Formed in Stratford, near New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1981, Nocturnal Projections was the explosive project of legendary and prolific brothers Graeme and Peter Jefferies (who would later form This Kind of Punishment before launching their solo careers), who along with friends Brett Jones and Gordon Rutherford, created some of the most energetic and influential avant-garde punk rock to emerge from the country.
Dais Records profile of Nocturnal Projections
Excellent post-punk four piece that came out of small-town Taranaki in 1981, featuring the first recordings of Peter Jefferies haunting baritone vocals. After a lengthy residency at New Plymouth’s Lion Tavern where they built up a strong song catalogue, the group moved to Auckland in early 1982 and found themselves in demand; supporting the likes of The Fall and New Order during a whirlwind 15 months.
Along the way the group self-released a couple of obscure lo-fi cassettes before recording the terrific ‘In Purgatory’ 7″ single at Stebbings Recording Studio with producer Tony Moan, and the 5 song ‘Another Year’ EP, which would sneak onto the New Zealand charts at number 44 in November 1982.
The group would disband in March 1983, releasing the posthumous ‘Understanding’ EP on Hip Singles a few months later, with The Jefferies and Gordon Rutherford soon going on to form This Kind of Punishment.
Since the groups brake-up the groups repute has seen their recordings collected and reissued on the likes of Raffmond and Dais Recordings, with both Jefferies brothers now notable figures in the history of New Zealand underground rock.
Members
- Graeme Jefferies (The Plastic Bags, Pink Noise, Nocturnal Projections, This Kind of Punishment, The Sombretones, Stephen, The Cakekitchen, Breathing Cage, guitar)
- Peter Jefferies (The Plastic Bags, Pink Noise, Nocturnal Projections, This Kind of Punishment, 2 Foot Flame, Cyclops, Dimmer, Mecca Normal, Plagal Grind, vocals)
- Brett Jones (Electronically Tested, Nocturnal Projections, bass)
- Gordon Rutherford (Electronically Tested, Nocturnal Projections, This Kind of Punishment, Muttongun, drums)
Discography
- Things that go Bunt in the Night cassette EP (1981, Self-Released, noc.1)
- Emission Recordings cassette (1982, Self-Released, noc.2)
- ‘In Purgatory’ 7″ single (1982, Self-Released, noc.3)
- Another Year EP (1982, Hit Singles, HIT001)
- Understanding EP (1983, Hit Singles, HIT003)
- Nerve Ends in Power Lines (compilation 1995, Raffmond, RAFF 015-2)
- World View 7″ EP (1998, Raw Power Records, Raw pOWer REcoRDS 003)
- Inmates in Images live compilation (2018, Dais Records)
- Complete Studio Recordings compilation (2018, Dais Records)