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The Verlaines

Formed in late 1980, The Verlaines is Graeme Downes’ long-standing song-writing vehicle, and one-hell of a brilliant, literate band at that. With the classic early 1980’s line-up of Downes on guitar and vocals, Alan Haig on drums and Jane Dodd on bass, the Verlaines released excellent singles such as ’10 O’Clock In The Afternoon’ from the EP of the same name, and of course their signature tune ‘Death And The Maiden’, which stands as one of the true kiwi classics.

#nzmusic #theverlaines

Lesley Speaker

Lesley Speaker was a Dunedin trio fronted by Kitset’s Peter Hobbs, putting out a 7″ lathe cut single and a CDr EP on the Beat Atlas label in 1998. Hobbs went on to become a movie soundtrack composer and studio engineer.

#nzmusic #lesleyspeaker

TV Eye

TV Eye was a collective rather than a label, with releases comprised of group, duo and solo material from the musicians that made up the South Island recording collective The Picnic Boys, plus a couple of hard-to-find compilations that include the same groups and a handful of others who may or may not feature key members Kevin Smith, Steve Watson, Pat Faigan, and Tim McCleod.

#tveye #nzmusic #thepicnicboys #sayyestoapes

Return Of The Wahlbergs

Experimental recording alias of Wellington-based musician Brett Garrity, who formed the Stinkbuzz Recording Co-Op label with Julian Desmond (Letterbox Lambs) in 1999. Garrity had a stint as Marineville’s bassist during the period they recorded their well-liked debut Ready for the Dance.

#nzmusic #returnofthewahlbergs

Vibraslaps

Vibraslaps were an all female post-punky outfit best known for an EP put out on Flying Nun Records in 1985, and for (briefly) being at the forefront of New Zealand’s lesbian feminist music scene during the turbulent mid 1980s.

#nzmusic #vibraslaps

Marie and the Atom

Marie and the Atom were an experimental pop group created as a performance and song-writing vehicle for Gill Civil. The group released 3 boundary-pushing EPs in the mid 1980’s and are best remembered for their song ‘Isol’.

#nzmusic #marieandtheatom

The Knobz

Opportunistic Dunedin-based 4-piece pub-rock band known pretty much exclusively for their career-defining single ‘Culture?’, a satirical lampoon of Prime Minister Muldoon, and his despised 40% sales tax on local music. The song and hastily produced video featured McPhail and Gadsby regular, comedian and Muldoon impersonator Danny Faye. Released in November 1981, ‘Culture?’ is a rock radio classic in New Zealand – and has the distinction of being the first independently released local single to break into the top 5 of the New Zealand charts.

#nzmusic #theknobz

Psycho-Kat

The Psycho-Kat was the name given by Tracey Pagey to her solo music for kRkRkRk between mid 1994 & late 1996. “Metal percussion & distorted synth drones Amidst all this industrial noise & chaos, however, were far more subtle compositions which used layered, ethereal vocals, wind instruments & understated loops to create an altogether more meditative & ritualistic feel.

#nzmusic #psycho-kat

Five Year Mission

Napier-based old school punk band that split a record label and an EP with Auckland group Armatrak in 1986. The group prepared a 4 song EP but lost the masters of 2 of the songs, so instead released the two song ‘UFO’ (written about the infamous Kaikoura Lights) as a single.

#nzmusic #fiveyearmission

Armatrak

Mid 1980’s hardcore punk band from Auckland. Released a split EP with Five Year Mission in 1986, released on Positive Youth Promotions, who exclusively released the two groups music.

Their frontman Stephen Moore and original bassist Simon Blendall put together a punk zine called ‘Anarchy, Outrage and Serious Intent’ which lasted a few issues and garnished the group some international interest. German underground label Gift of Life released the groups final release (of their original run), the 1987 EP ‘Inner Space’.

#nzmusic #armatrak

Peter Arnold

Jangly drum-machine propelled indie pop from Christchurch multi-instrumentalist and member of The Jumblies Peter Arnold, who put out an EP (also with Claire Timings) on Flying Nun Records in 1986.

#nzmusic #peterarnold

Arclife Records

Arclife Records was an excellent ‘home-grown’ independent label formed by the Arclife Trust, an arts organization that formed out of the Arc Cafe in central Dunedin.

The label had a strong, tight-knit community of local Dunedin groups on its roster – many of whom had moved on from the by-then Auckland based Flying Nun Records.

#nzmusic #arcliferecords

Hannah Everingham

Exceptional Christchurch-born (now NYC based) singer-songwriter Hannah Everingham is just about to release her 2nd album on local label Leather Jacket Records.

Here’s a short bio i’ve put together so far, including a video link for new single ‘Giving up the Dog’, filmed at the Botanic Gardens.

#nzmusic #hannaheveringham

Hoihoi

Just in time for local 4-piece post-punk group Hoihoi’s all-ages show at A Rolling Stone this Sunday, here’s a profile I’ve put together:

#nzmusic #hoihoi #tereo

Satina Saturnina - 'Annabelle' 7" single

Satina Saturnina

Cabaret-punk from Palmerston North’s Victoria Singh with (former Builders drummer) Derek Champion. The duo released a CD and 7″ on Andrew Tolley’s Kato Records label in the late 1990s. In a live context Singh was backed by The Santina Droids – Champion and Chris Swain.

#nzmusic #satinasaturnina