Low - Christmas (1999)

Low - Christmas (1999)

The relevance of this album is obvious. It’s a simple little record of Low doing Christmas stuff. Essential themed Slowcore.

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Joan As Police Woman - The Deep Field (2011)

Joan As Police Woman - The Deep Field (2011)

I’m in a very specific mood this afternoon as tensions build towards Sunday’s big event (my lad’s wedding day). I tried to listen to one of my bargain bin haul items (Jaco Pastorious - Jaco OST) but that was no where near up to scratch and lasted a couple of tracks.

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Field Music - Open Here (2018)

Field Music - Open Here (2018)

Another stunning release from Sunderland’s Brewis brothers. Purchased from Marbecks on a recent Auckland excursion, this very vinyl-worthy long player is clearly made (on clear vinyl), for needle and groove.

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My Computer - No CV (2005)

My Computer - No CV (2005)

I was first attracted to My Computer by the mythical and magical debut release “Vulnerabilia” which I never managed to get a physical copy of in any format.

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Dimmer - I Believe You Are A Star (2001)

Dimmer - I Believe You Are A Star (2001)

It’s a fucking outrage that this record isn’t even listed on Dimmer’s discography on Allmusic.com Not only is this one of NZ’s best ever records, it’s an extraordinary example of world class songcraft and production.

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Kikagaku Moyo - Masana Temples (2018)

Kikagaku Moyo - Masana Temples (2018)

I possibly heard about this record while listening to the “All Songs Considered” podcast on one of my mindful(less) walks. It was one of those WTF moments where you stop in your tracks and take note of who and what before it’s all lost.

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Piano Magic - Closure (2017)

Piano Magic - Closure (2017)

What a big old pleasant surprise this was then! I bought this at Real Groovy in Auckland recently with the carrot of a “$5 off” sticker gracing the front sleeve.

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The Horrors - Higher (2013)

The Horrors - Higher (2013)

I needed some chill down music this evening. I’ve just arrived back from Auckland after a spectacular live show last night at one of the best venues I’ve ever been to.

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Wire - Red Barked Tree (2011)

Wire - Red Barked Tree (2011)

A randomly chosen selection this evening. Despite being four decades since their highly revered, smack-you-around-the-head trio of utter brilliance, Mr Colin Newman and Co return with a very worthy stunner that harks back to their best.

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Marlon Williams - Make Way For Love (2018)

Marlon Williams - Make Way For Love (2018)

A talent like this doesn’t come along very often - ahem, unless you come from the lower South Island. Nadia Reid, Aldous Hardling and Marlon Williams are part of the mother folking good South Island Kiwi’s pushing their esoteric but trending trendy, angst-ridden tunes around the globe.

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Mogwai - Special Moves [DVD] (2010)

Mogwai - Special Moves [DVD] (2010)

I swear, I will NEVER attend a live Mogwai event. I’m long past going to sonically damaging gigs where your ears fight for recovery for the next few days and your internalised speech sounds like an old transistor radio.

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Strawpeople - Broadcast (1994)

Strawpeople - Broadcast (1994)

I heard a great interview on Radio New Zealand this morning with songwriter, producer and documentary maker Mark Tierney. He was responsible for the wonderful Strawpeople.

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Genesis - Video Show [DVD] (2005)

Genesis - Video Show [DVD] (2005)

Love em or loath em, Genesis after Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett left, became even bigger stadium fillers and fully transformed into mega selling, production line pop superstars.

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Cate Le Bon - Crab Day

Cate Le Bon - Crab Day

I still haven’t trawled through all of my $2 “take-a-punt” CDs from Te Whare Putunga. After my Steven “Bloody” Wilson marathon last month, I’m ready for some fresh sounds.

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Steven Wilson - Get All You Deserve (2012)

Steven Wilson - Get All You Deserve (2012)

Behind the veil. One of the best props I’ve ever seen at any gig is the transparent/translucent cloak that Mr Wilson’s band plays behind on this 2012 recorded gig and also experienced live for most of his 2016 gig in Auckland.

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No-Man - Flowermouth (1994)

No-Man - Flowermouth (1994)

Yet another piece of the musical heritage puzzle that is the Steven Wilson brand. This early 90’s record is a largely experimental, but highly accessible pop record made in collaboration with vocalist Tim Bowness.

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Porcupine Tree - Up The Downstair (1993)

Porcupine Tree - Up The Downstair (1993)

Nearly a decade prior to the release of one of my favourite SW moments, 2002’s “In Absentia” where things started heading North towards metal, this gem is a previously neglected treasure trove of progressive rock meets psychedelia.

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Bahamas - Bahamas Is Afie (2014)

Bahamas - Bahamas Is Afie (2014)

Fuckin’ Canadians! Sarah has the TV permanently tuned to Channel 17 on Freeview. HGTV is dedicated to the very best in home improvement, DIY design, real estate and gardening - Canadian style!

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Ween - Chocolate And Cheese (1994)

Ween - Chocolate And Cheese (1994)

“The Pod” and especially “Pure Guava” was my (and fellow SUAL’er Martin’s) introduction to the absurd but incredibly inventive and musically proficient Ween.

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Chiodos - Devil (2014)

Chiodos - Devil (2014)

Another $2 random roulette choice from the big red shed. To be fair, this has some great and not-so-great moments. I think the good bits outweigh the less satisfying bits - so I’m not losing sleep over my impulsive purchase.

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Icky Blossoms - Mask (2015)

Icky Blossoms - Mask (2015)

These Nebraskins are clearly locked inside a mid-80’s time warp. There’s lots of electronic noodling, trance-like ridums and some ever so pleasingly analogue synths at play.

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The Only Ones - Baby's Got A Gun (1980)

The Only Ones - Baby's Got A Gun (1980)

A criminally underappreciated band that I simply couldn’t (perhaps can’t) get enough of. Peter Perrett’s fragile, vulnerable, between-keys voice is stunningly authentic and matched for uniqueness and virtuosity by John Perry’s amazing fret work.

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Nitin Sawhney - Dystopian Dream (2015)

Nitin Sawhney - Dystopian Dream (2015)

Nitin Sawhney’s first record, which I encountered at the end of last century, was a game changer for me. Jeff Beck covered the track “Nadia” from that album a year or two later and it was soon after this that I joined the “ Shut Up and Listen ” group on the strength of that one song.

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M83 - Before The Dawn Heals Us (2005)

M83 - Before The Dawn Heals Us (2005)

I didn’t see this coming at all. On first encounter this was totally unexpected. For some reason I had previously assumed M83 was some lo-fi, punky angst band from France and had always thought their acclaimed album “Dead Cities, Red Seas…” was some sort of Green Day/angry band revamp.

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Emile Haynie - We Fall (2015)

Emile Haynie - We Fall (2015)

I spilt my coffee all over my desk at work and into my back pack this black Friday morning. Coincidence, not really - shit happens sometimes and I was a fuck wit for being so careless.

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Au.Ra - Jane's Lament (2015)

Au.Ra - Jane's Lament (2015)

Mesmeric debut from Sydney duo Au.Ra. I’m not prepared to put a label on it but it’s up there with a couple of other favourite and recent Aussie releases.

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The Charlatans - Modern Nature (2015)

The Charlatans - Modern Nature (2015)

“Remember where you were yesterday” is a sentiment conveyed in the liner notes on this record dedicated to founding member and drummer Jon Brookes, who died of a terminal illness just prior to its recording.

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David Gilmour - David Gilmour (1978)

David Gilmour - David Gilmour (1978)

This record is more often than not completely rubbished by the music critics. This debut by the ex, and once second-in-charge Floydian, is full of trademark Gilmour and recalls great memories of me playing this with great regularity.

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TV On The Radio - Seeds (2014)

TV On The Radio - Seeds (2014)

I did the $2 grab bag from TWH this afternoon. Picked up eight quite obscure albums (including The Pop Group’s “Citizen Zombie” and Iron and Wine’s “Sing Into My Mouth”) - all for under 20 bucks.

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Sugar - Copper Blue (1992)

Sugar - Copper Blue (1992)

Faultless post-Hüsker Dü record from their legendary front man. Despite a brain melting wall of guitars, it’s the hook of great melody amidst all of that power that prevails over everything else.

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Fleetwood Mac - Future Games (1971)

Fleetwood Mac - Future Games (1971)

I’ve listened to Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, up to and including the excellent “Then Play On” and the megastar Linsey Buckingham-era Fleetwood Mac that peaked with “Rumours” and “Tusk”.

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Jethro Tull - Living In The Past (1972)

Jethro Tull - Living In The Past (1972)

More from those seminal years then. Thank god punk and new wave eventually came along to rescue one from the dinosaurs that prevailed but there really was no other period for rock like the early to mid 70s.

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Mick Ronson - Heaven And Hull (1994)

Mick Ronson - Heaven And Hull (1994)

I make no bones about it. Mick Ronson was/is the most important guitar player of my lifetime. It’s a bold statement - but when you first encounter “Moonage Daydream” as a bare-arsed 12 year old, it counts for everything.

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Uriah Heep - Demons And Wizards (1972)

Uriah Heep - Demons And Wizards (1972)

This record, along with their earlier “Very ‘Eavy Very ‘Umble”, Tull’s “Aqualung” and the incomparable and never bettered, The Who’s “Live At Leeds” were HUGE for me as a shy, day dreaming, on-another-planet 12 year old.

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The Roots - Phrenology (2002)

The Roots - Phrenology (2002)

It’s a mixed bag for me this one. Some of the more experimental stuff grates but then the record completely absolves itself with some incredibly hooky bass-lines and riffs and several songs to die for.

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The Wolfgang Press - Funky Little Demons (1995)

The Wolfgang Press - Funky Little Demons (1995)

These dudes started off as a post-new-wave, gothy-punk-avant-garde-noise-band. (It’s a proper musical genre, I’m telling you!) However, I didn’t become aware of them until they morphed into a fully fledged white boy funk band and five albums into their 4AD label tenure.

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Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980)

Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980)

[Original 1980 Japanese pressing from Lo Cost Vinyl in Jackson Street, Petone] I just spent the weekend in Wellington and restricted my purchases (with the utmost of restraint I must say!

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Jethro Tull - Benefit (1970)

Jethro Tull - Benefit (1970)

[5.1 DTS SW Remaster] What a revelation this wonderful recording is. While my Tull experience really started with “Aqualung” and “Living In The Past” and ended with 1978’s “Heavy Horses”, their back catalogue is well worth exploring.

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Thin Lizzy - Fighting (1975)

Thin Lizzy - Fighting (1975)

This is where it all started with me and the Lizzy boys. The best dual guitar attack since Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter ambushed Lou’s “Rock’n’Roll Animal”.

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Led Zeppelin - IV (1971)

Led Zeppelin - IV (1971)

A bit of magic on this Friday the 13th. Appropriately kicking off with “Black Dog” the diversity and musicianship on this record doesn’t relent until the final note is squeezed out.

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Pepe Deluxe - Beatitude (2003)

Pepe Deluxe - Beatitude (2003)

This Monday night debrief requires serious frivolity. This under-the-radar masterpiece is filled with an impossible array of the most luxurious sounds courtesy of two very clever Finnish wax spinners.

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Blackfield - Blackfield (2005)

Blackfield - Blackfield (2005)

I’m at it again I’m afraid. I’m playing it safe and listening to my goto band . One reason why I love this band is that includes possibly my most listened-to-artist of the last 10 years - Mr Steven Wilson.

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Interpol - Our Love To Admire (2007)

Interpol - Our Love To Admire (2007)

“Expert” reviews can really be polarising. I nearly didn’t watch a very good thriller the other night, a most entertaining and exciting Jackie Chan/Pearce Brosnan movie “The Foreigner”, coz at least half of the reviews said it sucked.

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Luna - Bewitched (1994)

Luna - Bewitched (1994)

I’m just about to dig into the book “Black Postcards: A Memoir” by Wellingtonian Dean Wareham, founder of Galaxie 500 and Luna.

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Blackfield - V (2016)

Blackfield - V (2016)

When I just want to be pounded by some melodic pomp that doesn’t require much investment in meaningful listening I usually turn to the wonderful Blackfield.

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SZA - CTRL (2017)

SZA - CTRL (2017)

Got this big chunk of glorious translucent green vinyl via courier yesterday from Real Groovy in Auckland. I’ve been streaming this beauty for the last couple of months and simply can’t get enough of it.

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Japan - Tin Drum (1981)

Japan - Tin Drum (1981)

An extraordinary record that never fails to confound me. Japan wasn’t really a band that fitted in at the time (or at any time for that matter!

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The Cure - Trilogy [DVD] (2005)

The Cure - Trilogy [DVD] (2005)

I’m not sure why a fat, mascara-dripping, lipstick-smeared, aging gothic clown with big hair playing the most maudlin dirge on the world’s ugliest guitar is so engaging.

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Suede - Suede (1993)

Suede - Suede (1993)

It’s goose bumps time again! One of the best British bands in recent history, lead singer Brett Anderson takes a big dollop of Bowie’s glam and mixes it with Morrisey’s glum.

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Deutsche Elektronische Musik 3 (2017)

Deutsche Elektronische Musik 3 (2017)

Experimental German Rock And Electronic Music 1971-81 I wasn’t overly keen on going for a pint on Saturday despite it being muggy, late-afternoon, a spontaneous activity and tempered with a perceived sense at least, that it would more than likely result in a free beer.

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    Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy (1973)

    Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy (1973)

    Led “Folking” Zeppelin. After hearing Fairport Convention’s “Reynardine” the other night at our monthly “Shut Up and Listen” session, I was struck by the Led Zeppelinesqueness (yes it really is a word - google it!

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    Th' Faith Healers - Imaginary Friend (1994)

    Th' Faith Healers - Imaginary Friend (1994)

    Another messy, lower than lo-fi chunk of American noise/Krautrock from London’s Hamstead. WTF, I always assumed they were American! After some fact checking I found out they were actually part of the Camden lurch scene of the early to mid 90’s.

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    Yo La Tengo - Extra Painful (1993)

    Yo La Tengo - Extra Painful (1993)

    One of my favourite slabs of vinyl gets some rotation time this afternoon. I usually don’t bother with remastered, re-purposed and re-marketed records that have an abundance of demos, b-sides and obscurities that you might listen to once.

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    Hole - Live Through This (1994)

    Hole - Live Through This (1994)

    I should have played Rory this evening. “Too Much Alcohol” perhaps? OK it’s Friday post-work - we have two choices. Go home and do some housework or have a friendly pint at The Free House.

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    Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (1970)

    Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (1970)

    I was really hesitant about playing this record today and as I later found out, for very good reason. On a morning walk with the dog, I listened to my favourite podcast, Marc Maron’s WTF .

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    The Week That Was (2008)

    The Week That Was (2008)

    The moment I pushed the small, shiny, bit-encoded, digital data storage format, optical disc into my optical drive transport and digital analogue conversion mechanism, I instantly realised “Fuck this is good!

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      Laurie Anderson - Homeland (2010)

      Laurie Anderson - Homeland (2010)

      There’s something rather comforting about Laurie Anderson. She’s very much an “Emperor’s New Clothes” protagonist. While written following the big financial crisis of 2008, it just seems so relevant in today’s bonkers world.

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      Ronny Jordan - The Antidote (1992)

      Ronny Jordan - The Antidote (1992)

      Nothing heavy this evening, just throw me some hooky grooves that take me to my happy place. While this ain’t proper jazz, there’s far less maths going on in these tracks, it’s just enough for me to dip my toes into on this balmy evening.

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      Radiohead - Kid A (2000)

      Radiohead - Kid A (2000)

      It’s a bit scary putting this record on when people are around. I was happy when my wife Sarah left the house this evening midway during the first track.

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