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
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
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
Auckland underground group, not to be confused with 1960’s rock’n’roll outfit Tommy Dee and the Teen Tones and featuring original first gen Auckland punk drummer Juian Hanson. Released a lathe-cut split 7″ with Pillar of State.
Keyboardist Dene Barnes would go on to have a productive experimental solo project as L$D fundraiser in the 2010s.
Julian Hanson passed away in February 2021.
#nzmusic #timteenandtheteentones
Eclectic Auckland group with a revolving line-up based around the song-writing talents of David Graham. Their music has pushed and pulled in various different directions over the years, from punky rock’n’roll to encompass full horn sections and strings, to stripped back indie-rock line-ups. Their songs just explode with melody, crazy lyrics and noisy enthusiasm.
#nzmusic #therainydays
Lanky was a short-lived group formed by former Jean-Paul Sartre Experience singer-songwriter Jim Laing. The group put out an album on the then-fledgling Arch Hill Recordings label in 2000 before disappearing, with Laing’s backing band all going on to David Kilgour’s Heavy Eights.
#nzmusic #lanky
Obscure solitary release from Michael Webby on short-lived Palmerston North based underground lathe-cut label Secret Safari.
Debut release from a Palmerston North import from Hawkes Bay who’s now resident in Dunedin. Beautiful low-key solo guitar pieces.
– Secret Safari
#nzmusic #willow
The Great Unwashed were a quieter, folkier edition of The Clean, a contrast to their raucous earlier sound. Peter Gutteridge’s contributions to their song-book should not be understated, with ‘Born in the wrong time’ an absolute classic.
#nzmusic #greatunwashed #theclean
The Alpaca Brothers were a short lived noisy post-punk band from Dunedin formed by Bruce Blucher and Nick Wilkinson in 1984, with a young Steve Cournane soon joining as drummer. The group disbanded after releasing a single EP for Flying Nun, but miraculously resurfaced recently (after a 36 year absence) with a new album.
#nzmusic #alpacabrothers
The Orange was a Dunedin trio formed by Andrew Brough in 1984. They recorded an EP for Flying Nun Records filled with melodic, 1960’s influenced pop before Brough
#nzmusic #theorange
Guitar pop from Palmerston North, though not quite in the same league of shimmering textural guitar as Chris Heaphy’s later band Dissolve their 1985 EP ‘Waiting for a Wave’ has the odd hook and shows promise. Named after the Central Otago mountain range.
#nzmusic #theremarkables
Christchurch-based Post-Punk group formed by Kit Lawrence and Marie Paynter (aka Marie Celeste) and active from 2004 through 2006. Eventually they would morph into the live rave / electro outfit Pig Out.
#nzmusic #houseofdolls #pigout
One of the least-known Flying Nun Records releases, ‘Stuff of Dreams’ was the 7″ debut from The Jumblies – the pop-punky Christchurch duo of Claire Timings and Peter Arnold recorded at Nightshift Studios in 1984.
Arnold would somehow manage a 2nd rare release for Flying Nun on 1986; that time performing under his own name and the with appropriate title ‘Rarer than Radium’.
#nzmusic #thejumblies #peterarnold
One of the greatest New Zealand groups of all-time – The 3Ds were one of the key groups in my own personal history as a fan of New Zealand Music. Led by 2 contrasting guitar playing front-men ably backed by a terrific, explosive rhythm section – their songs were full of hooks and exciting noise and distortion.
#nzmusic #the3ds
Christchurch, or maybe Wellington group that released a split 7″ single on Campbell McLay’s Onset/Offset records in 1986. Played with The Axemen at some point. The members would go on to form a number of Wellington-based groups.
#nzmusic #brothersgorgonzola