brilliance.
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DavidNothing prepares the listener for this. It’s Arthur Russell’s only non-collaborative record consisting of cello, voice (somewhere between Boz Scaggs and Nick Drake) and in-studio or live, sounds and textures.
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DavidThis is an absolutely fabulous compilation of Japanese rock, electronic and fringe dwelling music from the 1980s. Impossible to find the conventional way, (but I’ll keep looking), this is courtesy of a subscribed lossless website.
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DavidAnother record I’ve been holding off listening to. The moment needed to be just right. Saturday afternoon and I’m not feeling so sharp, so on the turntable this wee gem goes.
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DavidMy Aussie mate Maurice bought this CD for me during our 2021 by-the-seat-of-our-pants visit to Melbourne. It’s my first listen to this Sydney-based band and I must say its a rather pleasurable experience.
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DavidThis is was one of my holy grail records to find on vinyl. Jason from “My Music Taupo”, who by the way has one of the best record shops in all of Aotearoa, found it for me.
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DavidThis is a brilliantly mixed up, but carefully contrived mess, that just sounds sensational in all of it’s vinyl glory. It’s the sort of record that also holds you to account.
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DavidA beautiful, unconventional rockabilly blues record from now departed Suicide co-founder/co-member, Alan Vega. This could quite easily be an old time blues record backed by any number of 70’s era Krautrock bands.
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DavidI heard “Starman” and “Suffragette City” on the car radio this morning. The realisation soon hit me - Ziggy is 50 years old!
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DavidI’ve been waiting a long time to find this record. This is the first (proper) record by Tuscon, Arizona duo Trees Speak.
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DavidA recent Record Store Day vinyl compilation of a long lost, Japanese only CD from the long defunct Pale Saints (from Leeds) Pale Saints were often on my playlist back in the 90’s and one of my 4AD staples.
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DavidAnother absolute stunner from one of Afrobeat’s finest. This 50th Anniversary Reissue is “coolness” personified. Fela was best mates with Ginger Baker, who apparently, (this is uncredited on the album), helps out on the sublime “Egbe Mio”.
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DavidThis is probably where it all began for me. Still my most important Beatles record. Some gasp that the Beatles records have been remastered from digitals sources.
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DavidAt this moment in time, I can’t think of any English actor more watchable than Matt Berry. He’s great to listen to as well.
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DavidStarting of with a discordant mess worthy of “Jazz Club” *, this record quickly asserts itself as a mix of 70’s jazz fusion, funk and cosmic greatness.
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DavidI’m not really sure how I feel about this record - I’m listening to it as I type. This is the first time I’ve heard this since acquiring it as part of the massive “Brilliant Adventure” box.
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DavidOne of the best opening songs I’ve heard in a long time, “MTT 420 RR”, (literally the vocalist’s own historic car crash), sets the stage for a remarkable journey.
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DavidThe more I dig into German music of the last 50 or so years, the more I am blown away. This outrageously great funk record sounds like it belongs back in the 70’s but with today’s state-of-the-art production it’s unmistakably contemporary.
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DavidAt this time of year who wants to overthink the previous 12 months? For most of us it’s been a proper, global annus horribilis.
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DavidSplendid, hippy dippy masterpiece that sounds both completely messed up and singularly focused all at the same time. It’s a mishmash of styles of the time but totally expected when you consider the roll call of participants.
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DavidA very ethereal record from Beach House. Sounding like its big fluffy red cover (I kid you not) this recording is enclosed in a murky haze that keeps the poppy sugar coating that’s trying its hardest to bust out under wraps.
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DavidI’m really not sure what attracted me to this, aside from the beautiful cover, but what a fantastic find. Like a few days lately, I’ve been finding a few unfamiliar tracks and albums via streaming services.
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DavidOne of my pet peeves when buying records is the absence of plastic inner sleeves. Most of the paper inserts, glossy or otherwise, that come with the majority of new records these days, are as good as useless.
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DavidOne of the greatest finds of this year is this killer record from San Fran’s totally unhinged Thee Oh Sees. Impossible to categorise, to me they fit somewhere between King Gizard and the Wizard Lizard and The Bevis Frond.
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DavidAnother great bit of vinyl that’s found it’s way back home. This 1985 Aussie pressing, which I’d given away in the early 00’s and kindly returned, still sounds remarkably pristine.
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DavidCo-written with Reeves Gabrels, this is Bowie’s most mellow record since “Hunky Dory”. It still rocks out in places though, especially with Mr.
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DavidThe stunning sonics of this newly pressed vinyl box continues. It’s certainly a box of goodies that just keeps giving. This is another record which I’ve only listened to in parts (“Little Wonder” & “I’m afraid Of Americans”) and most probably not in its entirety in one sitting.
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DavidFor many, this could be their introduction to David Bowie. For me, I had already kicked him into touch a decade and a half earlier following “Let’s Dance”.
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DavidTo be honest, this is an album I never really knew existed. Made after “Black Tie White Noise” and around the time of “Outside” to soundtrack a British TV series, it never appeared on my radar at all.
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DavidMy life is complete (again!). Having loudly proclaimed this fact already this week when I recieved Volume 2 of the fabulous “Deutsche Elektronische Musik”, things got even better today.
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DavidMy life is now complete (well nearly, I just need to take delivery of the latest MASSIVE Bowie box which I also picked up for a steal - but I’ll save that particular story for later).
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DavidJackie Mittoo is the coolest man that ever lived. That’s according to The Guardian. I’m not arguing one iota, this Kingston born keyboard wiz is the cats pyjamas.
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DavidSwitched On Volume 2 Unbelievable 2nd volume of early singles and rarities from The Labs. Remastered on 4 sides of clear vinyl.
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DavidThis mid-70’s gem from Sweden’s own/only guitar-swinger Janne Schaffer, has finally come back home to me. I thank you Martin. Having given 100’s of records away at the turn of the century, I do have ongoing regrets about it.
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DavidI’m really not sure about this. Low going all electronic noize with hyper-processed/distorted vocals just hasn’t got me feeling the love.
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DavidAfter gifting my old turntable to my daughter Imogen and partner Tim in Wellington, they have now been plunged into the world of pain that is collecting and listening to vinyl.
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DavidThis is a CD I have always been very reluctant (aka being really frightened) to play. I mean Ray Haliburton’s Allmusic User Review from 2015 proclaims “…if you’re looking for music that is truly horrifying, visceral, epic and absorbing, step right up.
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DavidAnother fabulous compilation from French couple, Marie and Lionel Liminana (with a bit of help from a myriad of others).This is their second collection in two years.
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DavidBrilliant remix/dubbed up version of Liam Bailey’s “Ekundayo” album - which I listened to just the other day. Every day I ask the question, “where has all of this wonderful music been all of my life”.
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DavidHamilton-born, Kimbra Johnson is really hard to categorise. There’s simply no doubt about it though, she’s one hell of a talent.
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DavidAnother deep dive into a rabbit hole for me of late as I take several forays into the world of Jamaican-influenced music.
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DavidThis Danish band is just extraordinary. Their record, 2005’s “And the Glass Handed Kites” is an epic masterpiece that demands at least a yearly, uninterrupted aural immersion.
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DavidSoul Records Presents: Afro-Centric Visions In The Age Of Black Power. Underground Jazz, Street Funk & The Roots Of Rap (1968-79) I bought a book.
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DavidThis slightly warped EP (literally and figuratively - physically, its a bit on the bendy side) from Texans “The Black Angels” sounds like it really shouldn’t work at all and at times it’s just way off being pleasant.
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DavidAn Organ Grindin’ Funky Good Time soundtrack from 1969’s “Party Girls” a long lost (probably for the best) low budget sleaze fest.
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DavidI LOVED La Luz’s last record, 2018’s “Floating Features”, but while pleasant enough, this new album has upped the production levels and sanded off those rough edges I loved on the previous one.
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DavidProgressive folk at its finest. Don’t expect any real song structure, just one long, meandering, multilayered, highly complex, electro-acoustic folk jam.
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DavidFabulous debut record from South London’s Dry Cleaning. It’s the first time heard tonight, on recommendation from Mr. Smithies. It’s an immediate slam dunk.
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DavidAnother remarkable, genre non-specific, masterwork from the mysterious UK collective that is Sault. After 99 days following it’s release (June 2021) this record has already been pulled from streaming services completely and will never see a re-pressing.
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DavidTake a bit of Dick Dale, a good chunk of Stereolab and a smidgeon of Nana Mouskouri, shake it all up, remove the men folk, and you have the sensational lady group La Luz.
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DavidThis record (especially the track “Not Many”) was a bit of a soundtrack for my teenagers. It also resonated strongly with me at the time.
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DavidMy full and ongoing membership of “Shut Up And Listen” depended on the success of my audition and my overly strategic song management.
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DavidI remember hearing this for the first time, as a young nursing student, at a friend’s place in Levin. He was a practitioner of Bahai Faith.
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DavidThis beautiful album follows the magnificent “Souvlaki”, a record that Brian Eno provided keyboards and treatments. While the Eno ambience wasn’t obvious on that, it’s right to the fore on this.
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DavidIt’s really hard to believe that this wonderful record was made the year I started working in my current (and hopefully last) job.
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DavidIt’s time to get my boys out again. This compilation from the early 70’s is probably one of my holy grails as far as musical discovery goes.
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DavidWOW! I just love this Melbourne duo. This is just beautiful and comes close to trumping my previous experience when first discovering this Aussie treasure.
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David[7’ and rare stuff 2009/2014] I’ve been putting off listening to this virgin vinyl. I was really worried about being disappointed.
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DavidThis is the headline: “THREE YEARS OF BIN WATCHING AT JB-HIFI IN LOWER HUTT FINALLY PAYS OFF” I had an absolutely brilliant haul of less-costly-than-second-hand, new records from the bins at the yellow and black shed.
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DavidMore magnificence from the LA-based band, Lord Huron. With a country-infused soundstage as big the lake they were named after, one of the big five by the way, it’s all very lush and cinematic.
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DavidHoly shit! What a FANTASTIC record! I didn’t realise what an absolute stonker this is. I listened to a great podcast this morning while hiking back from Tahunanui Beach, wife and dog in tow.
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DavidA fabulous, lady-led band from the century’s turn who sound like they shared a dressing room with the Slits and The Fall.
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DavidAn absolute gem of a record found on my recent excursion up North. Discovered second hand at “Low Cost Records” in Petone, this record was always one of my favourites.
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DavidI’ve had a bit of a revelation today after a great Shut Up And Listen Session the evening before. Streaming stuff instead of relying on physical media is perfectly OK.
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DavidThis is an exquisite, sumptuous recent discovery courtesy of the wonderful Youtube hosted by Michael the German. Michael, who is a truly engaging German man with the most incredible vinyl collection, regularly shares his insights into the best, and often but not always, audiophile vinyl pressings.
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DavidIs this album one of those genre-less wonders or an amalgam of everything put through a musical mincer? I really can’t make up my mind.
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DavidSecond album from German band “Kin Ping Meh” (Chinese for “The Golden Lotus”) There’s a definite “The Yes Album” feel to early proceedings with more than a few weird meanderings along the way.
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DavidBought this Friday. Played it Friday night. Didn’t love it. Played safto. Am goowin wi mi-sen and fookin’ lovin’ it! (Ok they’re from Nottingham)
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DavidAnother absolute STUNNER which flew completely under the radar. This debut record from French duo The Limiñanas, is one of the biggest musical surprises I have EVER encountered!
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DavidA big riffy, completely off-kilter, stoner rock record that sounds as big as Texas. That’s funny, coz these dudes hail from Fort Worth, Texas.
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DavidAwesome B-Sides collection on spectacular “honey” coloured vinyl. Just fantastic to have this. One of my favourite songs of all time on one of my favourite albums of all time, is the wonderful “Not Too Soon”, sung by Tanya Donelly on “The Real Ramona”.
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DavidI really needed a vinyl fix today. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done any digging. I rang the Smithies hotline (Facebook Messenger actually) and arranged to meet.
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DavidStonkingly brilliant, early-80s, post-punk funk (without the horns) courtesy of the Scroggin Sisters from the Bronx, NY, NY. This is just crazy good.
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DavidOne of my finds of the year, I knew absolutely nothing about HTRK (Hate Rock) or this record, prior to my recent travels to Melbourne.
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DavidRIP Charles Robert Watts An easy choice today. I bought this quite a few years ago when I started collecting “essential” vinyl once again.
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DavidThis band is from Detroit. These men are not happy. Front man Joe Casey, led by an incendiary band, sings/talks his way through 12 astounding tracks.
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DavidAnother terrific record, their forth, in a faultless catalogue of neo-70’s rock/prog. While they certainly know how to jam, they never overstay their welcome.
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DavidIn recognition of brilliant Kiwi musicians I’m celebrating with some Wellington heavy weights today. Let’s face it - we need to go to all of those touring NZ artists touring at the moment - for their and for our own sakes.
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DavidThese hairy MFs from Ames, Iowa really know how to kick the barn doors down! While it hints at stoner rock at times, it’s more in the flavour of the heavy side of 70’s electric blues.
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DavidAmazing, other/outer worldly and essential. Now this really IS a wall of sound. While it can be smothering - it’s a hazy, cuddly experience that wraps you up in a big, psyschedlic blanket.
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DavidA bit of a “High Fidelity” moment last Friday evening as I strolled into The Family Jewels. Side two of this was playing on the shop and outside tannoys.
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DavidTickets booked, I’d better have a listen. This is Troy Kingi’s “folk” record with Delaney Davidson, the proper folkie, lending a steady hand.
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DavidMore of a DIY brag this evening. To breath new life into your record collection give them a bath! This version of “It’s My Life” got the treatment today and boy does it make a difference.
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DavidFANTASTIC new record by Chief Superior Furry Animal. The SFAs know how to create bona fide pop music alright, but this just takes it up a notch or two.
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DavidFantastic documentary about the making of “Rainbow Bridge”, a complete Blu-Ray concert recording and 6 sides of Vinyl capturing Jimi Hendrix’s concert at Maui, Hawaii in 1970.
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DavidThere was only going to be one album to listen to this evening. After yesterday’s fabulous Alan Vega and Stephen Lironi show, it’s time for some Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto.
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DavidHoly Moly, I didn’t expect this! It’s the same old Alan Vega and his same old completely left of everything approach to making music - but god it sounds so frighteningly refreshing listening to this today.
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DavidThe wall of sound on a Spiritualized record is always a bit disconcerting at first but it’s the silence within all of that murk that captures your ears.
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DavidInsanely good live performance of Darkside’s brilliant 2013 album “Psychic”, a mind warping, non-genre specific monster of a record. Watching this reminds me of the time that I walked into one my all time, smily face moments of pure musical bliss - Unkle playing live in the “Boiler Room” at The Big Day Out.
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DavidAnother taste of the Axelrod. Where has this been all of my life??
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DavidProlific as ever, this is the Gizzard’s 18th record. This is just the sweetest, most blissed out sound I’ve heard all year.
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DavidPicked this fine compilaton up from my second favourite Melbourne record shop, Rocksteady Records in Lonsdale St, CBD. Just $33 Aussie dollars for a 2 LP white vinyl record is exceptional value.
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DavidA wonderful new discovery for me, often mentioned fleetingly in the distant past by mega-fan Nathan Ford, I’d never delved into this rabbit hole until now.
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DavidMy Melbournian pal, Maurice, who I caught up with in person recently, has been raving about this record ad nauseam. To tone down his incessant admiration somewhat, I thought I’d better buy it on CD.
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DavidThis is the ultimate fairy tale album. Peter Perret is probably lucky to be still on the planet yet alone in absolutely top form on this recording.
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DavidAnother fantastic find in Melbourne was arguably Lou Reed’s best ever (official) live record “Live In Italy” which was recorded in 1983.
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DavidI was thrilled to get a copy of this very limited Record Store Day release on 10" clear vinyl. It took Alan Vega and Martin Rev, the core of Suicide, more than 30 years to get the recognition they deserved.
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DavidCompletely wacko but totally enjoyable forth solo record from co-founder of krautrock band Can. Aside from the first song, “The Photo Song”, (definitely a false start as the “poppiest” song on the album), it’s an unconventional and wild ride across the remaining 10 tracks.
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DavidOne real blessing of spending an extra week in Melbourne, following a 7 day Covid-19 Aussie/NZ travel bubble pause, was spending some quality time trawling the records shops in Melbourne City and Brunswick/Smiths Street in Collingwood.
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DavidWhat a mish mash of a record! And that’s high praise indeed. The width and depth of this covid lockdown production by these obviously bored and highly prolific Australians is quite remarkable.
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DavidFantastic double (black) vinyl re-working of Jane Weaver’s 2014 record “The Silver Globe” and 2017’s “Modern Kosmology”. All I can say is my recently purchased Rega MM Fono stage now connected to my upstairs Project Debut and NAD amp is absolutely kicking some serious sonic arse.
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DavidKnown as “The English Beat” in North America to allay any clash and confusion with the American “The Beat”, these dudes were right in the thick of things with other budding SKA bands of the time.
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DavidI finally managed to pick up all four albums by this extraordinary English collective knowh as “Sault”. This is their first record and if the others are even close to this, (and apparently they get even better with each subsequent release) my ears are in for a real treat.
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DavidAnother mind-blowingly, guitar-rich, floaty, hazy wig out! Stereo Gum - Review
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DavidAnother stonking Tull release that got panned at the time. A first time listen for me but a rockier effort following their folk period “Songs From The Wood”, “Heavy Horses” and “Storm Watch”.
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DavidAnother beautiful double album picked up over Queens Birthday weekend. This features orchestral treatments of Moby songs (there’s also a lovely reinterpretation of one of my least favorite Bowie songs “Heroes” which I can fully tolerate and appreciate one this).
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DavidGazza just goes from strength to strength. Honestly, I kind of reluctantly bought this new record thinking it’s going to be somewhat disappointing after his astonishing 2017 release “Savage”.
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DavidTwo albums after Peter Gabriel left and the last record to feature guitarist Steve Hackett. To these ears, this is the last great classic(al) Genesis record.
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DavidGreat random choice this evening as I let my music database choose my music for me. I always warm to a bit of Death Cab for Cutie.
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DavidThis is a Tull record that was never “in the circle” of their great predecessors - namely “Aqualung”, “Thick As A Brick” and “A Passion Play”, and I missed it completely.
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DavidSquid, Black Country New Road and this band, Black Midi are all great contemporary British bands flying the flag for jazzy, spacey, progressive math rock.
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DavidThis is even more brittle and unearthly than last night’s delve into the (other)world of My Bloody Valentine. There really isn’t any other music to compare it to.
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DavidAs well as this record being unlike anything before or after it, it’s one of the quietest “loud” records you will ever hear.
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DavidThis is the soundtrack to a horror film that doesn’t exist. Thank God it doesn’t - it would be the scariest thing you ever saw.
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DavidI was really pleased recently to find a re-pressed, USA made copy of this early Blonde Redhead record. This is definitely a band worthy of owning everything they did on vinyl.
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DavidGazza has always been an outlier/outsider. Diagnosed with Asperger’s his imagination and creativity has actually got the better of him. He’s been more prolific than ever and his latest record “Intruder” is up there’s with his best.
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DavidGave this a whirl this evening as I cooked. A bit indifferent for the first couple of tracks but then it all clicked.
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DavidHighly regarded as one of the treasures of the psychedelic 60s this is not really doing it for me at the moment.
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DavidThis fantastic compilation of Auckland punk, circa 1979(ish), is a treat for NZ music historians and rock’n’roll lovers. There’s early iterations of bands that went on to greater fame, and much higher production standards, but their brilliance is well in evidence.
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DavidMojo Presents A Tribute To The Cure. There’s no doubt about it, the Cure wrote a ton of brilliant songs, this Mojo Magazine compilation proves it.
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DavidThis band is renowned for being the loudest band that ever existed. While my stereo can’t do it justice, extreme volume would let these seven humongous tracks breath/bleed accordingly.
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DavidAffectionately known as the “Countdown Album” (let’s face it, it flows off the tongue a lot easier than “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1”), this absolute stonker from the Oils is one of the great records of the 80s.
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DavidA remarkably restrained Damo Suzuki “sings” on what would be his final studio recording with this truly amazing German collective. (He went off and married a Jehovah witness apparently).
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DavidAnother great great record that proves there’s still great great music being made in the world. Highly original, disorientating and unapologetic, it’s a bit of a rollercoaster.
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DavidThese astounding recordings from 1968/1969 is empirical proof that these Germans were just so far ahead of the game. The Stooges, who are often regarded as the granddaddy’s of punk didn’t record their debut until 1969.
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DavidNever listen to this record. It will change your life. Quite extraordinary and unlike anything you have or will ever hear in you lifetime.
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DavidTim Burgess & Bob Stanley Present Songs For A Late-Night Diner. This very quirky compilation “is a soundtrack for a mythical café in the mythical north” somewhere in England.
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DavidThis record, the first in a trilogy of great Jane Weaver albums, is a real treat. The vocals are as ethereal and fabulous as the noodlely electronics and keyboard embellishments that cocoon each track.
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DavidExcluding the Velvet Underground years, Transformer, Rock’n’roll Animal, Lou Reed Live, The Blue Mask, Legendary Hearts, Songs For Drella (with John Cale) and Magic And Loss were always my go to Lou Reed records.
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DavidI heard reference to this wonderful record on Radio National today. The cover for Revolver was created by German-born bassist and artist Klaus Voormann , whose birthday it was today.
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DavidThis record was released in 1970 and was named Rolling Stone’s album of the year ahead of Let It Be by The Beatles, Morrison Hotel by The Doors, After the Gold Rush by Neil Young, Moondance by Van Morrison, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel, Pink Floyd’s Atom Heart Mother and Led Zeppelin III.
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DavidBefore my tastes became a little more eclectic and sophisticated, I was an Elton John obsessive. This holds some fantastic memories and remains a cracking good record.
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DavidFloating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra A record (in this case an album streaming from Tidal) that demands nothing.
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DavidSome of this reminds me a bit of Herbie Hancock and the robotic dancing legs of “Rockit. There’s some serious funky jazz going on here.
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DavidIf you really want to kickstart your Krautrock adventures with smoking wheels there’s simply is no better place to start. This is a guitar-driven, all balls out, Meisterstück that is worthy of all accolades.
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DavidWhile a truly miserable record and definitely of its time, this relic of the early 80’s is the antithesis of much of todays formulaic garbage.
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DavidThis is the first Luna release in quite some years. (well 13 years if you want to be more precise). Kiwi Dean Wareham’s droll deliver is just perfect as I prepare our “Hello Fresh” construction this evening.
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DavidThis sprawling, hooks-heavy third release from the Haim sisters is also sonically magnificent. As with the first two vinyl releases it’s mastered at 45rpm.
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DavidBrett Anderson’s voice is the main instrument I crave for when listening to any Suede record and this is especially the case with his more mellow solo records.
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DavidThis raunchy grungy even, country-punk recording from the early 90s contains not one but two future Calexico members, Joey Burns and John Convertino.
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DavidThis record is both epic in title and epic in the magnitude of its musical journey. It all starts off with a bit of a whimper but quickly imposes itself as the dense wall of sound engulfs everything.
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DavidAnother great Easter Weekend purchase while over in the windy city. This is Porridge Radio’s second record and their first “proper” big label release.
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DavidOne of several vinyl purchases picked up over Easter Weekend in Wellington was this little gem from New York duo Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner.
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DavidI’m listening to part one of Big Boi and Andre 3000’s split-duties-opus “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” this evening - and loving every minute of it.
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DavidHoly fuck this is wonderfully intense. If you can’t handle relentless wall-to-wall jamming look elsewhere. If you’re in the mood for mind expansion and turning your brain to mush, you’ve come to the right place.
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DavidThis re-release from 2006 is an astonishing hidden-from-me NZ gem that in my universe-wide musical horizon flew completely under my exceptionally big reflecting telescope.
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DavidThis is another example of not being risk adverse when choosing new music. This is just brilliant and being brave has given me the biggest buzz in donks.
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DavidMaynard James Keenan hit the ground running with his band Tool. This and subsequent records completely shocked the world of metal, grunge and alternative rock.
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DavidThis pre-Covid, end-of-September 2019 event could really have done with a shake up. The world has changed since this, and in musical terms, decades earlier.
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DavidGreat live recording of Jason Pierce’s early post Spacemen 3 collective. While it gets off to an unexpectedly noisy start with a barrage of crackles and pops all over the first track, (sometimes I really hate vinyl), but this is soon forgotten as it mainlines itself into my brain.
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DavidDon’t you just hate it (for those that bow to the inconvenience of vinyl) when the label on side one is different to side two and there’s no discernable way of knowing which is side A or side B.
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DavidAnother fabulous compilation from Soul Jazz Records. (Along with ACE records, Soul Jazz does the best compilations). This collection of largely unknown knob twiddlers and music anarchists truly reflect the vide that existed in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
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DavidThere’s still a lot of life left in ye old compact disc. This album is the epitome of digital geek where studio trickery and massive production nearly trumps the incredible songwriting.
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DavidThis wasn’t the starting place for me, that was 1981’s “Tin Drum”, but retrospectively the hint of Japan’s sophistication emerges on this transitional record.
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DavidIt’s 40 years since Japan released their 1981 masterpiece “Tin Drum”. Along with Kraftwerk, Echo & The Bunnymen and Magazine, it was a watershed moment for me.
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DavidI had a bit of a sneaky listen last night to the re-released, remastered proper version of “Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea”.
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DavidI’ve never really been a John Lennon fan. The purchase of this record and subsequent listening experience came about purely by chance.
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DavidWhile missing some of the confrontational intensity of “London Zoo” this brilliant slab of blue vinyl continues to shatter expectations on this very first listen.
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DavidI LOVE this! While it’s really Richard H. Kirk’s baby now, Stephen Mallinder now long departed, this really truly sounds likes a new Cabs record.
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DavidThis is the perfect Friday night leave-your-brain-behind music fodder. It’s 22 years plus, and around the time of this record, since I gathered at The Gathering at Kanaan Downs in Golden Bay.
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DavidRyley Walker joins forces with Kikagaku Moyo to venture into (equally unpronounceable) Khruangbin’s blissed-out Asian psyche-blues territory. Recorded live at Le Guess Who?
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DavidThis LP was literally thrust into my hands the other day with the messaage “This will be right up your street”.
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DavidHoly shit this is one intense slab of vinyl that does not relent over its 6 sides. The complete antithesis and double-handed middle finger to rock’s bloated carcass, this is a welcome challenge that rips musical convention to shreds.
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DavidFollowing on from my rave about Mr. Steven Wilson’s wrath from passionate fans of a very specific genre of musical stasis, this band will certainly not disappoint them and might even appease more than a few of the old fickle Porcupine Tree proggers.
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DavidWhile I continue to lap up everything Mr. Wilson does, he could fart the Lord’s Prayer and I’d still be consuming his product, it’s very hard to find Steven Wilson product in this country.
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DavidThe Aussies seem to have the Psychedelic-Progressive-Space-Metal market completely cornered. Sounding in places like a very early Yes record, especially on the first 10 minute opener, it quickly morphs into a wonderful collage of hypnotic fuzzy bliss.
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DavidThis is Steve Mason’s third album since leaving one of Scotland’s finest turn-of-this-century musical ensembles, The Beta Band. He simply carries on where he left off with the same brilliant toe tappingly good, ultra-melodious allegories.
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DavidOne of my favourite British series ever is “ People Just Do Nothing ” This is a mockumentary series about a group of failed MCs from West London and their passion for pirate radio.
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DavidThis record is the perfect musical accompaniment to a lovely warm and sunny summer evening. While it’s all just a bit too immaculate for anyone’s liking if you dig too deep, but as a listening experience it is pure ear candy.
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DavidI heard the last 15 minutes of Smithies on RNZ this afternoon. He was raving about this Swedish ensemble’s first long player (or digital equivalent) “Off The Meds” by Off The Meds.
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DavidThis is without question Thin Lizzy’s high water mark. This is without question one of my top 10 favourite records of all time.
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DavidOMG! Along with Idles, this is a brilliant modern day punk record. No further comment necessary. Allmusic.com - Review
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DavidThis couldn’t be further along the other end of the continuum than yesterday’s outing with Analogue Africa. It’s probably as close to Ambient as I want to get but has an underlying grime to proceedings.
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DavidI was prompted to play this after a mention of the first volume from Analogue Africa yesterday on Radio NZ Music 101.
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DavidThis triple album is part of the fan(tastic) re-release campaign undertaken by Stereolab over the last couple of years. It’s hard to believe that this extras record (sides 5 & 6) contains mainly demos or tracks not used on main release albums.
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DavidThe Babelsberg Basement Tapes. This Record Store Day is the “raw” version of his wonderful apocalyptic 2018 album “Babelsberg”. Despite being a tirade on Trumpian America the wonderful song writing is never at the expense of the message.
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DavidI really struggle with New Order these days. Despite this, I can still play Joy Division to death. For me they just haven’t aged well.
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DavidThis is Broadcast stripped down both in sound and personnel. Originally from Birmingham, Broadcast started out as a quintet for their first couple of records.
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DavidBob Stanley and Jason Wood present new adventures in European music 1972-1980 Another fantastic ACE compilation this time focusing on an imaginary soundtrack to Bowie and Iggy’s Berlin hangout, Cafe Exil, in the mid-70s.
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DavidRecorded live at the Pyramid and Meow Clubs in Wellington during December 2014. Channeling ancient future funk from the IS! Warping spatioelastoplasticity with sound!
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DavidThis universally panned solo record by the Dexy’s Midnight Runner front man is an absolute treasure. The controversial cover probably didn’t help matters but it’s clear the critics weren’t actually listening.
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DavidThe Avalanches “Since I Left You” from 2000 and DJ Shadow’s “Endtroducing” from 1996 are two astounding records produced exclusively from other peoples vocal and musical samples.
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DavidI can’t imagine Trump knowing what music is yet alone having a favourites playlist. If for some reason he did have a slither of musical cognisance the soundtrack of his life over over the last 5 years would be “Send Out The Clowns” on continuous play.
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David7 years to the day, I played this CD. According to my notes “it was a real surprise”. Unsurprisingly, they remain even more surprising.
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DavidJust 12 months after the demise of Ian Curtis and Joy Division, New Order (initially “The People’s New Order of Kampuchea”) produced this transitional record to very mixed reviews.
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DavidAndrew Spraggon was once a solo knob twiddler. He was also once a touring member of Dimmer (as revealed on a recent RNZ Music 101 podcast) He’s now the ultimate collaborator.
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DavidThis is totally apt to bring in the new year. Released 20 years ago, this is an album of beautiful ambient soundscapes and textures that’s completely sabotaged and ambushed by the alternative, indie world protagonists.
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DavidThere is just so much to love about this record. The track “Uh-oh” alone would be worth the price by itself.
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DavidBob is very angry! Hunkered down in his bunker while America burns and Trump tries to chip his way out, Bob creates some of the most vitriolic, heart-on-his-sleeve commentary he’s ever recorded.
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DavidI’m definitely in no hurry to get rid of my CDs. They still have plenty of life in them yet. If you have a half decent player they can still sound extraordinary.
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DavidThis record is made for live performance. It’s wall to wall fuzzy guitar and singin’ sheilas. What’s not to like?
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DavidNothing prepares you for this. The beats are big, and at times there’s a semblance of texture, structure and a hint of song craft.
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DavidIt’s hard to know what to play on Christmas day. It’s not a day to go all out hardcore or overtly political.
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DavidI could listen to Jarvis Cocker recite the phone book (do we still get those?) or possibly of more practical application and in keeping with this record, “The Origin Of The Species” The second song “Must I Evolve” is a question I ask myself every day.
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DavidMy mind is mush, any thoughts of being productive went out the window a week ago, it’s survival mode only. Another work do (which was great), good wishes to all and it’s now time to let go completely.
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DavidThis second record from Dublin’s Fontaines (Dublin City) has that early 80’s urgency that bands like Echo and the Bunnymen, The Fall and The Smiths had in spades.
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DavidBeing sandwiched between “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy” doesn’t help. To me, “Caribou” it was just another great Elton John record which I enjoyed as much as the others.
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DavidA punk-funk-soul one-two that leaves you dazed and delighted. That’s the headline. I just love taking risks with music but at the same time I’m quite hesitant when considering my choices.
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DavidJamie Smith (XX) and his main collective The XX, are very hard to define musically. Despite borrowing from many different sources they still seem to be bereft of any definable genre.
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DavidYou’ll want to listen to this record sober. Just saying. After returning from one of many end-of-year work dos, and putting this record on - my advice would be to play something a bit more conventional.
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DavidI’ve been saving this. This is Giant Sand’s 10th record. I bought my first, and only prior Giant Sand record, 2015’s “Heartbreak Pass”, a few years ago.
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DavidHere comes the Martian Martian! Even for Jonathan Richman, this record is totally unexpected, extraordinary and otherworldly. And that is saying a lot about a Jonathan Richman record.
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DavidThis is a great example of some of the most challenging, original and richly rewarding music being made in 2020. It’s been a feeble, and in many cases, a febrile year for most people.
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David“The Modern Lovers”, from 1976 is in my top 10 records of all time. (The Modern Lovers was also the name of the band fronted by the Jonathan Richman.
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DavidAt home feeling a bit under the weather today. Not really in the mood for anything too abrasive so reached for some neo psychedelic alt folk music.
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DavidFrom 1969’s “Empty Sky” to “1976’s “Blue Moves” (his last great record which I’ve only just began to appreciate), Elton John and Bernie Taupin produced 11 remarkable studio albums.
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DavidAs previously explained , this was the compilation that was playing the track “Danger” by Pylon as a spooky coincidence when I walked into The Family Jewels on Saturday.
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DavidThis pre-loved record has obviously been played to death and there’s a few pops and crackles in evidence. However, it wasn’t until I saw the debris on my stylus that I realised that I needed to do some immediate needle maintenance.
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DavidThis new record by The Bats is like a big warm sneaky hug. As each song meanders along on it’s lackadaisical way, it’s easy to think “what’s happening here?
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David“Acid Folk, Folk Rock, Freak Folk, Whatever”. This anniversary edition (currently streaming via Tidal) is another revelatory experience from yester year.
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DavidThis is another magnificent box set comprising of 6x LPs, 13 CDs, a 7’ single, deluxe book, posters and other paraphernalia.
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DavidA big box arrived via courier today. Now here’s something. I ordered this on Friday morning - it arrived mid Monday morning.
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DavidRare funky songs from the Arabic world. This wonderful compilation is worth the price alone for Omar Khorshid’s version of the late 1960’s hit “Pop Corn” (*)
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DavidThis is actually my very first listen to this highly revered, post punk band from Athens, Georgia (now hasn’t that been in the news lately?
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DavidSoul Jazz Records Presents Experimental German Rock And Electronic Music 1971-83. This is volume four of the absolutely brilliant compilation series of early Krautrock.
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DavidEveryone should have at least one copy of this on stand by at all times. If you need some background music, it works.
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DavidIggy looks extremely happy on the cover of this record with a grin a mile wide. Why wouldn’t he? He’d just been thrown a great big life line from David Bowie - who co-writ and recorded this and the preceeding “The Idiot”.
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DavidOh by jingo this is good! The Man Who Sold The World Tony Visconti 2020 Remix! Ronno makes his first appearance following his thrown-in-the-deep-end BBC sessions of 1971.
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DavidThis record never ceases to reveal something new each and every time I take pleasure in listening to it. (Now that’s a bit spooky, I googled a review of the record and found the following echoing my thoughts.
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DavidEven though the world has gone completely bonkers, this sounds perfectly out of place and refreshingly unhinged. Heavily influenced by Krautrock, “Bitches Brew” Mile Davis and spooky soundtrack music for non-existent horror movies, it’s a bit disconcerting to say the least.
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DavidYet another ace ACE Records compilation lovingly curated by Bob Stanley. I continue to hoover these up like nose candy. This is happy clappy, hippy dippy, hip hop.
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DavidAnother fabulous example of late 70s New York No Wave that’s further perpetrated by French invader Lizzy Mercier Descloux. Take some of Serge Gainsbourg’s Afrobeat, combine with Blondie’s disco-inflected punk and Talking Heads’ world music-inspired art pop and you get the drift.
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DavidComplete and utter 12" remix trash heaven this evening. I picked up this triple LP, 2019 compilation out of one of the bargain bins at JB-Hifi for $10.
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DavidI was completely absorbed and inspired to play this following a recent bus commute from Richmond to Nelson. (if I’m honest, the bleakness of this record is warmly welcomed after another day working in that dreadful town they call Richmond!
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DavidI just couldn’t resist picking this beauty out of the forever expanding bins of prestige new records at JB-Hifi (at The Hutt) and adding it to my ever increasing haul of vinyl-worthy, North Island souvenirs.
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DavidI did NOT expect this! A few of those try-hard Psych bands could learn a trick or two from these dudes.
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DavidNot only an underrated band, THE MOST underrated band of all time! I’ve gone on about the poor hand “The Sound” were dealt on several occasions.
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DavidI’m loving listening to compilations and movie soundtracks at the moment. A good soundtrack is often as memorable as the film itself and usually provides an eclectic mix of styles and artists.
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DavidI found this at The Warehouse in Whanganui on shiny new bright blue vinyl. This is a recent re-pressing/remaster (2018) and cost me $20.
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DavidThis hefty 5 LP box was one of the finds of my recent trip up North. Id been looking for this on CD for years without much luck so jumped at the chance of owning this on premium Polyvinyl Chloride.
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DavidIf you started your Bowie introduction with this record, that would be a bit unfortunate but palatable at least. It was definitely the beginning of the slide into his own level of mediocrity that lasted the next 10 years.
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DavidThis is a slightly bonkers, completely trippy, alien mantra by ex Spaceman 3 co-founder Pete Kemper aka Sonic Boom. Just a warning if you are thinking of ever listening to this.
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DavidIt this It? I really think it is! While not just about the best debut in musical history, it’s also one of it’s greatest records.
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DavidAnother fun-and-fan-filled and somewhat obscure Bowie-related compilation - this time courtesy of Mojo Magazine. (Uncut Magazine released a couple of Bowie cover compilations back in 2003 and 2008).
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DavidMore dirgey psychedelia from the Wooden Shjips’ trippy guitarist and leader Erik Johnson et al. While it gets a bit samey across several albums, (this is my forth Moon Duo record), it’s exactly the samey that I really like!
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DavidI just can’t stop raving about ACE Records. The latest compilation, show casing the mid-70s, is another brilliant sampler of the music of the time.
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DavidMore “Jazz Club”! Madlib invades Blue Note. With unfettered access to the Blue Note catalogue, this record is a mangle of classic jazz that’s completely reinterpreted and re-flavoured.
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DavidAlong with Cabaret Voltaire, who had taken a bit of a right turn mixing menacing electronic textures with funky dance rhythms in the early to mid 80’s, I was totally hooked on the electronic/hip hop mashups of Mantronix.
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DavidThere’s some truly gut-busting, funky minimalism going on here! It’s dance-punk if you really want to label it. The Scroggin sisters, which hail from The Bronx, which now include a new generation of daughters playing in the group, have been around since the late 70’s.
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DavidI give Elton’s “Your Song” the same respect as I do for Bowie’s “Space Oddity”. Both fantastic songs released within 6 months of each other, but the albums from which these songs originated were never on my radar until much later.
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DavidThis band couldn’t make a bad album if they tried. Over nearly 30 years, and since 1992’s revelatory “May I Sing With Me”, I have been totally absorbed by their unique and consistently brilliant musical journey.
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DavidI must admit, I was expecting a bit more of a sideways move from Mr. Berry. (He of “Frost Of London”, “The Mighty Boosch” and the US version of “What We Do In The Shadows”).
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DavidA gorgeous mid-nineties dreamy shoegaze record of the highest order. For the unsuspecting, it can be an otherworldly swirl of guitar noise and way-down-in-the-mix vocals, but it’s never short of a spine tingling melody within that dirge.
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DavidNewly acquired, this is Record B (now finally out on vinyl) of the wonderful series of early (1972-83) experimental German rock and electronic musik by Soul Jazz Records.
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DavidDouglas R Hofstadter would have a field day with this one. Hofstadter’s Law states that “It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law.
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DavidIt’s quite apparent within a few seconds how sonically pleasing the old 12" singles and EPs are. Some of the best sounding LPs are now getting pressed over several sides of vinyl as 45rmp.
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DavidI finally picked a vinyl copy of this mid-90’s trip hop (whatever?) classic today. If ever there was a record that was vinyl-worthy - it’s this one.
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DavidYou know what! The Warehouse is really shite! Once upon a time, and not that long ago, I’d regularly come home with a bundle of bargains under my arm or in some cases, enough to fill my boot.
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DavidAlong with Low, Pavement and Stereolab, the Tengos have been nothing but consistently great. This record is a wonderful blend of early Velvets and post-Daydream Nation Sonic Youth.
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DavidThis is a great relic and snapshot of life in Thatcher’s England. “Inglan is a bitch, there’s no escaping it!” While it is politically and socially charged in places, (Mr Johnson could really getaway with singing about anything), the reggae/dub soundtrack in support of Linton’s wonderful prose is just fabulous!
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DavidThis first (and unfortunately last) record by Silver Jews leader, David Berman, has made many a “best albums of 2019” list but to be honest, I never gave it a chance.
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DavidI didn’t always “get” Jason Peirce’s Spiritualized or Spacemen 3 back in the 80’s and 90’s. It just seemed so last century!
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DavidThe only problem with this record is that each of the 8 tracks, with an average length of just over 5 minutes, just aren’t long enough.
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DavidI hate always playing it safe with music and this certainly takes me well out of my comfort zone. And this record which I’m listening to for the first time since picking it out of a bargain bin, does so in such a welcome and refreshing way.
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DavidThis Boston three piece make quite the racket, albeit a beautiful one - and it’s all done on a two string slide bass, saxophone and drums.
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DavidDon’t you dear judge me for listening to this! I grew hair on my bollocks listening to this record. Who doesn’t love Joe Walsh’s slide guitar on “Victim Of Love”?
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DavidAnother sonic gem from Portland’s Ripley Johnson (Wooden Shjips) and Sanae Yamada. Some very tasty and oh-so-spacey guitar playing over hooky keyboards and some great drum work from John Jeffrey, elevate this to a thing of mesmeric beauty.
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DavidThere’s not a lot of information out there about one Emerson Sandidge. He was born into a musical family in Gary, Indiana.
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DavidViv Albertine (once guitarist with The Slits) is my new hero. I’ve just finished reading her brilliant autobiography. (This should be compulsory reading for every man on the planet!
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DavidIt’s wet and cold outside this afternoon as this tribute to Welsh miners spins on my turntable. In contrast to the bleakness of the elements, it’s warm and cosy inside as the fire pushes out some serious heat.
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DavidAlong with ACE Records , Soul Jazz Records out of Soho in London is my favorite record label for delivering stunning “new” music.
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DavidThis relic from the very late 70’s is as infectious as Covid-19! At just under 40 minutes, there’s not one wasted note.
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DavidThis is a short and sweet little collaboration between fellow Texan musical pre-Covid tourists. After gigging around a bit, they decided to hit the studio.
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DavidGuitar-driven, wall-of-fuzz, melodic mayhem courtesy of Wooden Shjips front man Erik Ripley Johnson and non-affiliated keyboard player, Sanae Yamada. This records gives you a great big warm hypnotic hug.
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DavidIt seems like Blancmange have been around for donks! I’ve been listening to these poppy knob twiddlers since the very early 80’s.
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DavidAside from the brilliant and incomparable Lou Reed/David Bowie/Mick Ronson recording that is “Transformer” this is my favourite Lou Reed album.
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DavidThe antithesis of “pop” this is as abrasive and challenging as it gets. There’s no hiding. The dog is currently nestled under my legs somewhat disturbed by the dissonance.
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DavidThis arrived on sparkly new orange vinyl today. This 2020 remastered version is all the more remarkable in what it reveals in instrumentation.
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DavidThis FANTASTIC remastered 2014 compilation on 3 great slabs of vinyl just sounds well…. FANTASTIC! These 11 tracks, all released as 12” remixes, were clearly made for the dance floors of the late 70’s, early 80’s, but really blur the links between Disco, Classical, Jazz and Dub.
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DavidWhile the music can definitely stand-alone on this DVD, the film that accompanies the music on each track beautifully reinforces the historical components that the “found” sounds reference throughout.
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DavidI’m half way through Viv Albertine’s very candid 2014 book “Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys” She was brought into The Slits as the guitar player who had never actually played guitar.
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DavidThere’s absolutely no in-between with Ms. Newsom. You either love her or loathe her. Personally, I’m firmly in the love her unconditionally camp.
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DavidAnother awesome Aussie album. This gets an AAAA+ in anyone’s book. Earlier this month I did a bit of a rave about The Stroppies “Whoosh!
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DavidAllmusic.com, and their “know it all, yes we do have the final say on the matter” approach to music reviews is wearing thin.
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DavidThe Smiths and New Order. Two of the most influential bands of the 80’s. This masterpiece is the bastard offspring of Bernard Sumner and Jonny Marr, two key members of those respective stalwarts of British post punk.
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DavidOK it’s not a “proper” live album - it’s got studio recordings interspersed with the live stuff - but as a 17 year old totally immersed in guitar hero worship, this thing still stings the synapses.
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DavidACE Records presents: Music From Jarvis Cocker’s Sunday Service. Just right for this dreary Sunday afternoon, it’s time to revisit this wonderful compilation from England’s greatest living national eccentric.
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DavidIt’s obvious I’m not meant to be digging this band! First, their support slot with Tame Impala is now a non-event even if Mr.
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DavidI happened to be viewing some YouTube video footage of Whakaari (White Island) just prior to, during and after the 2019 eruption, while listening to this record.
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DavidCan’t sing, can’t play. Perfect. The Fair Brothers are from Uniontown in Maryland, USA. They formed Half Japanese in 1975.
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DavidThis really could be Dunedin circa 1982. Despite an Australian twang as wide as The Tasman Ocean there’s a definite The Bats/The Clean jingly/jangly groove emanating these Melbournians.
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DavidMore vinyl I’ve never listened to. It’s great to just buy stuff like in the old days when you only have reference to music choices courtesy of NME, Melody Maker, Sounds and local music rags like Rip It Up.
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DavidIt’s hard to believe that this duo from Old Blighty’s Briton can make such a god forsaken racket. Playing just drums and bass, they could cause all sorts of inferiority complexes for many a larger ensemble.
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DavidThe bottom end on this record is quite extraordinary. You do risk serious damage to your viscera and your speakers if you turn that knob too far.
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DavidA voice like an angel and a band that plays like the devil incarnate! It’s a beautiful contrast - Elfin meets charging Mastodon.
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DavidFriday night - it’s time to stay in and chill out not go out and chill down. This ain’t philosophical, it’s fact!
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DavidThis FANTASTIC compilation is the 4th volume in the “A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble (Exploding In Your Mind)” series compiled and mixed by The Amorphous Androgynous (aka The Future Sound Of London).
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DavidBob Stanley & Pete Wiggs Present England, the day after the 60’s. This is the follow up to 2017’s wonderful “English Weather” and another fantastic compilation of English obscurities.
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DavidI’d heard of The Bevis Frond but up until this evening I’d never “heard” The Bevis Frond. As I now have a tendency to do, I bought this on a spare-of-the-moment impulse at Smithies “Family Jewels” this evening.
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DavidYou want to chill - this is the cat’s pajama’s of cool! It’s funny though it’s not music you need to engage with, it’s music just to savor and enjoy for what it is.
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DavidAnother stunner from the Radiohead front man. I loved Radiohead’s last record, A Moon Shaped Pool, and it’s obvious that this is a hangover from those sessions.
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DavidLeftfield disco classics from the New York Underground. This is another superb compilation of New York weirdness of the late 70’s to mid 80’s.
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DavidI’ve had Afro-beat rhythms going on in my head all day since listening to this wee gem this morning. This record covers the period from 1973 to 1980.
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DavidSucculent and syrupy, that’s Mr. Sylvian. This is a recently updated double vinyl version of his late 90s record which I picked up for $29 on sale at JB-Hifi.
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DavidSometimes you just need a bit of cheerful, happy clappy positivity in your life. Things are all a bit grim at the moment.
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DavidPut on as background music this afternoon while tidying the cave, I was also trying to convince myself that when compared with vinyl, CDs sound like shit.
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DavidI was prepared to get very uncomfortable with this brand new compilation of “forgotten New Zealand electronic and avante music of the 1980s” released in late May this year.
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DavidOne of the finds of my recent trip to Wellington was this amazing record. Very tastefully remastered, individually numbered and pressed on gold and black vinyl, it is physically, visually and sonically a thing of great beauty.
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DavidI could listen to Kristin Hersh play the bongos while reciting “The Lord’s Prayer”. It would still be mesmerising. To me, she has one of the best and most distinctive voices of all the rock ‘n’ roll women.
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DavidPoliça are a really difficult band* to try and explain or categorise. (* Poliça is really just singer/songwriter Channy Leaneagh and producer Ryan Olson from the larger and just as uncategorisable collective Gayngs).
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DavidTo test my new computer/USB DAC/amplifier rig, I decided to play a high resolution computer audio file this evening. (A 24 bit/192kbps FLAC file to be precise).
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DavidSoul Jazz Records Presents: Experimental German Rock and Electronic Musik 1972-1983 (Record A) Another absolutely FANTASTIC compilation from Soul Jazz Records.
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DavidSoul Jazz Records New York Noise: Dance Music from the New York Underground 1977-1982 On several trips to London, I’d always make a point of visiting Sounds of the Universe at 7 Broadwick Street in Soho.
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DavidThis year, as Jessie from the “Fast Show” would say, I have been mainly eating compilations. In a most cases this makes for more enjoyable and “active” listening sessions as opposed to just recycling old CDs or “safe” vinyl.
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DavidI think my life is now complete! I now have this absolute peach of a record on beautifully remastered and totally rejuvenated pitch black vinyl.
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DavidThis is another impeccable and VERY English compilation from Mr. Bob Stanley and ACE Records. Originally released some 15 years ago, this is an updated version and covers English potty post-pyschedelic music from the late 60’s to mid 70’s.
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DavidI didn’t quite get this record on first listen but subsequently it’s now a thing of great beauty. This is despite sounding like it’s been taped directly off a transitor radio.
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DavidThis morning I discovered a wonderful new podcast for the proper music nerd. It’s called “ The Album Years ” and is presented by one of my familiars - Steven Wilson and his close buddy Tim Bowness.
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DavidI can just about tolerate going grocery shopping at Fresh Choice supermarket when they play some classy tunes over the PA system.
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DavidAnother impulse buy from “Family Jewels”. I mainly bought this for the beautiful crystal clear coloured splattered vinyl but as a secondary bonus the music is a complete breath of fresh air.
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DavidI’ve always wanted to re-get this on vinyl (I gave my first LP away in the early 2000s) and was seething with jealousy when fellow shut up and listener, brother Ricardo showed me his big blue.
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DavidAside from a resurgence of vinyl in my world, I’m tending more and more towards playing music via a streaming service or off ripped files on network attached storage devices.
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DavidSince coming out of lockdown, I’ve decided to take a few punts and purchase a bit of vinyl from my local “Family Jewels” record shop on the strength of reputation and Smithies recommendations.
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DavidThis is another one of my big influential records I listened to as a bored, shy and self-absorbed 12 year old at my uncle’s house in Palmerston North.
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DavidRIP Florian Schneider 01010010 01001001 01010000 00100000 01000110 01101100 01101111 01110010 01101001 01100001 01101110 00100000 01010011 01100011 01101000 01101110 01100101 01101001 01100100 01100101 01110010
comments![Porcupine Tree - Deadwing [DVD-Audio] (2005)](/images/post/wilt_20200508_image-asset_huc6146b21b04c9ad3d061ed6a010c6aed_9962_0x230_resize_q95_h2_lanczos.webp)
DavidOK I concede. The only thing better than Porcupine Tree’s Deadwing on vinyl is Porcupine Tree’s Deadwing on Hi-Res DVD-Audio. Renown for his production and high resolution recordings, Steven Wilson does not hold back on this beauty.
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DavidThis “Paradise” edition vinyl was made available in this format several years after the special edition was released on CD in 2012.
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DavidI’ve taken a BIG gamble of late with the purchase of another big Bowie box which arrived at my door this very morning.
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DavidIt’s NZ Music Month so it’s probably apt to play a few of my favourites over the next month. Now this is definitely not your typical 80’s New Zealand band.
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DavidOK, I’ve never been a big fan of Old Cranky throughout his musical lifespan. With the exception of his early days with CSN&Y, “On The Beach” “Zuma” and “Arc-Weld”, I’ve mainly stayed clear of his guitar and song-writing histrionics.
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DavidThis record seems to get a hell of a lot of hyper-praise. I’ve never really singled out albums in the Beatles catalogue to measure or compare against each other but in the case of this particular record, I really can’t see what all the fuss is about.
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DavidI’m just listening to “Coffee Shop Blues” as I’m hearing this Tidal stream for the 2nd time today. Wouldn’t a proper cup of barista quality coffee and a cheese scone dripping in butter go down well!
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DavidI really forgot I even had this in my record collection when I went hunting for something substantial today. And this remastered gem on Antarctic Ice Shelf-thick vinyl IS truly substantial.
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DavidPhysical Graffiti remains one of my all time “most significant records”. I still remember buying this fucker! I couldn’t breath when I dropped that needle for the first time.
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DavidThis record feels totally apt for these times. Bland, mechanical and repetitious. In the case of Kraftwerk - being robotic works very well.
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DavidI’m actively re-assessing Bowie’s records since 1980’s “Scary Monsters”. I have openly stated my apparent unwillingness to accept there was still genius lurking past “Ashes To Ashes” This isn’t Covid-19 related cabin fever talking either, it’s a genuine regret that I’ve followed the sway of the critics rather than making up my own mind.
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DavidThis is for me the best record of the late 70’s early 80’s. I know that’s quite a big call but time and time again it continues to befuddle, bemuse and bewitch me.
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DavidThis is a lovely, hazy trip back to the late 60’s American West Coast except this band hails from 21st Century Denmark.
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DavidYo La Tengo is not a band you play often. When you do, it’s an absolute revelation! No two listens are the same.
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DavidWhile it’s hard to argue that this, their second record, is made of the same greatness that came before on “Blue Lines”, it just fails to rip my nightie this evening.
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DavidThis has been my soundtrack to everything of late. No, you won’t have heard of Jonathan Hultén but you really should as this record is simply extraordinary!
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DavidI don’t often bring out old misery guts but given the bleakness of the situation nothing seems more apt. For me The Smiths still rank up there as one of the best bands of the 80’s.
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DavidBought this on a whim a while back. I had never listened to Microdisney prior to purchasing this, I’d just read glowing references.
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DavidI’ve been sorting out my home office today as 25% of the population is probably doing. (To be honest, I’ve been busy helping others get sorted and really forgot about myself until today).
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DavidThis album has been popping up on a few underrated records rants and references lately so I thought I better check it out.
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DavidIt’s been full-on 12 hour plus days over a 13 day solid stretch as I rolled up my sleeves and gave all the techy stuff a kick up the pants.
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DavidA monumental day today in Godzone as we all prepare to go into lock down. It might be time to trawl through your collection or even, God help us, explore some new music!
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DavidWhile definitely sounding like it was made in the early 80’s (it was!) this record is testament to good songwriting, not quirky, clever production (which it also has).
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DavidSuper-G’s very last record continues with the high-calibre, riff-heavy pop-rock they are renowned for. Over their six studio albums they have made consistently great and seemingly effortless records that without failure, completely kick arse.
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DavidI’ve been really enjoying mix tapes and compilations over the last few years. The best collections tend to expose one to other artists, genres and sometimes entire worm holes for further investigation.
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DavidJust above the bar code on the back of this new slab of vinyl by Lyttelton’s Nadia Reid it proudly proclaims “Made in New Zealand” in a nice bold font.
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DavidI took a big punt on this one during my weekly Warehouse bin trawl. Dropping from $49 to $29 and a couple of well known tracks, including the anthemic “Renagade Fighter”, convinced me to part with my cash.
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DavidLovely late-80’s album from Tokoroa-Born Australian citizen, Jennifer Patricia Morris. While it’s got a definite 80’s production vibe, all of songs stand up really well.
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DavidHaving spent the last month totally immersed in everything Stereolab, I was hoping that this newly re-formed groop, down in this neck of the woods, would at least meet expectations.
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DavidYou know what, I’m getting sick of the same old same old. Three albums in and on the fantastic “Currents” Kevin Parker was getting flogged by the sky’s falling brigade for adding squelchy keyboards and turning his back on his guitar fuelled hazy psych.
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DavidJust a couple of albums to go on my Anglo-French band adventures over the last month. They play live on Tuesday night next week!
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DavidIf you think my time listening to Stereolab is fully exhausted, then think again. This compilation from 1998 is a real cracker.
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DavidThere’s more tambourine playing by Laetitia Sadier than actual singing on this record. Apparently she was sick and didn’t get much studio time so the band just played on.
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DavidAn end-of-century pre-millennial masterpiece. Letitia Sadier and Mary Hanson are on their best collaborative form, harmonising/counter-harmonising beautifully. The horns introduced in Dots and Loops are more prevalent throughout on this record and there’s a few avant guarde moments in the mix as well.
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DavidWhile I’ve replaced ALL of my Stereolab CDs over the last 12 months with astoundingly well remastered and plump-with-music, vinyl editions, I won’t be getting rid of this rare 3CD/1DVD compilation anytime soon.
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DavidThis really early collection of singles and EPs that were recorded prior to their first album Peng! shows just how far they haven’t come.
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DavidThis album, their fourth, may have been my very first exposure to the Stereolab collective back in the late 90’s. Many a CD was thrust into my mitts, including this one, as I ventured into Everyman Records.
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DavidI always wanted to listen to this record this evening. It’s not quite reverse chronologically but fuck it! I make up and change the rules as I go.
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DavidAnother brilliant collection, like yesterday’s compilation, of extraordinary and ageless AOR music. Most of the time I like to feel the grime and hear the dirge.
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DavidYou can thank not taking the time to properly programme stations on the car radio and the holiday break for my two latest indiscretions.
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DavidLiterally just out of Kindy, these Oxford youngsters thrust themselves into mid-90’s Brit-Pop obsessed England. This debut is surprisingly competent for such tiny tots and remains a highly listenable and classic pop record.
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DavidThere’s no getting away from it - Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” is quite good. It’s certainly the Waters and Gilmour show with some killer songs amongst the more operatic/filler stuff.
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DavidJust a great big slab of shit-kicking R&B on double teal vinyl to upset the neighbours and add an edge to the Friday night “no work tomorrow” alcohol fueled exhortations.
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DavidThis is a brilliant collaboration between Kid Cudi and Kanye West. While it’s only an 20 minute EP, it does one hell of a lot during those 1200 seconds.
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DavidWhat a fantastic way to start the weekend! It’s sunny, I don’t have to go to work, and I have time to relax without any demands.
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DavidThis astounding surround-sounding compilation is the cats pajamas for XTC completists. This mid-80’s recording found the Swindon band reinventing themselves while parodying the psychedelic 60’s and in the process bettering 95% of the bands of that time.
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DavidWith the recent demise of Neil Innes , just prior to the turn of the new decade, the world lost a true comedic and musical genius.
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DavidThis greatest hits (volume one) is a non-stop riff fest - I’m not kidding. This record is unrelentless and all of the songs are super extended versions.
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DavidThis truly remarkable mid-80’s release plays out like a Beatles record. Wall to wall “how can anybody write such amazing songs”.
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DavidA bit of a delve back into that strange transitional, and often awkward mid-eighties where you find these London knob twiddlers in their prime.
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DavidBeautiful, ethereal music for a busy old back-at-work Wednesday. Just the ticket when you want some escape into the recesses of your own head space.
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DavidStunning new film of The Cure playing live in 2018. As well as being stunning visually, the Cures have never sounded better.
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DavidStereolab never cease to amaze and surprise. I’ve been trawling through their back catalogue in anticipation of their Wellington event in March.
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DavidIt’s “Bay’s Dreams” weekend here in Nelson and things are really kicking off! Less than 300 metres away from our home in The Wood, it’s FANTASTIC to have such a great summer event literally on our backdoor step.
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DavidThis record was a complete impulse buy whilst trawling the JB-Hifi bins in Wellington. I heard mention of Torres via the “Sound Opinions” podcast a while back where she was highly revered by Greg Kot.
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DavidWowee, we’ve got a right one here! It’s the perfect way to see in the new year. Bereft of any English, this collaboration with South African artist Muzi, is mostly sung in Welsh, with a bit of Zulu thrown in.
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DavidGone are the days of trucking over to Wellington and coming back over-endowed with swags of shiny new CDs and DVDs.
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DavidHoly Mother this is intense! While on the far left side of the heavy spectrum musically, it’s but a whisper, it still jolts you to the core.
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DavidThere’s no shortage of Who compilations. For me, this is the big, vinyl-worth one. 21 brilliant tracks covering 50 years, this is the ultimate showcase of their greatest, radio-friendly hits.
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DavidReleased just a few months ago, this debut record by LA trio “Automatic”, is possibly my find of the year. On non-stop rotation for the last couple of days it’s wormed it’s way into my brain.
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DavidIt’s funky time. This new record maintains the high standard of previous releases. There’s no real surprises just straightforward reggae infused R’n’B and dub.
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DavidI’m not a proud man. How could I resist this 2016, 40th Anniversary Legacy vinyl picture disc for just $22! I’ve never really bought into the whole picture disc thing but in this case it convinced me enough to buy this record.
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DavidThis record is like your very own private audience with Bill Callaghan. The songs are intimate and slightly discomforting, but it’s always very, very engaging.
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DavidIs this the perfect pop record? A faultless masterpiece from Swindon’s finest. Aside from the Beatles, I cannot think of another consistently brilliant band.
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DavidI recently spotted a reference to Group 1850 in a recent “Shindig!” magazine. [By the way Shindig! is now on Readly , an incredibly cheap and efficient way of getting access to ALL of your favourite magazines digitally.
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DavidA big hefty chunk of vinyl playing at 45rpm, a “hidden” track on side one you play backwards, a pop-up cardboard engineer in the recording studio inside the lavish gatefold cover, and lots of a complete off-kilter, genre-bending tunes/experiments throughout!
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DavidAn extraordinary and incendiary relic of the punk/post punk era. Musically and politically, this is such a grab bag of the best bits of the last five years of 70’s England.
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DavidOn Tuesday 3rd March 2020, my latest musical obsession, Stereolab are playing at the San Franscisco Bath House in Wellington. As I may have alluded to previously, I’ve been gathering Stereolab’s entire back catalogue on magnificent triple, clear-vinyl reissues.
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DavidI had a few turntable issues this evening which nearly derailed my listening pleasure. I eventually tracked it down to being an interconnect cable issue.
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DavidGot may latest fix of triple clear vinyl from The Labs this evening - 2LPs actually - that’s 6 slabs of mindfucking magic and album numbers 8 and 9!
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DavidI would have bought this wonderful record just for the cover alone. It’s certainly a great (in stereo) representation of the pleasures within.
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DavidI’ve been looking out for a vinyl version of this treasure for a while now. I happened to find it in Hamilton and this is probably the antithesis of that dump.
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DavidThe most consistent Aussie band of all time, these dudes just haven’t put a foot wrong during their 40 year career.
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DavidWhenever I hear Autobahn, I place myself back in the family home in Hastings in 1974. That was a huge moment for me - the day Casey Kasem played the edited, radio friendly version of “Autobahn” on the American Top 40.
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DavidI don’t give a tinker’s cuss what these dudes are on about but the sonics, bottom end, verbal riffage and discomfort on this record is second to none.
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DavidWhile the Germans are responsible for the abomination that is the DIN connector they are also responsible for some of the most influential and amazing music on the planet.
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DavidThis is in my top 10 records. This is not one of those records that was a right of passage or a sign post or fork in the road on my musical journey.
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DavidI heard “New Music with Grant Smithies” for 11th Oct 2019 via podcast this morning. One group particularly stood out for me.
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DavidI lugged my big Bowie box #3 down stairs into the lounge this afternoon and played what is probably Bowie’s last great album recorded at the arse end of the 80’s.
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DavidSRV’s first and best record. Boosted by a guest slot on Bowie’s “Lets Dance” and a free recording ticket courtesy of Jackson Browne, this debut just oozes raw talent and authentic blues.
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DavidA glorious racket! They say there were several bands, including Pavement, that ripped off the Fall sound. That’s complete bollocks! Absolutely no one, now and then, sounds like The Fall.
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DavidThere’s a lot of syrupy dream pop pouring out of my speakers this morning as I ease into the day with this treasure.
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DavidCertainly “of it’s time” this jazz-lite record still treats the ears. I’m sure I didn’t pay the $6.99 of the sticker price still attached to the disc but got it along with about 15 other DVD-Audio discs on one of my afternoon raids to the Red Shed.
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DavidR.E.M has got a bad rap from our Shut Up and Listen group over recent years. I can’t recall anyone playing an R.
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DavidDie Antwoord still goes down as one of my most gob smacking live music moments ever. Entering the big Boiler Room dance tent completely cold and expecting nothing, I encountered little pixie Yo Landi Vi$$er in full flight “ah ah ah, I am your butterfly - I need your protection”
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DavidThe Lips have always been very generous with their non-standard CD releases - if you can find them. Most of their seminal records, including “The Soft Bulletin” “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots” and “At War With The Mystics”, are also available with bonus 5.
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David“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” There’s no getting away from it, a great song will always be a great song.
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DavidIt’s 6 days since I’ve actually sat down and listened to a full record. Family do take precedence, especially when there’s tiny tots involved, but it is a sacrifice you make never the less.
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DavidAnother great haul today. I’ve been eyeing up the vinyl bins at TWH lately ready to pounce. I bought a swag the other day but this Kiwi classic, a 25 Year Anniversary remaster, was still retailing for $49.
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DavidTalk about eclectic! This is just about the epitome of it. Jarvis Cocker the un-coolest/cool person on the planet, does a snapshot of seven years of his Sunday afternoon radio show.
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DavidAnother cheapie from The Warehouse. As I’ve stated before, you need to loiter there at least once a week and you will usually be handsomely rewarded.
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DavidA fantastic second outing for this Oxfordian power trio. Barely out of nappies when they wrote this, I’m thinking to myself “I bet a lot of musicians wish they wrote that one.
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DavidI’ve got a shit load of Stereolab records to work through. 22 sides of beautifully remastered clear vinyl in fact. There’s a new batch of their later catalogue remasters coming soon.
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DavidOne of my greatest live experiences ever was witnessing Jakob play live at some dodgy club in Nelson to an audience of about 10.
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DavidOne of my favourites at the moment and on high rotation (if there’s such a thing for streaming content) is this absolute gem from newcomer John Myrtle.
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DavidWhat a fucking amazing record! What a fucking amazing woman! When the track “Your Ghost” starts off, my goose bumps are the size of golf balls!
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DavidA great place to start if you are completely new to Caravan(ing). Spanning the late 60’s, early 70’s, it’s got such a fantastic folky, psychedelic vibe that leans somewhat towards a progressive rock sound.
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DavidThis freebie grab bag from one of our Shut Up And Listen sessions, is hitting all of the right notes. Reminding me a lot of Zero 7 and St.
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DavidI’ve listened to this multiple times over the past few months and it’s just sooooo laid back I just about fall asleep everytime.
comments![Opeth - In Cauda Venenum [Tidal] (2019)](/images/post/wilt_20190928_image-asset_hudd9df46273e79e816bdbc03caf55354b_24388_0x230_resize_q95_h2_lanczos.webp)
DavidI’ve gone walkabout with my iPhone and this is usually now my default for new music. I have definitely changed my original stance on only listening properly on a decent stereo system.
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DavidWhat’s the first album you play on your brand new turntable? One of the most iconic records of all time - that’s what!
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DavidGreat guitar-based, instrumental solo record from Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery with special guests Steve Hackett and Steven Wilson. Whilst it may be too much to do it justice in a single sitting, there’s some great guitar playing from the main Steve.
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DavidI’m always a bit reluctant to lock into the old mainstream dinosaurs from yesteryear just in case I completely lose my street cred.
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DavidIt’s always a bit of an experience getting Lana’s new big chunk of vinyl onto your own turntable. Arriving by courier this very afternoon, it’s a big double gatefold package encasing two heaving 180g records.
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DavidThis big proggy rocky thing is a real treat. Bought for just $12 in some bargain bin in a Melbourne mall, it’s a superb album that rewards you more on each subsequent listen.
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DavidWedged between “The Stooges” and “Talking Heads” in my highly alphabetasied and well sorted vinyl collection, is this true punk masterpiece.
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DavidPlease don’t judge me but this early eighties gem is a lot better than anyone, including myself, ever gave it credit for.
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DavidIt’s taken all of the last 25 years to find a proper version of this record with the correct unadulterated track listing.
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DavidI’ve been tweaking my new stereo system in the lounge lately. (No more heaving Stonehenge down my stairs every 6 months to host a Shut Up and Listen session!
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DavidAnother beautifully eclectic and somewhat experimental offering from the post-punk, gothic sweethearts. Siouxsie Sioux is in fine voice and John McGeoch (ex Magazine guitarist) is now fully ensconced in the band.
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DavidMy (not so) recent trip to Melbourne yielded some surprising good Aussie music that continues to reward. One of my favorites was Dope Lemon’s “Smooth Big Cat” on pretty picture disc vinyl - it’s just fantastic!
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DavidFantastic debut record from a band I couldn’t do any sort of justice by trying to describe. Led by French vocalist Laetitia Sadier, this just oozes cool.
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