Ballon D’Essai
Young early Flying Nun 5-piece out of Christchurch. With 2 bass players the group had an ‘edgy post-punk sound’.
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Alec Bathgate
Alec Bathgate’s always kept a couple steps back in his fellow Enemy, Toy Love and Tall Dwarfs shadow, but released a lovely little Byrds-jangle-pop album (with heavy Beatles and Beach Boy flourishes) in 1996.
More technically competent than Knox, and somewhat reserved (in comparison at least), Bathgate is a reflective, precarious song-writer of great talent.
Cameron Bain
Between stints in King Loser, Snapper and a million other bands, Cameron Bain released a 7″ release on Stella Corkery and Alan Holt’s excellent Pink Air label.
One-half of the oft-referenced, seldom heard Constant Pain. Bain passed away in 2014.
Kim Blackburn
Kim Blackburn is a poet and singer-songwriter who put out the ‘Lizards In Love’ album on Flying Nun Records, using acoustic guitar and digital effects to give the album an unusual edge. Her voice has a deep, haunting quality – reminiscent of Nico.
She had previously been associated with underground labels such as Industrial Tapes, performing alongside Sandra Bell on the cassette only release ‘Two Metallic Hearts’.
Bengal Lights
Two-piece Rock’N’Roll duo from Auckland. They were tremendous on A Low Hum’s 2nd to last tour, with drummer Zoe Fleury belting it out (and singing too) from behind the kit while Maeve Munro played feedback-drenched guitar and sang from up front. Very cool.
Only release was a split single with The Lover Haters.
The Blunts
Auckland guitar and drums duo who have put out a couple releases adorned by excellent 60’s hard-rock styled artwork (coming from guitarist John Appleton’s pen) to match their bluesy minimalist rock.
Drummer Martinengo would go on to form similar garage rock groups Los Hories and Gaytime, whilst also running 1:12 Records.
Barzell
Biography Lower Hutt rock via punk quartet who formed in 1997, but split in 2001 after releasing a split album with Discenter. The members (and Discenter’s) reunited in band successor the Valley Five.. Members Jonny Davis (bass, Barzell) Paul Herschell… Read More »Barzell
Bible Black
Biography Brian Crook spent 1997-2000 in Port Chalmers with his partner / Renderers band-mate Maryrose in a lovely house on the hills above Port Chalmers, creating a dark and brooding selection of songs in Crooks’ own home studio. Though Bible… Read More »Bible Black
The Biff Bangle Experience
Biography The Surf-Guitar styling of Biff Bangle (aka Adrian Ganley), some-times on the always cryptic Root Don Lonie For Cash label. Comically titled CDr’s, plus some songs featured on GFrenzy’s ‘Saturation 8‘ release, plus the NZ underground Billy Joel tribute… Read More »The Biff Bangle Experience
Bailter Space
Biography Starting life as the Gordons, Bailter Space were one of the most abrasive aggressive and (primarily) loudest bands to ever emerge out of Christchurch and the Flying Nun Records scene of the early 80s. Comprised of Alister Parker on… Read More »Bailter Space
Bottletops
Biography One of Campbell McLay’s original Onset/Offset groups, fronted by Sarah Richards. The Bottletops put out an EP in 1983, then took 2 years to resurface on a split EP alongside McLay’s Toerag. Members Sarah Richards (vocals, Bottletops) Richard Coburn… Read More »Bottletops
Book of Martyrs
Biography Members Jonathan Harverson Armstrong (drums / vocals, Book of Martyrs) Stan Jagger (guitar, Book of Martyrs) Justine Francis (violin, Book of Martyrs) Alan Deare (bass, Book of Martyrs) Sarah Knight (bass / cello, Book of Martyrs) Discography Catharsis… Read More »Book of Martyrs
Bird Nest Roys
Biography Another in the long line of jangle pop outfits that optimized the Dunedin sound (though they originated from Auckland). They never quite hit the big time, though both the EP and their self-titled LP are well worth tracking down.… Read More »Bird Nest Roys
Black Girls Machine
Biography Studio-based out fit created by Michael Weston (Crystal Zoom) with contributions from John Payne (Hallelujah Picassos), James Pinker (latter-era Gordons) and Johny Fleury (The Idles) who released an EP on Flying Nun Records in the late 80’s, along with… Read More »Black Girls Machine
Boxcar Guitars
Biography Very slick and sadly short-lived country-flavored group out of Auckland. With a handful of choice support slots (including Evan Dando, Lambchop and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy), the group quickly rose in profile, before disbanding on the release of their fine… Read More »Boxcar Guitars