Biography
Clangy Auckland post-punk/indie-pop group. Featuring Richard James and David Ford (later both of The Letter 5), along with Jeff Batts and newcomer Kenneth Stewart – all ex-Dunedin. Richard James would later be replaced by another ex-Dunediner – Martin Kean (a couple years before he’d gone on to form UK/French group Stereolab).
Formed in 1985 and eventually released a single-sided LP (i.e. an EP) on Palmerston North’s Meltdown Records in 1987; one of the very last vinyl artifacts pressed in New Zealand at the old EMI factory. They also had a stellar track (Richard James’ ‘Everytime it rains’) included on Flying Nun’s ‘Outnumbered by Sheep‘ compilation – highlighted by the NME as a “prospective indie hit“.
Kean’s bass is prevalent on a couple tracks – as are the wonky vocals from Jeff Batts (reminiscent of his former group The Stones). The 2nd half of the EP has more of a Sneaky Feelings vibe with Richard James’ songs taking over.
The group played support for Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers in late 1985, and ended up playing the Meltdown Records-organized Rheineck Rock Festival in late March 1987.
Members
- Jeff Batts (The Stones, vocals / guitar / bass)
- Martin Kean (The Chills, The Blue Meanies, Stereolab, vocals / guitar)
- Kenneth Stewart (vocals / guitar / bass)
- David Ford (The Letter 5, The Normal Ambition, drums)
- Richard James (The Letter 5, Mainly Spaniards, guitar / vocals)
Discography
- We’ve done it now (1987, Meltdown Records, MELT008)
Links
- Discogs Entry
- AudioCulture profile of Meltdown Records
- The Pterodactyls – Ode (reddit/vintageobscura)
- The Pterodactyls – We’ve Done it Now ep (1987, Meltdown) (Willfully Obscure blog)