Beach House - Depression Cherry (2015)

Beach House - Depression Cherry (2015)

A 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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Grooms - Exit Index (2017)

Grooms - Exit Index (2017)

I’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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Neon Neon - Praxis Makes Perfect (2013)

Neon Neon - Praxis Makes Perfect (2013)

One 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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Thee Oh Sees - Smote Reverser (2018)

Thee Oh Sees - Smote Reverser (2018)

One 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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David Bowie - Earthling (1997)

David Bowie - Earthling (1997)

The 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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David Bowie - Buddha Of Suburbia (1995)

David Bowie - Buddha Of Suburbia (1995)

To 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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Janne Schaffer - Katharsis (1976

Janne Schaffer - Katharsis (1976

This 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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Mantronix - In Full Effect (1988)

Mantronix - In Full Effect (1988)

After 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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Swans - The Seer (2012)

Swans - The Seer (2012)

This 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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Kimbra - Vows (2011)

Kimbra - Vows (2011)

Hamilton-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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Mew - Plus Minus (2017)

Mew - Plus Minus (2017)

This 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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La Luz - La Luz (2021)

La Luz - La Luz (2021)

I 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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Sault - Nine (2021)

Sault - Nine (2021)

Another 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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La Luz - Floating Features (2018)

La Luz - Floating Features (2018)

Take 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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Slowdive - Pygmalion (1995)

Slowdive - Pygmalion (1995)

This 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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HTRK - Rhinestones (2021)

HTRK - Rhinestones (2021)

WOW! 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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Lord Huron - Long Lost (2021)

Lord Huron - Long Lost (2021)

More 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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Darkside - Spiral (2021)

Darkside - Spiral (2021)

I’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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Nicolas Jaar - Space Is Only Noise (2011)

Nicolas Jaar - Space Is Only Noise (2011)

This 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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Kin Ping Meh - Kin Ping Meh 2 (1972)

Kin Ping Meh - Kin Ping Meh 2 (1972)

Second 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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Fogg - High Testament (2014)

Fogg - High Testament (2014)

A 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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Belly - Bees (2021)

Belly - Bees (2021)

Awesome 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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ESG - Come Away With (1983)

ESG - Come Away With (1983)

Stonkingly 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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HTRK - Venus In Leo (2019)

HTRK - Venus In Leo (2019)

One 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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Radio Moscow - Brain Cycles (2009)

Radio Moscow - Brain Cycles (2009)

These 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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Darkside - Psychic Live (2015)

Darkside - Psychic Live (2015)

Insanely 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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The Strokes - The New Abnormal (2020)

The Strokes - The New Abnormal (2020)

My 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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Suicide - Cheree (Record Store Day) (2021)

Suicide - Cheree (Record Store Day) (2021)

I 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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Holger Czukay - Der Osten Ist Rot (1984)

Holger Czukay - Der Osten Ist Rot (1984)

Completely 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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Rupert Hine - Immunity (1981)

Rupert Hine - Immunity (1981)

One 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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Jane Weaver - Loops In The Secret Society (2019)

Jane Weaver - Loops In The Secret Society (2019)

Fantastic 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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The Beat - Special Beat Service (1983)

The Beat - Special Beat Service (1983)

Known 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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Sault - 5 (2019)

Sault - 5 (2019)

I 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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Jethro Tull - A (1980)

Jethro Tull - A (1980)

Another 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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Moby - Reprise (2021)

Moby - Reprise (2021)

Another 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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Gary Numan - Intruder (2021)

Gary Numan - Intruder (2021)

Gazza 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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Jethro Tull - War Child (1974)

Jethro Tull - War Child (1974)

This 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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Gary Human - Tubeway Army Replicas (1979)

Gary Human - Tubeway Army Replicas (1979)

Gazza 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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Various Artists - AK79 (1980)

Various Artists - AK79 (1980)

This 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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The Gordons - The Gordons (1982)

The Gordons - The Gordons (1982)

This 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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Midnight Oil - Countdown Album (1983)

Midnight Oil - Countdown Album (1983)

Affectionately 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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Can - Future Days (1972)

Can - Future Days (1972)

A 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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Squid - Bright Green Field (2021)

Squid - Bright Green Field (2021)

Another 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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Can - Delay (1981)

Can - Delay (1981)

These 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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VA - Tim Peaks (2019)

VA - Tim Peaks (2019)

Tim 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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Jane Weaver - The Silver Globe (2014)

Jane Weaver - The Silver Globe (2014)

This 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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Lou Reed - New York (1989)

Lou Reed - New York (1989)

Excluding 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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The Beatles - Revolver (1967)

The Beatles - Revolver (1967)

I 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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Pretty Things - Parachute (1970)

Pretty Things - Parachute (1970)

This 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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Amon Düül II - Yeti (1970)

Amon Düül II - Yeti (1970)

If 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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Luna - A Sentimental Education (2017)

Luna - A Sentimental Education (2017)

This 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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Suede - The Blue Hour (2018)

Suede - The Blue Hour (2018)

Brett 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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Giant Sand - Ramp (1991)

Giant Sand - Ramp (1991)

This 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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Outkast - Speakerboxxx (2003)

Outkast - Speakerboxxx (2003)

I’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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Moon Duo - Escape (Expanded Edition)(2010)

Moon Duo - Escape (Expanded Edition)(2010)

Holy 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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Voom - Hello, Are You There? (2006)

Voom - Hello, Are You There? (2006)

This 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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Tool - Opiate (1992)

Tool - Opiate (1992)

Maynard 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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Spiritualized - Fucked Up Inside (1993)

Spiritualized - Fucked Up Inside (1993)

Great 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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Jane Weaver - Flock (2021)

Jane Weaver - Flock (2021)

Don’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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Beck - Odelay (1996)

Beck - Odelay (1996)

There’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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Japan - Quiet Life (1979)

Japan - Quiet Life (1979)

This 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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The Bug - London Zoo (2008)

The Bug - London Zoo (2008)

Holy 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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Off The Meds - Off The Meds (2020)

Off The Meds - Off The Meds (2020)

I 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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Fourtet - Beautiful Rewind

Fourtet - Beautiful Rewind

This 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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New Order - Retro (2002)

New Order - Retro (2002)

I 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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Various Artists - Cafe Exil (2020)

Various Artists - Cafe Exil (2020)

Bob 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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Kevin Rowland - My Beauty (1999)

Kevin Rowland - My Beauty (1999)

This 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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Barack Obama’s Summer Playlist (Tidal)

Barack Obama’s Summer Playlist (Tidal)

I 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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    New Order - Movement (1981)

    New Order - Movement (1981)

    Just 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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    Sola Rosa - Chasing The Sun (2020)

    Sola Rosa - Chasing The Sun (2020)

    Andrew 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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    Dntel - Life Is Full Of Possibilities (2001)

    Dntel - Life Is Full Of Possibilities (2001)

    This 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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