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Transistors

Biography

The Transistors are a garage, punk and power-pop trio from Rangiora, in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. The band’s lineup comprises Colin Roxburgh, Olly Crawford-Ellis and James Harding, all of whom remain current members. Crawford-Ellis and Harding are also active in other Canterbury and New Zealand indie projects, lending the group connections to a broader network of local underground music. The band began releasing material in the late 2000s, with their earliest documented output appearing around 2008 with the release Shortwave, followed in 2009 by the self-released vinyl single Brand New Suit (catalogue number TRANSISTORS 1). These early releases established their DIY approach, with the band issuing material directly on a not-on-label basis before moving to small independent imprints.

The three-piece sound fresh as a daisy as they rip through a generous fourteen tracks, sharing a love for crunchy power pop hooks and erudite wordplay.

Under the Radar, Everything Will Never Happen Again review, 2025
In 2012, The Transistors released the 7″ single Knee Jerk Jerk / Nervous Heart on Hypnotic Toys (catalogue number HT001), marking one of their most notable physical releases on an external label. The single represented a high point in the band’s early-to-mid-period output, and Hypnotic Toys’ involvement signalled growing recognition of the band outside their immediate Canterbury base. The band released the cassette Hot Sick Fuck And Acrossing The Stream B/w Confidence Man in 2015 through Melted Ice Cream (catalogue number MIC0055), a New Zealand label known for releasing limited-run cassette and physical editions by local underground acts. The same year also saw the release of Cuppa Jarra Brossa. These releases demonstrated the band’s continued productivity and willingness to work with small, format-focused independent labels. Activity continued into the 2020s, with the lathe-cut release Good Years, Family Ties appearing in 2021 via Johnny Electric Lathe Cuts, alongside a self-released digital version of Good Years. The band issued further digital singles in 2023 — Meaning Without Meaning / Oracles and High Hopes — followed by Seagull in 2024. A further release, Everything Will Never Happen Again, is listed for 2025, confirming the group’s ongoing activity after more than fifteen years as a recording act.
Transistors
Transistors
Transistors
Transistors
Transistors
Transistors
Transistors

Members

Discography

  • Shortwave (2008, self-released)
  • Brand New Suit 7″ (2009, Self-released, TRANSISTORS 1)
  • Flux Pentaphile (2010, self-released)
  • This Is Not An Exit / Ex-communicator Digital (2011, Self-released)
  • Knee Jerk Jerk / Nervous Heart 7″ (2012, Hypnotic Toys, HT001)
  • Abandoned (2012, self-released)
  • Is This Anything? (2013, self-released)
  • Dirty Diver / Downer (2013, self-released)
  • Hot Sick Fuck And Acrossing The Stream B/w Confidence Man Cassette (2015, Melted Ice Cream, MIC0055)
  • Cuppa Jarra Brossa (2015, self-released)
  • Shortwave + Flux Pentaphile (2019, self-released)
  • Good Years, Family Ties Lathe Cut (2021, Johnny Electric Lathe Cuts)
  • Good Years Digital (2021, Self-released)
  • Meaning Without Meaning / Oracles Digital (2023, Self-released)
  • High Hopes Digital (2023, Self-released)
  • Seagull Digital (2024, Self-released)
  • Everything Will Never Happen Again (2025, self-released)

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