Builders - 1982 - Schwimmen In Der See 7'' (NZ)
Showing posts with label - New Zealand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label - New Zealand. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Pin Group, The - 1982 - Go to Town 12'' (NZ)
Pin Group, The - 1982 - Go to Town 12'' (NZ)
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Imagine unearthing the Rosetta Stone and perhaps you'll understand the importance of releasing the definitive The Pin Group recordings. The Pin Group, who came and went in the brief period between 1981 and 84, was the jumping-off point for the New Zealand pop lexicon: The tinny guitar jangle, sidelong lyrics, flitting bass and intangible bottom-of-the-world sensibility are all there.But the band also launched the careers of guitarist Roy Montgomery, bassist Ross Humphries (stints in Bailter Space and The Great Unwashed) and drummer Peter Stapleton (Handful of Dust). The Pin Group was an odd bird. With the survival instincts of a kiwi (they played infrequently and pressed small issues of records that didn't even bear the band name), the trio was bound to lose. But this collection encapsulates quite brilliantly the pop minds at work on the South Island all those 16 years ago. The raucous "Columbia" and haunting "Long Night" hint at the band's potential. A send-up of The Red Crayola's"Hurricane Fighter Plane" shows off chops and a tongue in cheek cover of War's "Low Rider" reveals a sense of humor. Two blistering versions of "Ambivalence" grace the record, on which Montgomery sings, sounding here asthroughout like a wry Ian Curtis, "You seem to want to shroud your motives/ Were they ever there?" While it's uncertain whether underachievers The Pin Group ever had much motive themselves, it's clear that the makings of brilliance were there all along. — Brian Howard
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source Club Bizarre (link)
Friday, January 7, 2011
Tall Dwarfs - 1982 - Louis Likes His Daily Dip 12'' (NZ)
Tall Dwarfs - 1982 - Louis Likes His Daily Dip 12'' (NZ)
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Tall Dwarfs are a New Zealand rock band formed in 1981 by Chris Knox and Alec Bathgate who, through their do-it-yourself ethic, helped pioneer the lo-fi style of rock music. The duo formed out of the ashes of Toy Love.
The band lacked a drummer but would use household objects and handclaps to act as percussion. Either member can play guitar; with 12 strings and bass guitar often heard on their records. Both can play organ as well, which has been utilised on some of their songs. The Casiotone is used frequently too, especially in live-concerts.
Their debut was the EP Three Songs (1981), and for many years they released EPs only. The album Weeville (1990) was their first full-length album. They did, however, release a number of full-length compilations of their EPs, like Hello Cruel World and The Short And Sick Of It.
In the liner notes to their album 3 EPs (1994) (released as a single CD, or as three vinyl EPs collected in one box) they asked for listeners' rhythm tracks: "Send us your idea of a great T.D. throb." The responses came from many different countries and were used for the next album, Stumpy (1997). This album was therefore officially credited to "International Tall Dwarfs."
Bands who have claimed to be influenced by the Tall Dwarfs include Elf Power, Neutral Milk Hotel and Olivia Tremor Control. In 2005 they did a small number of concerts in the USA, playing with the Olivia Tremor Control.
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source Wikipedia (link)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Swingers, The - 1980 - One Good Reason 7'' (NZ)
Swingers, The - 1980 - One Good Reason 7'' (NZ)
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The Swingers are one of the great "one-hit-wonder" (or in this case, two-hit wonder) bands of the early eighties. Formed in New Zealand in 1979 by Phil Judd (formerly of Split Enz), Dwayne "Bones" Hillman (currently in Midnight Oil) and Buster Stiggs, their song "One Good Reason" made the Top Twenty in NZ. Developing a sizeable Antipodean following, they hit their peak in 1981 with their number-one hit "Counting The Beat". They disbanded in 1982, after an album, several singles and some personnel changes
The Swingers
In December 1978 the Suburban Reptiles mutated into a two headed monster, for their final gig, the premiere of David Blythís "Angel Mine" movie (for which they provided the track "Rosie"). One half, a band formed around Billy Planet & Jimmy Joy performed as The Suburban Reptiles, then the other half, with Buster Stiggs, Zero, Bones Hillman and Phil Judd performed, also as The Suburban Reptiles. This second lot, by early 1979, minus Zero, had become The Swingers, and were resident at Liberty Stage in Symonds Street, where they were hugely popular, although more with the Ponsonby/Freemans Bay-villa-renovating crowd than punks. Nevertheless, they released a killer single (their best?) on Ripper, "One Good Reason", contributed 2 tunes to AK79, and did a tour with Split Enz before heading to Australia to count the beat. Of course Bones ended up in Midnight Oil, and has probably made more money than everybody else on this album combined. It couldnít have happened to a nicer guy.
Lineup: Phil Judd (guitar, vocals), Bones Hillman (bass), Buster Stiggs (drums)
Tracks: A Certain Sound (Judd/Stiggs/Stevens)
Baby (Judd/Stiggs/Stevens) both recorded at Mascot and produced by Phil Judd. Taken from AK79.
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Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Toy Love - 1980 - Bride of Frankenstein 7'' (NZ)
Toy Love - 1980 - Bride of Frankenstein 7'' (NZ)
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Toy Love was a New Zealand alternative/punk rock band fronted by Chris Knox. Other members were guitarist Alec Bathgate, bass player Paul Kean, drummer Mike Dooley, and keyboard player Jane Walker. The band developed out of the earlier punk band The Enemy in Dunedin, New Zealand, and are often regarded as the progenitors of the Dunedin Sound movement.
Toy Love were together for less than two years (1978–80) and spent a large part of that time in Australia. They released just one (self-titled) album, however the band members were apparently appalled by the mixing of the tracks which took the edge off the band's deliberately raw sound. In April 2005, this album was remastered and released along with a bunch of demos and unreleased tracks as a double CD entitled Cuts.
After Toy Love broke up, Bathgate and Knox remained together as the Tall Dwarfs.
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source Wikipedia (link)
Friday, September 3, 2010
Clean, The - 1981 - Boodle Boodle Boodle 12'' (NZ)
Clean, The - 1981 - Boodle Boodle Boodle 12'' (NZ)
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Boodle Boodle Boodle is a 12"-EP by New Zealand band The Clean. It is one of the more important releases in the Dunedin Sound genre, released by Flying Nun Records in 1981. The EP reached no. 4 in the New Zealand music charts, despite being listed in the singles chart (New Zealand has never had a separate EP chart), and stayed in the top 20 for nearly six months.
The label's first major success, it was largely responsible for its continued survival and the start of its growth into New Zealand's most important independent label.
Several of the songs off the album became very popular parts of the Clean's repertoire, with "Anything Could Happen" in particular becoming one of their trademark songs.
Chris Knox drew the EP cover, which was based on a promotional photo of the three band members in a bathtub.
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source Wikipedia (link)
Monday, August 30, 2010
Victor Dimisich Band, The - 1983 - The Victor Dimisich Band 12'' (NZ)
Victor Dimisich Band, The - 1983 - The Victor Dimisich Band 12'' (NZ)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Scavengers, The - 2003 - The Scavengers (NZ)
Scavengers, The - 2003 - The Scavengers (NZ)
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Formed at Auckland Technical Institute by Graphic Design students, Cooke, Munroe, Simons and Hart as The 1B Darlings in 1976, the band was heavily influenced by British R&B, Glam Rock and 60s US Garage Rock. In 1977 they renamed themselves The Scavengers, gave themselves new names (Cooke as Johnny Volume, Munroe as Des Truction, Simons as Mike Lezbian and Hart as Mal Icious), and their style mutated in the direction of the US Punk rock and pre-Punk Rock acts.
Through much of 1977 they were, with The Suburban Reptiles, the only Punk bands in Auckland. In June 1977, with The Suburban Reptiles and The Masochists, they played New Zealand's first major punk gig at Auckland University. During this time their repertoire was mostly covers but by early 1978 they had written a set of original tunes.
In late 1977 bassist Hart left to be replaced by Brendan Perry. He later reappeared in The Stimulators.
In March 1978 they began a residency at new Auckland Punk Club, Zwines. Soon after Simons left (inspiring their signature song "Mysterex"), and Perry moved to vocals.
Two Scavengers tracks appear on the Ripper compilation AK79 and a posthumous album was released in 2003.
In 1979 The Scavengers moved to Melbourne, Australia and in 1980 renamed themselves The Marching Girls. Perry later formed Dead Can Dance and Munroe played briefly for The Birthday Party during the band's final tour in New Zealand. Both Cooke and Munroe are still working musicians in Melbourne.
The Scavengers were hugely influential in Auckland in the late seventies, inspiring a whole generation of young bands and their importance goes far beyond their few releases.
They reformed in 2004 for a one off show in Auckland without Perry, and again at the AK79 reunion in 2008.
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source Wikipedia (link)
Monday, August 3, 2009
Enemy, The - 1978 - Live At Windsor Castle (NZ)
Enemy, The - 1978 - Live At Windsor Castle (NZ)
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The Enemy were a band from Dunedin, New Zealand, that are often seen as the starting point of the Dunedin Sound rock movement.
Though the band did not release any official recordings, some of their performances are available in bootleg form. They are seen as hugely influential on the development of music in New Zealand. Though the band only existed from 1977 to 1979, they created the style which led to the development of many later bands in both Dunedin and New Zealand in general.
Fronted by Chris Knox and featuring Mick Dawson, Mike Dooley, and Alec Bathgate, the band were strongly influenced by the punk rock music scene overseas and acts such as Patti Smith and Iggy Pop (who is referred to in the song Iggy Told Me, during the performance of which Knox would often intentionally cut himself, drawing blood). Later in 1978, former Split Enz member Phil Judd joined the band, prior to the formation of his band The Swingers. Due to tensions in the lineup, The Enemy split soon after.
Upon the demise of The Enemy, several members of the band went on to form Toy Love. Toy Love played a number of songs that The Enemy originally performed, sometimes with slight rearrangement or alteration of lyrics. Songs that began with The Enemy but were first recorded by Toy Love include Swimming Pool, I Don't Mind, 1978, Squeeze, Sheep, Cold Meat, I'm Not Bored (which The Enemy introduced as I'm Not Bored, I'm Dead), and Don't Catch Fire. After Toy Love broke up, Bathgate and Knox remained together as the Tall Dwarfs.
Early supporters of The Enemy included Hamish and David Kilgour, who were to found The Clean. Legend has it that Hamish Kilgour named "The Enemy" for their music style, and in response or retaliation, Knox commented that the Kilgours' own sound was "squeaky clean", hence that band's name.
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source Wikipedia (link)
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for a more complete info about this one, visit this site!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Spelling Mistakes, The - 2003 - Epileptic Apocalypse (1979-1999) (NZ)
download pt. 1
download pt. 2
download pt. 3
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Despite being a popular live act with a Top 20 hit the Spelling Mistakes only managed to release one and a half singles in the late 70's.This 50 track double CD archives all The Spelling Mistakes material from their original 1979/1980 period, through to their critically acclaimed 1998/1999 reunion. Disc one covers 1979/1980 including all their original single sides and unreleased demos, plus remixes of the singles, a live-to-air and live recordings from the XS Cafe. Disc two covers 1998/1999 including a 12 track "lost" album of studio recordings as well as live recordings from two of their first reunion shows. Includes a 16 page colour booklet with detailed liner notes, rare photos and loads of original artwork and posters from band members' archives.
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source New Zealand Cds (link)
Friday, April 10, 2009
Spelling Mistakes, The - 1980 - Feel So Good 7'' (NZ)
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The Spelling Mistakes were a New Zealand punk band which had minor success in the local scene in 1979 and 1980.
Formed in 1979 from the remnants of two bands, Get Smart and The Aliens, their line-up was Nick Hanson (vocals), Julian Hanson (drums), and Warwick Fowler (guitar). Initial bassist, Keith Bacon, was replaced early in 1980 by Nigel Russell.
Their first recording was Reena, which featured on one side of a single (with The Whizz Kids) on Ripper Records in early 1980. It is purported to be inspired by actress Rena Owen of Once Were Warriors fame, who was involved in the punk scene at the time.
After winning a band talent quest, organised by their manager, they signed to Simon Grigg's Propeller Records label, and released a single, Feels So Good in June, 1980. This peaked at #29. A second single was recorded but remained unreleased for two decades as the band split in September 1980 after finding it increasingly difficult to find bookings because of the nature of their under-age following.
They reformed briefly in 1999 but parted ways for good later that year. In 2004 Feels So Good was re-recorded and featured on an Export Gold advert.
A complete, semi-official, collection of available recordings was released in 2002 as a 2-disc set under the name The Spelling Mistakes: Epileptic Apocalypse 1979 - 1999. It was nominated for 'best rock release' by bNet NZ Music Awards in 2003.
Formed in 1979 from the remnants of two bands, Get Smart and The Aliens, their line-up was Nick Hanson (vocals), Julian Hanson (drums), and Warwick Fowler (guitar). Initial bassist, Keith Bacon, was replaced early in 1980 by Nigel Russell.
Their first recording was Reena, which featured on one side of a single (with The Whizz Kids) on Ripper Records in early 1980. It is purported to be inspired by actress Rena Owen of Once Were Warriors fame, who was involved in the punk scene at the time.
After winning a band talent quest, organised by their manager, they signed to Simon Grigg's Propeller Records label, and released a single, Feels So Good in June, 1980. This peaked at #29. A second single was recorded but remained unreleased for two decades as the band split in September 1980 after finding it increasingly difficult to find bookings because of the nature of their under-age following.
They reformed briefly in 1999 but parted ways for good later that year. In 2004 Feels So Good was re-recorded and featured on an Export Gold advert.
A complete, semi-official, collection of available recordings was released in 2002 as a 2-disc set under the name The Spelling Mistakes: Epileptic Apocalypse 1979 - 1999. It was nominated for 'best rock release' by bNet NZ Music Awards in 2003.
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source Wikipedia (link)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Suburban Reptiles - 1977 - Megaton 12'' (NZ)
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The Suburban Reptiles and The Scavengers were the first punk bands to form in New Zealand.
The Suburban Reptiles were first conceptualised by Auckland students Simon Grigg and Brett Salter in late 1976, with some encouragement from filmmaker David Blyth. Grigg and Salter had originally planned to form a jazz band but Grigg was redirected by Blyth after he saw a live review of The Sex Pistols in the New Musical Express.
Grigg, seeing himself as the manager, explained the concept to Salter, who played the saxophone, and other students, William Pendergrast, bass guitar; Clare Elliot, (Salter's partner), vocals; Trish Scott, guitar; Brian Nicholls, guitar; and Kim Smith, backing vocals, were invited to join. Grigg found a drummer, an apprentice butcher and part time juggler, Des Edwards and the original lineup was complete. This group only lasted the first few practices in a basement in Auckland's inner suburb, Ponsonby, before both Smith and Edwards departed. The first practices however produced a nucleus of a live set with a mix of covers (including songs from Roxy Music, The Damned and The Modern Lovers) and a number of originals.
The only live performance from this lineup was an aborted late night set in Auckland University's Student Quadrangle, with the power being pulled by University custodians after one song to a bemused crowd fresh from a concert by Th'Dudes.
Having thought they were the only punks in town, The Suburban Reptiles had a chance encounter in an Auckland pub, The Globe, that night with The Scavengers, who likewise had believed they were the only ones.
A drummer was now needed and Salter and Elliot had a chance encounter with Mark Hough, who had been playing in a band called After Hours, with Neil Finn. Hough, an art student at Elam (Auckland University's Fine Arts School), was asked to join and the first serious lineup was formed. The members then, in the tradition of punk bands the world over, took stage names: Salter became, initially Jimmy Vinyl and later Jimmy Joy and Lino Clone; Elliot took Sally Slag but quickly became simply Zero (although to the band she was simply Zed); Nicholls was Shaun Anfrayd; Pendergrast was Billy Planet; Scott was Sissy Spunk; and Hough was, initially Buzz, but soon, Buster Stiggs. Grigg used the name Partizan Politik as a management coverall.
The first performances were at a variety of private parties in April 1977, but the first major public performance was in June when they, with The Scavengers, and another newly found band, The Masochists, played a party put on by Grigg and David Blyth, for Blyth's forthcoming film, Angel Mine.
Over the next couple of months the band played regularly although Scott and Nicholls left, with The Scavengers' Johnny Volume playing from time to time before Pendergrast moved to guitar and Wayne 'Bones Hillman' Stevens, from The Masochists, joined on bass, the name Hillman coming from the brand of car he drove. Over the period the band was fired from a Catholic Boys School; was pursued and vilfied by a hungry media, repeatedly making the front pages of various newspapers; and were attacked by a vigilante mob at a student arts festival in Wellington.
They also, during this period, recorded their first single, a double A side, 12" (the first released in New Zealand). The first recording sessions were nominally produced by Tim Finn (although he slept through much of the session) at Harlequin Studios in Mt. Eden, and produced four tracks, at the time unreleased. The second session a few weeks later, produced by the band and Doug Rogers, re-recorded two of those songs, Megaton and Desert Patrol, and these, after some gestation came out on Phonogram's Vertigo label in January 1978, selling about 500 copies at the time.
In late 1977 Grigg departed and Hough became the defacto manager, with the band taking on the role of a more conventional touring act thereafter. However, in mid 1978 Zero was arrested for swearing on stage at the Riverhead Rock Festival. The subsequent court case and her acquittal set a legal precedent as to what could be said and where. Over that period, both Tony Baldock and Rolland Killeen played bass for the band at various times.
For the second single, the band brought in former Split Enz guitarist, Phil Judd, to produce and Judd became more and more part of the band over the following months. His arrival caused a great deal of friction between the members who effectively divided into two camps, with Judd and Hough on one side and Pendegrast and Salter in the other, with Zero in the middle. Drug issues also caused problems. However the resultant single, Saturday Night Stay at Home, with Judd's soaring guitar was an instant classic. A Student Radio survey in the early 2000s named it the greatest NZ single of all time.
“ We started off recording on low quality sixes between 1 o'clock and 5 o'clock in the morning, when the recording studios charged the least. As our first songs became popular, we were able to record high quality twenty-fours, in good studios at reasonable times. -Brett Salter ”
It was too late for the Suburban Reptiles however and at the premier of Angel Mine in October 1978 two bands both played under that name. The Hough / Judd led band re-emerged some months later as The Swingers.
Grigg, seeing himself as the manager, explained the concept to Salter, who played the saxophone, and other students, William Pendergrast, bass guitar; Clare Elliot, (Salter's partner), vocals; Trish Scott, guitar; Brian Nicholls, guitar; and Kim Smith, backing vocals, were invited to join. Grigg found a drummer, an apprentice butcher and part time juggler, Des Edwards and the original lineup was complete. This group only lasted the first few practices in a basement in Auckland's inner suburb, Ponsonby, before both Smith and Edwards departed. The first practices however produced a nucleus of a live set with a mix of covers (including songs from Roxy Music, The Damned and The Modern Lovers) and a number of originals.
The only live performance from this lineup was an aborted late night set in Auckland University's Student Quadrangle, with the power being pulled by University custodians after one song to a bemused crowd fresh from a concert by Th'Dudes.
Having thought they were the only punks in town, The Suburban Reptiles had a chance encounter in an Auckland pub, The Globe, that night with The Scavengers, who likewise had believed they were the only ones.
A drummer was now needed and Salter and Elliot had a chance encounter with Mark Hough, who had been playing in a band called After Hours, with Neil Finn. Hough, an art student at Elam (Auckland University's Fine Arts School), was asked to join and the first serious lineup was formed. The members then, in the tradition of punk bands the world over, took stage names: Salter became, initially Jimmy Vinyl and later Jimmy Joy and Lino Clone; Elliot took Sally Slag but quickly became simply Zero (although to the band she was simply Zed); Nicholls was Shaun Anfrayd; Pendergrast was Billy Planet; Scott was Sissy Spunk; and Hough was, initially Buzz, but soon, Buster Stiggs. Grigg used the name Partizan Politik as a management coverall.
The first performances were at a variety of private parties in April 1977, but the first major public performance was in June when they, with The Scavengers, and another newly found band, The Masochists, played a party put on by Grigg and David Blyth, for Blyth's forthcoming film, Angel Mine.
Over the next couple of months the band played regularly although Scott and Nicholls left, with The Scavengers' Johnny Volume playing from time to time before Pendergrast moved to guitar and Wayne 'Bones Hillman' Stevens, from The Masochists, joined on bass, the name Hillman coming from the brand of car he drove. Over the period the band was fired from a Catholic Boys School; was pursued and vilfied by a hungry media, repeatedly making the front pages of various newspapers; and were attacked by a vigilante mob at a student arts festival in Wellington.
They also, during this period, recorded their first single, a double A side, 12" (the first released in New Zealand). The first recording sessions were nominally produced by Tim Finn (although he slept through much of the session) at Harlequin Studios in Mt. Eden, and produced four tracks, at the time unreleased. The second session a few weeks later, produced by the band and Doug Rogers, re-recorded two of those songs, Megaton and Desert Patrol, and these, after some gestation came out on Phonogram's Vertigo label in January 1978, selling about 500 copies at the time.
In late 1977 Grigg departed and Hough became the defacto manager, with the band taking on the role of a more conventional touring act thereafter. However, in mid 1978 Zero was arrested for swearing on stage at the Riverhead Rock Festival. The subsequent court case and her acquittal set a legal precedent as to what could be said and where. Over that period, both Tony Baldock and Rolland Killeen played bass for the band at various times.
For the second single, the band brought in former Split Enz guitarist, Phil Judd, to produce and Judd became more and more part of the band over the following months. His arrival caused a great deal of friction between the members who effectively divided into two camps, with Judd and Hough on one side and Pendegrast and Salter in the other, with Zero in the middle. Drug issues also caused problems. However the resultant single, Saturday Night Stay at Home, with Judd's soaring guitar was an instant classic. A Student Radio survey in the early 2000s named it the greatest NZ single of all time.
“ We started off recording on low quality sixes between 1 o'clock and 5 o'clock in the morning, when the recording studios charged the least. As our first songs became popular, we were able to record high quality twenty-fours, in good studios at reasonable times. -Brett Salter ”
It was too late for the Suburban Reptiles however and at the premier of Angel Mine in October 1978 two bands both played under that name. The Hough / Judd led band re-emerged some months later as The Swingers.
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source Wikipedia (link)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Dum Dum Boys, The - 1981 - Let There Be Noise (NZD)
download
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I found a description so detailed about this band and the scene in New Zealand that the best thing to do is simpily visit the site and read it for yourself over here.
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Many thanks to Graham who was kindly enough to do this rip and share this rarity over here.
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