New Zealand rockers
Posted by: ejl on 12 August 2004
I recently discovered Bailter Space (via. "Tanker") and the similar-sounding Straightjacket Fits (via. "Hail"), both from NZ. I like this type of sound: edgy, dissonant bass and guitar riffs over spaced-out, druggy-trancy noises.
AMG suggests The Verlaines and Jean-Paul Sartre Experience (both also from NZ) as similar artists.
Any experiences or other recs?
AMG suggests The Verlaines and Jean-Paul Sartre Experience (both also from NZ) as similar artists.
Any experiences or other recs?
Posted on: 12 August 2004 by Lo Fi Si
I really must get round to writing a rough guide to this era of NZ music. A lot of the personnel in the bands swap about a bit so many different bands can sound quite similar.
Stuff to try (if you can get hold of it)
The Clean - probably "Anthology" these guys (the Kilgour brothers), along with Chris Knox, kicked off the Dunedin sound and Flying Nun records www.flyingnun.co.nz .
The Gordons - I'm not sure what is available now
Snapper - "Shotgun Blossom"
The Bats - "Daddy's Highway" - some of their later stuff is not quite so good IMHO
Tall Dwarves and Chris Knox - a bit more off the wall but great tunes and aledgedly a big influence on YLT and other US LoFi outfits.
The Verlaines and JPSE are generally not quite as hard edged as Bailter Space and Straightjacket Fits but if you like them The Chills and Sneaky Feelings may also appeal.
Of course, from outside NZ there is Spacemen 3 "Perfect prescription" being a good place to start.
I saw Straightjacket Fits support The Jesus and Mary Chain (in Wellington) and they blew them off the stage.
Simon
Stuff to try (if you can get hold of it)
The Clean - probably "Anthology" these guys (the Kilgour brothers), along with Chris Knox, kicked off the Dunedin sound and Flying Nun records www.flyingnun.co.nz .
The Gordons - I'm not sure what is available now
Snapper - "Shotgun Blossom"
The Bats - "Daddy's Highway" - some of their later stuff is not quite so good IMHO
Tall Dwarves and Chris Knox - a bit more off the wall but great tunes and aledgedly a big influence on YLT and other US LoFi outfits.
The Verlaines and JPSE are generally not quite as hard edged as Bailter Space and Straightjacket Fits but if you like them The Chills and Sneaky Feelings may also appeal.
Of course, from outside NZ there is Spacemen 3 "Perfect prescription" being a good place to start.
I saw Straightjacket Fits support The Jesus and Mary Chain (in Wellington) and they blew them off the stage.
Simon
Posted on: 13 August 2004 by ejl
Thanks for that Lo Fi. It turns out that The Gordons are pretty much composed of the same crew as Bailter Space, which is a good sign. Sounds like they and The Clean may be what I'm looking for.
Posted on: 13 August 2004 by Lo Fi Si
I've just looked at the Flying Nun site and seen that The Gordons first album is reissued on CD - worth getting. The Tuatara compilation is also out on CD and gives a pretty good overview of the NZ scene - with a few notable ommisions.
Simon
Simon
Posted on: 14 August 2004 by Kevin-W
Prompted by this thread, I spent this morning listening to some of the groups mentioned.
On vinyl I spun The Clean's "Vehicle", which was an absolute corker, and dug up a 1989 Flying Nun commpilatiion callled "In Love With These Times". It's got loads of great stuff by great groups on it: Rain by The Chills; "Sllow Sad Love Song" by The Verlaines the fabulous Straightjacket Fits with "She Speeds", Snapper's "Hang On" and, best of all, the roaring "Grader Spader" by Bailterspace, my favourite of all the groups to come out of NZ during the 1980s.
It's a great compilation, well worth tracking down if you can find it.
kevin (Led Zeppelin: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You)
PS - Does anyone remember The Fauves? Or were they Australian?
On vinyl I spun The Clean's "Vehicle", which was an absolute corker, and dug up a 1989 Flying Nun commpilatiion callled "In Love With These Times". It's got loads of great stuff by great groups on it: Rain by The Chills; "Sllow Sad Love Song" by The Verlaines the fabulous Straightjacket Fits with "She Speeds", Snapper's "Hang On" and, best of all, the roaring "Grader Spader" by Bailterspace, my favourite of all the groups to come out of NZ during the 1980s.
It's a great compilation, well worth tracking down if you can find it.
kevin (Led Zeppelin: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You)
PS - Does anyone remember The Fauves? Or were they Australian?
Posted on: 18 August 2004 by ejl
Thanks -- I ordered that anthology of The Clean.
On a slightly different but still New Zealandish note, while digging around my 7" collection (a sprawling mess of independent label releases from about '85-'95, most of which I don't remember owning), I turned up some other interesting NZ acts:
The Dead C.: "The Sun Stabbed" and "Hell is Now" eps. I'm very impressed. Allmusic, which is proving helpful sorting through my singles, says they were a big influence on Sonic Youth, Pavement, Sebadoh, etc. Must find more...
The Terminals: "Do the Void" ep. Garage rockers; amateurish but catchy.
Plagal grind s/t. noisy Joy Divisionesque sound.
Anyway, I'm happy about The Dead C. discovery, and welcome recs. here too, since it seems that they have a sizable back catalogue. Maybe "White House"?
On a slightly different but still New Zealandish note, while digging around my 7" collection (a sprawling mess of independent label releases from about '85-'95, most of which I don't remember owning), I turned up some other interesting NZ acts:
The Dead C.: "The Sun Stabbed" and "Hell is Now" eps. I'm very impressed. Allmusic, which is proving helpful sorting through my singles, says they were a big influence on Sonic Youth, Pavement, Sebadoh, etc. Must find more...
The Terminals: "Do the Void" ep. Garage rockers; amateurish but catchy.
Plagal grind s/t. noisy Joy Divisionesque sound.
Anyway, I'm happy about The Dead C. discovery, and welcome recs. here too, since it seems that they have a sizable back catalogue. Maybe "White House"?
Posted on: 18 August 2004 by Giles Felgate
I'd second trying to find "In love with these times" it's easily the best Flying Nun sampler. The Bats "Complilately Bats" is a good overview of their earlier better stuff and I'd also recommend the Chills "Heavenly Pop Songs" another excellent compilation.
Giles
Giles
Posted on: 26 August 2004 by edwin green
To my suprise I really like Neil Finn's live album from a couple of years back with Johnny Marr, two from Radiohead and Eddie Vedder. The DVD is twice as long and even better. Mainly Crowded House stuff but the first time I've really liked his music.
I like his website title too - nilfun.com
I like his website title too - nilfun.com