Bee Gees - 1st (1967)

Bee Gees - 1st (1967)

For 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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Angus & Julia Stone - Snow (2017)

Angus & Julia Stone - Snow (2017)

Brother 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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Fishmans - Long Season [Tidal & YouTube] (1996)

Fishmans - Long Season [Tidal & YouTube] (1996)

This 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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David Bowie - Toy Box (2021)

David Bowie - Toy Box (2021)

As 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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Violens - Amoral (2010)

Violens - Amoral (2010)

Another $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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Poor Moon - Poor Moon (2012)

Poor Moon - Poor Moon (2012)

Another 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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Music Monday Mania (2022)

Music Monday Mania (2022)

Another couple of days with a house full of babies equates to a huge reduction in air moving from my speakers.

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    Martin's Session - Nov 22

    Martin's Session - Nov 22

    The themes were: a track that connects with another culture (lifestyle, country, ethnic group, political persuasion, gender identity, etc), a track that connects with a personal interest (stamp record collecting, flint knapping, ships in bottles, etc), a track that connects in some way with one or both of the preceding tracks. You can reveal the connection before or after playing the track.

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    Goldie - Timeless (1995)

    Goldie - Timeless (1995)

    After 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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    Fazerdaze - Break! (2022)

    Fazerdaze - Break! (2022)

    I 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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    Pink Mountaintops - Axis Of Evol (2006)

    Pink Mountaintops - Axis Of Evol (2006)

    Stephen 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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    Dry Cleaning - Stumpwork (2022)

    Dry Cleaning - Stumpwork (2022)

    Dry 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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    Jakob - Solace (2006)

    Jakob - Solace (2006)

    I’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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    Tame Impala - Innerspeaker (2010)

    Tame Impala - Innerspeaker (2010)

    It’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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    Mercury Rev - Yerself Is Steam (1991)

    Mercury Rev - Yerself Is Steam (1991)

    I 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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    Pink Floyd - Animals (2018 Remix) (1977)

    Pink Floyd - Animals (2018 Remix) (1977)

    Animals 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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    Cari Cari - Anaana (2018)

    Cari Cari - Anaana (2018)

    Fabulous 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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    Oh Sees - Face Stabber (2019)

    Oh Sees - Face Stabber (2019)

    Never, 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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    Oh Sees - Orc (2017)

    Oh Sees - Orc (2017)

    The 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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    Appliance - Manual (1999)

    Appliance - Manual (1999)

    Not 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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    Marlon Williams - My Boy (2022)

    Marlon Williams - My Boy (2022)

    A 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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    Cranes - Particles & Waves (2004)

    Cranes - Particles & Waves (2004)

    OK. 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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    Autechre - Amber (1994)

    Autechre - Amber (1994)

    This 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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    David Sylvian - Gone To Earth (1986)

    David Sylvian - Gone To Earth (1986)

    A 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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    The LA's -The LA's (1990)

    The LA's -The LA's (1990)

    While 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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      John Foxx - Metadelic (2013)

      John Foxx - Metadelic (2013)

      While 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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      Cornelius - Point (2002)

      Cornelius - Point (2002)

      If 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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      Israel Nash - Israel Nash's Rain Pains (2014)

      Israel Nash - Israel Nash's Rain Pains (2014)

      The 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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      Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet On Sky (2012)

      Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet On Sky (2012)

      This 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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      Low - The Great Destroyer (2005)

      Low - The Great Destroyer (2005)

      Another 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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      Bang Gang - Something Wrong (2003)

      Bang Gang - Something Wrong (2003)

      The 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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      Guru's Jazzmatazz - Vol.2 (1995)

      Guru's Jazzmatazz - Vol.2 (1995)

      Great 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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      Beck - Guero (2005)

      Beck - Guero (2005)

      While 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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      Stereo MC's - Connected (1992)

      Stereo MC's - Connected (1992)

      Despite 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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      The Spinanes - Manos (1993)

      The Spinanes - Manos (1993)

      Chicago 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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      Enigma - MCMXC A.D. (1990)

      Enigma - MCMXC A.D. (1990)

      The 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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      Massive Attack - Heligoland (2010)

      Massive Attack - Heligoland (2010)

      I’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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      Venessa Fernandez - Use Me [SACD](2014)

      Venessa Fernandez - Use Me [SACD](2014)

      OK 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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      Blackfield - NYC (2007)

      Blackfield - NYC (2007)

      Blackfield - 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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      Dread Zeppelin - Un-Led-Ed (1990)

      Dread Zeppelin - Un-Led-Ed (1990)

      I 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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      Porcupine Tree - Closure/Continuation (2022)

      Porcupine Tree - Closure/Continuation (2022)

      OK, 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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      Led Er Est - The Diver (2012)

      Led Er Est - The Diver (2012)

      As 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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      Implosion - Implosion (1988)

      Implosion - Implosion (1988)

      Back 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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      The Mars Volta - Octahedron (2008)

      The Mars Volta - Octahedron (2008)

      This, 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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      Morphine - Good (1992)

      Morphine - Good (1992)

      Some 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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      Eve Adams - Metal Bird (2021)

      Eve Adams - Metal Bird (2021)

      This 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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      Trees Speak - Vertigo Of Flaws (2021)

      Trees Speak - Vertigo Of Flaws (2021)

      Emancipation 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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      Woodenhead - Original And Reimagined (2022)

      Woodenhead - Original And Reimagined (2022)

      This 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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      Implosion - Implosion 2020 (2020)

      Implosion - Implosion 2020 (2020)

      Obscure 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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      Pylon - Razz Tape (1979)

      Pylon - Razz Tape (1979)

      This 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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      Beak> - >>> (2018)

      Beak> - >>> (2018)

      Strangeness 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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      Houeida Hedfi - Fleuves De L'âme (2021)

      Houeida Hedfi - Fleuves De L'âme (2021)

      This 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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      Ghost Power (2022)

      Ghost Power (2022)

      This 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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        Fontaines DC - Skinty Fia (2022)

        Fontaines DC - Skinty Fia (2022)

        Big, 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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        Wet Leg - Wet Leg (2022)

        Wet Leg - Wet Leg (2022)

        This 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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        Boards Of Canada - Twoism (1995)

        Boards Of Canada - Twoism (1995)

        BOCs 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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        Love - Revisited (1970)

        Love - Revisited (1970)

        Some 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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        Caribou - Up In Flames (2003)

        Caribou - Up In Flames (2003)

        I 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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        Garageland - Last Exit To Garageland (1997)

        Garageland - Last Exit To Garageland (1997)

        To 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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        Motels - Motels (1979)

        Motels - Motels (1979)

        This 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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        Talk Talk - The Party's Over (1982)

        Talk Talk - The Party's Over (1982)

        I 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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        Martin's Session - Feb 22

        Martin's Session - Feb 22

        The themes were: _Remaining, Or returning - e.g. bands that have never broken up, or have reformed, or members who’ve left and come back, Leaving - E.g. bands that have broken up, or band members who’ve left to forge new careers , Gone For Good - E.g. someone from the latest crop of rock, etc, deaths _

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        Radiohead - Kid A Mnesia (2022)

        Radiohead - Kid A Mnesia (2022)

        Holy 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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        Khruangbin - Mordechai Remixes (2021)

        Khruangbin - Mordechai Remixes (2021)

        I 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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        Lindsey Buckingham - Lindsey Buckingham (2021)

        Lindsey Buckingham - Lindsey Buckingham (2021)

        This 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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        The Coral - Coral Island (2021)

        The Coral - Coral Island (2021)

        Merseyside’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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        Arthur Russell - World Of Echo (1986)

        Arthur Russell - World Of Echo (1986)

        Nothing 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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        Alan Vega - After Dark (2021)

        Alan Vega - After Dark (2021)

        A 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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        Ziggy is 50 (1972)

        Ziggy is 50 (1972)

        I 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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          Pale Saints - Mrs. Dolphin (1991)

          Pale Saints - Mrs. Dolphin (1991)

          A 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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          Fela Kuti - Fela's London Scene (1971)

          Fela Kuti - Fela's London Scene (1971)

          Another 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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          The Beatles - Help! (1965)

          The Beatles - Help! (1965)

          This 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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          David Bowie - Toy (2021)

          David Bowie - Toy (2021)

          I’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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          Idles - Crawler (2021)

          Idles - Crawler (2021)

          One 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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          Poets Of Rhythm - Discern/Define (2001)

          Poets Of Rhythm - Discern/Define (2001)

          The 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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