Saturday, September 29, 2012

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Sept 29



Chuck Womack and the sweet souls - Hamhocks and beans pt1
Manu Dibango -Afro soul - Rob Mello no ears mix
Mophono - The edge
Ike and Tina Turner - Nutbush city limits
Ann Peebles - If this is heaven
BT Express - If it dont turn you on...
Hypnotic brass ensemble - Balliki bone
Maceo and the macks - Cross the tracks
Karl Hector and the Malcouns - Sahara swing
Global youth feat Jah Meek - The riddim
Ragga twins - 18" speaker
Don Drummond - Movie swing
Noiseshaper - Only redeemer
King Everand -Kill ole pan
General Levy - The wig
Herbie Mann - The letter
The Emotions - I like it
The Beat - Cant get used to losing you
Silva MC - Coming right thru
Mashed - Conquering lion - Moody boyz remix
The Orb meets Lee Scratch Perry - Hold me upsetter
Lionrock - Rudeboy rock  edit
45 King feat Wildchild - Two five
Mantronix - Who is it?
 Ermehn - Everyday real (album launch party thurs oct 4, details here)
Henry Mancini - Baretta's theme
Kid Creole and the coconuts - I'm a wonderful thing
 Steinski -We'll be right back

Friday, September 28, 2012

Murray's top 12s for 85


Earlier this week I posted a clip I came across of Murray Cammick guesting on Radio With Pictures in 1985, introducing soul and funk clips. Part of the chat with host Karyn Hay, was a list of Murray's best 12's for 1985 (see above). The one that caught my eye was Pennye Ford, not a tune i'm familiar with. Til now.... watch the vid, spot the famous folks...


From the youtube comments..."This is Penny posting!! To answer your question....Todd [Bridges] and I are not relatives but we were good friends...as was Stoney [Jackson]...they were my road dogs at the time and I had no video budget so I just called some of my friends (including some old soul train folks..lol) and got the video made.... Thanks ever so much for finding this. it means the world to me. What was that poodle hanging on my head. lol."

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Local music doco coming....

Return to Hawaiiki



from Radio NZ National Music on Saturday 22 September 2012

"Clasically-trained pianist, composer and beat maker Anonymouz - Matthew Faiumu Salapu - travelled to Samoa in August as part of a delegation of New Zealand-Samoan artists to celebrate NZ-Samoa Friendship Week, an event marking the 50th anniversary of the two countries' Treaty of Friendship. For his presentation at Apia's Vanya Taule'alo art gallery, Anonymouz produced a found-sound track, stitching together recordings from his time in the islands. He tells us about the sonic ingredients that went into 'Return to Hawaiiki'. Play (Windows)

Interview with Anonymouz by Martyn Pepperell, from NZ Musician. He talks about working with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra on the Remix The Orchestra project. Ever hear a South Auckland musician reference the Flying Nun/Dunedin scene? Check this dude. 

RIP Andy Williams

LA Times: Andy Williams, 'Moon River' singer, dies at 84..."You wouldn't believe how 'Moon River' became a hit," he said in a 1989 interview with the Chicago Tribune. "I was having dinner with [songwriters] Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, who had just finished recording the movie 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' with Audrey Hepburn singing 'Moon River' out on the balcony with a guitar.

"So Mancini and Mercer played this song for me, which I thought was great. But my record company was really into singles then, and they said: 'I don't think phrases like 'my Huckleberry friend' will make it with the kids — they won't know what it means.'"

But about four weeks before the 1962 Academy Awards program, he recalled, "I was invited to sing 'Moon River' on the Oscars show, and Columbia Records decided we ought to rush a 'Moon River' album into the stores, because that tune looked like a shoo-in for the 'best song' Oscar.

"So they quickly put out an album, had it in the stores on the day of the Oscars, and the next morning it sold 500,000 copies."

When Andy Williams dubbed Lauren Bacall


When I saw the Engish Beat play in Auckland last month, they did their great version of Williams' tune Cant Get Used To Losing You. The whole venue sang along to every word. It was quite splendid.



Andy Williams on The Muppet Show, hat tip Brooklyn Vegan

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

BFM, Shadows, vanishing from AUSA?

Auckland University Students Association (AUSA) is facing financial trouble, thanks to questionable dealings by the University of Auckland over property housing AUSA and it's ventures, like BFM, and Shadows.

Craccum has published a piece "Death Bells Ringing?" on the issue...

AUSA built the Student Union building (which houses BFM), but in the early 2000s, the University decided they owned it. "... It argued that regardless of who had paid for the building, the fact that it was on university land meant the university owned it." The University eventually settled out of court with AUSA, but has to date stalled repeatedly in paying the agreed settlement in full. It appears like the University has manoeuvred AUSA into a corner.

Now, if one of AUSA's businesses is declared insolvent, ownership of the buildings goes to the University. And BFM will be charged commercial rates, or have to find a new home. Or possibly be sold off by AUSA to raise funds to make up for lost income.

UPDATED Nov 2, 2012 - Bacchid Benevolency Ltd has gone into receivership  This is 100% owned by AUSA and means that Shadows is now shut. A liquidator was appointed 31 October.

If the opinion piece quoted above from Craccum is correct, the property housing Shadows now falls under the ownership of the University of Auckland, not the AUSA.

http://www.business.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/626713

NZ Trading Company



This band pop up from time to time amongst Kiwi beat diggers, the anomaly being how does a band in the US end up with a name like that? Chris Bourke has posted up audio of one of their more popular songs, he tells the story...

"The New Zealand Trading Company actually only traded in the United States. The band evolved out of the Maori Hi-Quins and other Maori showbands of the 1960s. The most prominent member was bass guitarist Thomas Kini, who left New Zealand in 1959 aged 16 to play with the Hi-Quins.

At the time of his death aged 61 in 2004, he had become a prominent musician based in the Chicago area. (Many Maori showband musicians settled in the US after their cabaret heyday was over.) Kini worked with artists such as Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Minnie Ripperton and Herbie Hancock.

The New Zealand Trading Company released just one album, in 1970, on the Memphis label. Most of the songs are co-written by Thomas Kini, plus two by Alberto Carrion. But the song which keeps getting requested on specialist Maori programmes on New Zealand public radio is their cover of "Hey Jude".

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Quincy on MJ

Quincy Jones. Source
Quincy Jones from a recent NY Times interview... I've heard this story a  few time, about Michael Jackson thinking rap music was over and done...

"... Did he [Michael] really never personally tell you he was moving on?
He didn’t, no. It’s OK, man. It’s not like I’m gonna roll over and die. He told his manager that I was losing it, that I didn’t understand the business because I didn’t understand in 1987 that rap was dead. Rap wasn't dead. Rap hadn’t even started yet."

Full interview here. Quincy talks about his daughter dating Tupac, and confirms he was not gay for Tupac, as rumours suggested - "I'm not into men... I'm a hardcore lesbian..."

New Lips single

Recent Silver Scroll winner Lips (Stephanie Brown) drops her new single. It's available as a digital download for one dollar via Bandcamp, check it below. It's a preview from her forthcoming EP "Look, Listen", out October 25.



Bye bye Khuja


Long-running Auckland venue Khuja Lounge has announced it is closing down at the end of this month. Khuja opened in 1997, and developed a scene that spawned the Sugarlicks Records label. Sugarlicks held their latest release party at Khuja just last month, for the Seva Hifi album. The venue went up for sale last month. Am guessing it didn't sell.(deleted: I was looking at a sale listing on trademe from Oct 2011, when the business was for sale, for $55,000).

Khuja staff member Karin said on their Facebook page, "It is with sincere regret and sadness that we announce that Khuja will be closing down on the 30th of September. We would like to thank our loyal patrons for your continued support throughout the years and all the musicians who have given the place a soul.

Also thank you to the people who have helped us along the way, with sponsorships, charity gigs, poetry readings, art exhibitions, burlesque shows, Latin nights, Jamaican nights with food and all ☺  live street art, and also our invaluable repainting help.

Its great to have hosted the making of unitec student films, the making of music videos, photo shoots and of course all the wonderful people who have had their special functions with us.

As you know this is the end of an era and I hope you can all take away with you some very good memories of some special nights out.

And of course we would like to thank our staff, for doing a great job, especially the iconic Ash who has been there for what seem like forever!

Please come up before the 30th and have a farewell drink with us."

Khuja's lease is up at the end of September, and apparently the current owners decided to move on, rather than renew the lease and then try and sell the business.

ADDED The Dog's Bollix venue is closed (via NZ Musician)  " Newton based venueThe Dogs Bollix up for lease and currently closed under liquidation. The venue has been a stomping ground for musicians since its launch in 1996 and was recently spruced up with an interior refurbishment and layout change... The equipment and chattels owned by Cahersiveen Ltd (trading as The Dog’s Bollix) were put up for auction on September 14 under instruction from Rodgers Reidy Chartered Accountants."

The Dog's Bollix started out in the early 1990s as The Dog Club, set up and run by Stuart Broughton, then managing an up and coming young band called Supergroove. My band Hallelujah Picassos played there a bunch of times, had some great shows in there too.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Kilodee single

Kilodee is a new musical project I kicked off last year with this song. This is the new single, with the cheery title, The heat will kill you.

It's available now on Bandcamp as a 'pay what you like' download. Just so ya know, if you pay zero, I'll ask you for your email address for my mailing list. Preview below...



AND I made a freaky little video for it, chopping up some old US Govt health film that's public domain...

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Murray C 85, talks soul on RWP

Nautilius flip



from Monkone (Wax Poetics): "Back in 2003 my man Emskee asked if I could flip Nautilus in some way that hadn't been done yet. Just came across an old CD with my attempt on it, thought I'd share. MPC2000--Reverb--Compressor and that's it." And then there's this...

MCOJ and Roger S

TV3 show music awards - for the most use of water on a video. Presenters are Moana, MCOJ and Slave, and winner is...

 

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Sept 22

Kashmere stage band - Superstrut -Kenny Dope re-edit
Hugh Masekela - Languta
William Onyeabor - Body and Soul - Afrodisiac soundsystem edit
Romanowski - Flat picker
Nelly Furtado - Turn off the light
Silva MC - Coming right thru
Restless soul - Turn me out
Lonnie Liston Smith - Cosmic funk
SOS Band - SOS (dit dit dit dash dash dash dit dit dit)
Nextmen vs Joe Dukie - Hold me now (free download)
Israel Starr - Summertime
Gwen Guthrie - Ticket to ride
Lee Fields - You're the kind of girl - Grant Phabao remix
Augustus Pablo - Iggy iggy
Linton Kwesi Johnson - Peach dub
Ticklah  - Si hecho palente
Resonators - Sweet love affair - Cyantific remix
Smith and Mighty - B line fi blow
Magic circle express - Magic fever
Little dragon - Test
Chancha via curcuito - Zorzal
Frente cumbiero - Pitchito
Doug Carn - Suratal ihklas - Fulgeance remix
Gulls - Mean sound
Shannon - Do you want to get away - Dub version
Liquid crystal project - Tribute to TROY

Friday, September 21, 2012

Nextmen feat Joe Dukie (Fat Freddys)

Free ep from the Nextmen, features Fat Freddys Drop singer Joe Dukie, previously unreleased, out today. Sounds pretty tasty...

From Bestiblog: "The Nextmen are releasing a free EP 'Blow Wind Blow - The Unreleased Sessions'... The tracks were created during FFD's first trip to UK shores but subsequently left untouched in the digi-vaults for the past decade. Rediscovered during a recent studio spring clean, the duo have decided to gift these tracks to supporters of The Nextmen and Joe Dukie in the gap between long players. Stream 'Blow Wind Blow' exclusively below and download the full EP for free on Friday via thenextmen.com."



ADDED some background... "Acclaimed genre-popping producers Brad Baloo & Dom Search from The Nextmen joined forces with arguably one of the world's best soul vocalists, Fat Freddy's Drop frontman Dallas Tamaira - AKA Joe Dukie - in the Summer of 2003 to flesh out & record an idea hatched by Christopher Tubbs who, at the time, was working for ill fated London label Carbon Records.

The trio met during Freddy's first trip to London & with just four days in a front room to record, the boys enlisted band mates Toby Laing & Joe Lindsay on horns, along with the lyrical endeavours of Hamish Clark from Breaks Co-op to forge what would become something very special. The result was simply stunning, but like the path much trodden, the label folded, the record was never released & the DAT tapes lay undiscovered in a dusty archive until now...."

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Ghostly Hot 8



 Brand new single from Hot 8 Brass Band, covering Ghost Town (The Specials), single out Oct 8, new album out Nov 12. Check this.

Jackie, Spanky, and sunshine



I thought my favourite cover of this song was by Spanky Wilson (below), then I heard this version yesterday. Damn, Jackie Mittoo rocks it, Keyboard king!


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Ermehn new album...



Ermehn has a new album (his third), Trained To Kill, out early October, release party is October 4th at The Lounge bar, High St, Auckland. You can get the song Stare and Whisper (feat PNC) as a free download from over here.

Guests on the album also include Ganxsta Ridd (Boo Ya Tribe), Mr Sicc, Dei Hamo, Temple Jones, and production from Anonymouz, the very talented fella behind the APO's Remix the orchestra concert, one of the most amazing live shows I've seen in ages.

More info on the release party, see Ermehn - Facebook.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Total Effect, 88

Via Simon Grigg on Twitter: "Pre-CRC ad, Total Effect Rippin' Up a Storm (or something…) in what is likely to be the first recorded hiphop from AKLD"...



"This track went to #1 on the BFM Top 10 for a week, by public vote. Total Effect was the rap group I [Sample Gee] formed in 1987 with MC Squared (Michael Fletcher), MC Klymn (Les Hammon), and DJ Damage. Boy C (Chris Maiai) joined the group later.

Apart from two tracks on the compilation album "AK89 In Love With These Rhymes", we never had any commercial releases due to sampling issues (De La Souls "Three Feet High and Rising" was released as we recorded our album and the legal issues over that prevented meant our record company shelved the project for fear of getting sued).

Our biggest gig was at the Auckland Town Hall in 1990 playing to 2000 people in support of Redhead Kingpin.

This Demo was recorded at Last Laugh Studios on an 8 track in Auckland in 1988 and has been preserved from a long lost 25 year old cassette!!"

AUDIO now at Nick D'Angleo's Soundcloud - full dub of the AK89 - In love with these rhymes cassette.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Howe's that?

Mike Alexander in the Sunday Star Times reports that Arch Hill Recordings' boss Ben Howe is "set to be a major player in Flying Nun's future... [and] Roger Shepherd will be involved in the running of the label..." Howe says the rumours that the label is in financial trouble and about to fall over again are not true.

This interesting development comes on the back of a new share issue in mid July (according to Companies Office records), which indicates a fresh influx of cash to Flying Nun from its shareholders, including Neil and Sharon Finn, and Graham Cockroft (ex Netherworld Dancing Toys). Cockroft was also a director of Flying Nun, along with Roger Shepherd, but was taken off as director in April 2012.

(UPDATED 18 Sept - the Companies Office website records that Cockroft has been reappointed as director on 27 Aug 2012, notice registered on 17 Sept, 2012. Cockroft is currently Contact Energy's Chief Financial Officer, a role he's held since June 2012. Prior to this he was their Chief Operating Officer for 3 years).

Contrast this with early 2010, when Ben Howe wrote a pointed commentary on the Arch Hill website (post now deleted) talking about how he had worked closely with Flying Nuns' Roger Shepherd for several years on the Flying Nun deal, only to get pushed out at the last minute. Some of that post is viewable here.

Shepherd told Salient magazine in March 2010 that ".. it was very hard, but [Howe] didn’t have the money, we weren’t going to be able to raise the money. It was unfortunate, and maybe I managed it really badly, but I just had to do what I had to do, really. I’m not happy about it, but it just got too difficult.”

The share allocation has changed twice since Flying Nun reignited in 2009, indicating several infusions of money - while Shepherd retains 100 shares, the other three shareholding parties have had their allocation increased, first on 10 October 2011 from 100 to 178, and again recently on 19 July 2012, from 178 to 291. The latest shares were issued on 8 June and registered on 19 July.

When Shepherd started the label in1981, three years into their existence the label had achieved critical and commercial success, with the likes of the Clean and the Chills, to name but a few. Three years on since Shepherd  reclaimed the label in 2009, and their successes have been mainly critical ones, and no major commercial success.  They have also lost some of their new signings, like Die Die Die.

Background: Flying Nun shareholders are? (Feb 2010 post)

ADDED: Interesting piece from Andrew Schmidt: "Change needed at Flying Nun..."

UPDATED Sept 19 - Flying Nun have announced on their website that Ben Howe is now general manager, and the label will move to Auckland...

"... The head office will now be located in Auckland, alongside Arch Hill Recordings. Ben Howe (from Arch Hill) will become general manager, Roger Shepherd will work as a consultant and shareholder (based in Wellington) and Matthew Davis will move to Auckland to carry on as the local label manager.

In the current environment it makes sense for labels and independent music businesses to consolidate and share resources. In order to succeed we must keep the focus on working with great bands, making sure they are properly looked after and taking them to the world. We think this is the future for Flying Nun - from vinyl through to online."

UPDATED 29 Sept - Ben Howe appeared on Media3 on TV3 this morning (watch here), he told host Russell Brown that he started talking with Neil Finn (FNun shareholder) when the two of them were sitting together on a flight to Australia last year, when Finn's band was playing Laneway Festival (Howe is co-promoter in NZ of Laneway).

Ben says that conversation continued, then later Roger became involved, and Ben put a proposal to them about some ideas. He point out that consolidating operations when the music industry is in tough times makes sense, and that the music industry is based in Auckland and it's a lot easier to get things done.

Ben also notes that Flying Nun is doing quite well in the US, and he has been there a lot with Arch Hill acts like Streetchant and Surf City, so it make sense for him to work both labels while there. He also reveals there's now a contract with The Chills, and is looking forward to working with them.

ADDED: Ben Howe was added as director of Flying Nun on November 20, 1012.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Sept 15



Nina Simone - Seeline woman - MAW remix
Joubert singers - Stand on the word
Jackie Stoudemire - Invisible wind - Shoes re-edit
OJays - 992 arguments
Antibalas - Che che cole makossa
Steel n skin - Afro punk reggae dub
The Orb and Lee Scratch Perry - Hold me upsetter
Dub traffik control - Searching for stalag
Herbs - Azania (soon come)
Marcia Aitken/Trinity - I'm still in love/three piece suit
Jah Stitch -Raggamuffin style - Smith and Mighty remix
Osibisa - Fire
Fred Wesley - House party
Estere - Cruel Charlie
Sola Rosa feat Iva Lamkum - Turn around - Suff Daddy remix
Esther Phillips - All the way - Leftside wobble edit
Nile Rodgers - Land of the good groove
Keni Burke -Rising to the top - AliOOFT edit
Amalgamation of soundz - Things amiss
Herbie Hancock - Palm grease
Charles Bradley - Why is it so hard?

Friday, September 14, 2012

Herbs at Silver Scrolls

Herbs with APRA's Anthony Healey. Photo: NZ Herald/Natalie Slade
The APRA Silver Scrolls is a night dedicated to celebrating our songwriters. It's a magnificent event, now in its 47th year. The finalists get to hear their songs interpreted by other artists on the night - it makes for some interesting listening.

The main reason I went to the APRA Silver Scrolls last night tho was to see Herbs inducted to the NZ Music Hall Of Fame. Sure, it's a grand night, and there were some entertaining performances, but Herbs, that's some history right there.

Herbs are one of the most important bands this country has ever produced, especially if you have an interest in reggae.

They were introduced onto the stage by Che Fu, who talked about when he was growing up, he used to call the band Uncles. Because back then, there were two reggae bands in New Zealand - his dad's band, and Herbs.

Che talked about going round to the Herbs' place with his dad to drop off packages and being sent outside to play, while the adults talked inside and this funny smelling smoke came out the windows.

He talked about the records the band made, the importance of French Letter (later, in a tribute video to the band, Graham Reid highlighted the amusing choice of using the accordion, a very French instrument, in a song taking aim at the French).

And he talked about the band's inclusion on Slice of Heaven with Dave Dobbyn, "Or as we liked to call him, Yoda." And now, from this day forward, everyone in New Zealand will call Dobbyn Yoda. Shot, Che.

Then Che closed by saying "And that's my 21st speech over with..." and invited us to be upstanding for the members of Herbs, and the past and present members walked up onstage to a standing ovation.

Dilworth Karaka spoke on behalf of the band, thanking a number of people, and talked about how the band had got together the night before for a drink (and perhaps a sneaky smoke outside) and a yarn to clear the air, and they were all good. Cos there is a lot of history in that band, some happy, some not so happy. Dilworth also referred to Slice of Heaven, saying "after you cause a riot you need to come up with a hit song, aye Yoda?"

Then Willie Hona stepped up to the mic and all the band, past and present, sang E Papa, acapella. It was an incredible moment, spine-tingingly good.

As is tradition at the Silver Scrolls, the nominees get to hear their song covered by another artist, and with Herbs, the musical director Jon Toogood chose Kora to cover Rust in dust (watch here). Toogood seemed to favour using a lot of Wellington musicians. Shocker.

Kora came out and opened the song with a musical riff lifted from My Jamaican Guy by Grace Jones, nice touch, and then sang their hearts out. Damn, those guys can harmonise.

The Corner has a full list of the covers done here. The general tone of most of the covers was quite lively, which helped given how maudlin and depressing most of the finalists' originals sounded.

They were largely unsuccessful, I thought, in bringing something fresh or insightful to the songs. Lots of big, flashy covers, high impact but unmemorable. Julia Deans with a string quartet for Opossom's Getaway Tonight was a brave idea, but Deans didn't have the range to really nail it. Rhian Sheehan stood out tho, with his demented sonic excursion on the Sounz Contemporary Award winner Alex Taylor's piece.
The winner was announced by Tony Wain of The Narcs (comeback tour to plug or something?), congratulations to Steph Brown (ex One Million Dollars, Opensouls) aka Lips.

Later, to close the night, Dave Dobbyn and his band came onstage to play Slice of Heaven (but no Herbs members joined him). He did it with a banjo included, and it sounded like a limp hillbilly cover. It didn't really take flight. I found out later Dave was covering Tami Neilson's cover of his own song. How meta. Hear that? That's the sound of the universe folding in on itself. Blame Yoda.

Ex NZ Herald writer Dominic Roskrow joined in via Twitter (from the UK) saying "Remember when Joe Walsh played with Herbs & passed out backstage at The Powerstation? Let me explain... Walsh moved to Auckland & adopted the band as reggae's future. He tried to manage them & did odd reggae versions of Eagles songs with them, but couldn't handle strong NZ dope so it went nowhere. So indirectly it's the fault of Herbs that hell froze over and The Eagles reformed. How zen is that?"

Roskrow was inspired to join in the conversation oline after seeing his former colleague, Russell Baillie, pop up with this: " I once pinched a photo of Nelson Mandela from the Auckland Star library so Herbs could use it in a video. No guilt tonight."

What an incredible night. Tu meke.


MORE: Gareth Shute reviews the night for The Corner, here.
Previous post: Herbs join music hall of fame

ADDED: Video of the night is up on the NZ Herald site, watch the tribute video to Herbs.

Watch Kora cover Rust in dust here.

Don McGlashan's speech from the awards night has been posted on Graham Reid's site, here.




PLUS: 1988 Herbs doco on Ruatoria album launch, by Lee Tamahori, via NZ Onscreen...

 

Thursday, September 13, 2012

RIP Andrew "Mac" Macaskill

Still from Beth's Song music video, Danny Manetto on left, Mac Macaskill on right
Andrew "Mac" Macaskill, one third of the original line-up of Auckland Band Voom (alongside Danny Manetto and Buzz Moller), passed away this morning. Much love to his friends and family.

some history: "Voom first formed back in the early 90’s. Buzz Moller and Mac MacCaskill noodled away making music in their basement for years before anyone heard a thing. ‘Relax’ was the first single released to student radio and it became a well-known b net hit. Second single ‘Beth’ soon followed suit. Danny Manetto joined the band on bass and they played many venues around New Zealand and released the highly acclaimed debut album ‘Now I Am Me’ in 1998 [Antenna Recordings]. Voom shows grew larger and larger; a particular highlight was performing in support of Pulp at the North Shore Events Centre..."  Mac left the band over personal issues with singer Buzz Moller.

He was also involved in the 2010 Project, a band that featured "2 ex members of Voom being Mac Macaskill & Danny Manetto + Tony Shields & Simon Harris".

Mac features in the video below...



Obit from NZ Herald, Saturday Sept 15: "MACASKILL, Andrew Scott (Mac). Aged 49 yrs, passed away in the company of his darling Leisa on Thursday 13th September 2012 after a short illness. Most treasured son (Scamp) of Trish and Stuart and dearly loved brother of Grant and Helen and Ian and Sandie. Adored Dad of Sophie and Nic and the coolest Uncle Mac to Ella, Callum and Lewis. His loving nature and wonderful free spirit will be greatly missed by us all.

A service will be held at 3:00pm Tuesday 18th September at the Purewa All Saints Crematorium Chapel, All Saints Rd, Meadow Bank, Auckland. Our sincere thanks to the Doctors and Nurses at the Mercy Hospice for their compassionate care of Mac and family. Donations please in lieu of flowers to the Mercy Hospice, Ponsonby, Auckland."

Also from the NZH: "MACASKILL, Mac. My brave man died in my arms at 3.05am on 13 September, 2012. Too young and too good to die. Loved friend and mentor to the Manetto-Munro lads, Xavier and Lucian. A loved member of Christine and Bruce's family, the Munro Clan. Much loved father to Sophie and Nick. My lover and best friend Leisa xxx ..."

photo: Mac Macaskill's Twitter

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Neketini meets Fela


 Amplifier just posted this great Kiwi LP cover (above) on Twitter, saying "They really don't make album artwork like this any more. And probably for a reason."

It reminded me of this great Kiwi LP I've got by Nick Nicholson and the Neketini Brass (1968, HMV), essentially a local take on the classic Herb Alpert and Tijuana Brass sound, covering Maori tunes like Pokarekare Ana and E Hine E. It's a great record. And somehow this LP cover below ended up being recycled for a late 60s Fela Kuti compilation LP. Seriously.

ADDED: Hat tip to Dylan C for reminding me of this 2005 mashup that used the same cover art.









ADDED Stinky Jim reminded me in the comments that there are two versions of the Neketini Brass cover art - Thanks Jim! Here's the other one...



Added: I digitised a tune or two off my copy of Neketini Brass, here's their take on Pokarekare ana...



Aaradhna - Can We Go Back



Serious soul music. Check this. Free download single of Aaradhna's upcoming album "Treble & Reverb", due out in November 2012.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

'Paul's Boutique' revisited


Beasties' 'Paul's Boutique' reworked with original source samples (via LA Times)

"... Looking for a killer weekend listening session, free of charge? Quick, race to the bottom of this post now and start listening to a masterful new reworking of the Beastie Boys' "Paul's Boutique," crafted from the original source material into an hour-long mixtape. Created by crate diggers/producers/DJs Cheeba, Moneyshot and Food over three years, the production is one of the coolest mixes I've heard all year.

Called "Caught in the Middle of A 3-Way Mix," the idea sprouted after Moneyshot did the same thing with the Beasties' "Check Your Head."

They crack open tomtom beats swiped from Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up," blend sourced samples from Black Oak Arkansas, the Eagles and Tower of Power, swipe sounds from Led Zeppelin, the Meters and Johnny Cash, shock with the string screeches fromAlfred Hitchcock's film composer Bernard Herrmann. And by mixing in commentary from recorded interviews with the Beasties themselves discussing the album's creation, the thing feels like some sort of sonic  documentary.

DJ Food's label, Ninja Tune, is hosting the mix on its Soundcloud page, and it's available as a download, as well. In the comments section, Ninja writes that the three were about halfway finished with the remix when Beastie Boy Adam Yauch died after a long battle with cancer, "so the impetus to finish it was instantly doubled and new meaning given to the project. It goes without saying that this is also a tribute to Adam Yauch and the legacy he left behind and we hope it will be embraced by Beastie fans around the globe."

Monday, September 10, 2012

Whats' Be Happen?


Whats' Be Happen? is the fantastic 1981 debut release from Herbs, who are being inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame at the APRA Silver Scrolls on Thursday - more on that here.

Herbs early releases have been out of circulation for many, many years, but Amplifier has announced that there is an extensive digital reissue out now, including Whats Be Happen? Other reissues include Long Ago, Light of the Pacific, and Sensitive to a smile.

"Whats' Be Happen? was the debut studio recording from Herbs. It was released in 1981 through Warrior Records, reaching as high as #40 on the New Zealand album charts. The album is now available again digitally thanks to Warner Music.

Produced and arranged by Herbs. Recording engineers were Gerard Carr and Phil Yule - Phil also mixed the album. Recorded and mixed at Mascot Studios, Auckland, New Zealand.

The cover photo is of the Bastion Point Eviction day, May 25, 1978, when 222 land protesters were arrested."

If you are a fan of kiwi reggae, you need this classic.

Saturday, September 08, 2012

Rhythm and poetry



From Soulsides, great piece on the Personal Space: Electronic Soul 1974-1984 compilation by James Cavicchia ...

"... Many years ago, I read an interview with Charles Wright where he talked about the personal importance of his ongoing attempts at staying abreast of whatever music production techniques were current, about having spent several of his “lost years” during the eighties experimenting with synthesized and programmed rhythms.

He said that one day he went to his cardiologist and was informed that his heart had developed an alarming mass of extra muscle, that the years and years of spending hour after hour day after day listening to a drum machine had forced his heart out of its natural beat and lead it to deform itself in adjustment to the brute will of technology. 

Wright, fearing for his life, abandoned this line of musical exploration immediately..."

Friday, September 07, 2012

Tape Crackers

A cosy Sunday night event of inspiring cinema on deluxe sofas, with a 5000 watt soundsystem, Kohu Rd gourmet icecream, good coffee and a full bar. At Galatos....

Tape Crackers film screening, 9th September 7.30pm

An oral history of Jungle and Pirate Radio*'Tape Crackers' is a vital documentary focussed on one guy, Michael Finch, and his amazing tape collection of pirate radio recordings made in the mid-late '90s. Michael is a passionate and thoroughly endearing orator, spilling profuse knowledge on MCs, the variety and breadth of the junglist FM bandwidth, the raves, the clothes, and most importantly, the vibe. 

Although this era only occurred little over 15 years ago, the fact that it was all pre-internet (or at least widescale internet use) gives some sharp contrast to today's fingertip cultural reach and some context that many older heads will relate to, while youngers are recommended to watch for educational purposes. 

You can just see memories wash over him with each tape he puts on, and you're reminded of the absolute frustration and euphoria of hearing a track on pirate radio that you would never ever get to find out anything about, or know who it was by, or ever get to hear again - save for the worn out cassette copy you just made. 

Apart from all the anecdotes and recollections - including a really nice overview of London's Junglist pirate radio scene of the mid 90's (even touching on the birth of Rinse), what you really get from Tape Crackers is a snapshot of a bygone era and one man's obsession with it - and it just makes for utterly compelling viewing. Don't miss.

$15 on the door BRING CASH (no eftpos avail) or thru Eventfinda
Doors open at 6- show at 7.30...

Don't touch me tomato

Sat 8th Sept at Golden Dawn (corner Ponsonby rd and Richmond rd) with selectors Tobi, Dubhead, and Peter Mac. Kicks off 8pm, free entry. Plenty bass, plenty niceness.


Thursday, September 06, 2012

J Rocc's wax



J Rocc (Stonesthrow) and his amazing record collection. Prepare to be very jealous. Hat tip to Potholes in my blog.

"The legendary Beat Junkie has an absolutely crazy collection, which includes Mickey Mouse ears he rocks during J Dilla tribute performances, a vinyl cleaner, and some ridiculously rare pieces. At one point he says he could sell just one of his records and cover rent for a month or two."

JBrown fresh beats



JBrown, the brother formerly of Kolab, drops a tasty ep of dirty hiphop and slinky house tempos. Check out Tiaha Funk, that's some fruitiness right  there.  Free download.

RNZ loses archive

"The country's largest collection of sound recordings is moving from Radio New Zealand and will now be managed by the Film Archive."

According to this report below, Radio NZ's 70,000 recordings, dating back to the 1930s, will now be managed by the FIlm Archive, although RNZ will still own the recordings and house them, despite losing the $670,000 annual funding for the sound archive.

That funding, plus an extra $300,000 and a one off $1 million payment, for digitsing the collection,will go to the Film Archive . The aim is to make the collection easily accessible to the public.

Based on this, I assume the funding to cover the storage of the archive will come out of RNZ's existing already tight budget.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss says audio from other organisations could also be managed thru a central body, which sounds like part of the Government's ongoing push to consolidate our various archives into one.

The news item doesn't mention if there's any music held within this collection, only highlighting speeches by Keith Holyoake, The Queen, and rugby sports commentary. It also doesn't make clear why this is happening and who pushed for it, or RNZ's reaction.

      

ADDED: "The National Sound Archive is to be split from Radio New Zealand and amalgamated with the New Zealand Film Archive.

The plan was confirmed on Wednesday Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Chris Finlayson. The handover will take place on 1 October.

Mr Finlayson said Radio New Zealand had done an excellent job of caring for the archive and the transfer gives an opportunity to build on the legacy." Source: RNZ website

The offical government statement says responsibility for the sound archive is being transferred, which tallys with RNZ's report that the material will stay housed at RNZ.


Official press release from Radio NZ on the change... (hat tip to Nat Torkington for link)

Changes to Audio Visual Archiving
"Radio New Zealand has welcomed today’s announcement of a significant increase in funding for sound archiving in New Zealand.

Radio New Zealand has agreed to transfer the day-to-day management of its sound archiving operations, Sound Archives/Ngaā Taonga Koōrero, to the New Zealand Film Archive effective from 1 October of this year.

In a joint statement, Radio New Zealand Chairman, Richard Griffin, and New Zealand Film Archive Chair, Jane Kominik, paid tribute to the staff of Sound Archives for their dedication to the task of preserving sound archival material and emphasised the value of a cooperative future that will enhance public access to the archive.

“We regard this merger as a positive step in a process that will give substance to the Government’s intention to set up a national archives incorporating a diverse range of material that reflects our country’s history.

“The sound archives operation will continue to be based in Christchurch and all current Sound Archives staff have been offered employment with the Film Archive...."

ADDED Friday Sept 7 930am: I have emailed RNZ to ask some questions,have heard their Comms Manager is replying.

ADDED: Friday Sept 7 415pm: Radio NZ CEO Peter Cavanagh has responded to my queries...

He says the costs to RNZ of housing the archive will be covered by subleasing the space: "Sound Archives staff and the collection itself will continue to be co-located with Radio New Zealand in Christchurch and Auckland. The existing accommodation occupied by Sound Archives in the two centres will be sub-leased to the Film Archive which means that the transaction will be cost-neutral for Radio New Zealand. Radio New Zealand will retain copyright in the collection after day-to-day management is transferred to the Film Archive from 1 October.

The idea to shift the sound archive "is in line with Government policy to streamline the delivery of audio visual archiving services in New Zealand."

He says "Public accessibility to the Sound Archives collection will not be affected by the transfer. Additional one-off funding of $1 million over the next two years for a digitisation backlog project should significantly improve public access to parts of the Sound Archives collection which are still in analogue form and yet to be preserved."

Fac. Dance 02


Fac. Dance 02: Factory Records 12” Mixes & Rarities 1980 - 1987 

Blurb from Strut: "On September 17th, Strut release the second album in the Fac. Dance series, bringing together sought after 12” versions and rarities from Manchester’s revered Factory Records imprint.

Revisiting the peerless studio work of Martin Hannett, Be Music (the collective pseudonym of New Order members Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris and Peter Hook) and ACR drummer Donald Johnson, among others, Fac. Dance 02 fleshes out Factory’s varied early forays into dance territory, widening the spectrum yet further from Volume One. 

The early version of A Certain Ratio’s angular funk classic “The Fox” from the band’s debut album To Each… rubs shoulders with Cheba Fadela’s Algerian rai blast, “N’Sel Fik”; Kalima’s uplifting dancefloor jazz also features, along with a sprawling electro dub of 52nd Street’s UK boogie classic “Can’t Afford”; we spotlight Dutch electronic band Minny Pops with the motorik “Blue Roses” alongside the heavy dub and reggae stylings of The Wake, X-O-Dus and ACR alter ego Sir Horatio; the Manchester / New York axis is also revisited once again with two potent post-punk funk blasts from E.S.G., the first US band to appear on Factory.

Fac. Dance 02 is released in conjunction with Factory Records Ltd. The CD and LP packages feature detailed track notes by Factory biographer James Nice, together with rare photos. The digital version of the album features five tracks not featured on the physical formats.

CD 1

1. A CERTAIN RATIO – THE FOX 3.47
2. ESG – MOODY 2.46
3. MINNY POPS – BLUE ROSES 2.33
4. THICK PIGEON – BABCOCK + WILCOX 3.44
5. BITING TONGUES – MEAT MASK SEPARATIST 4.57
6. SIR HORATIO – SOMMADUB 7.18
7. X-O-DUS – SOCIETY 4.20
8. THE DURUTTI COLUMN – SELF PORTRAIT 4.40
9. SECTION 25 – KNEW NOISE 4.43
10. SHARK VEGAS – YOU HURT ME 6.59
11. FADELA – N’SEL FIK 7.06
12. KALIMA – LAND OF DREAMS 6.47

CD 2

1. 52nd STREET – CAN’T AFFORD (Unorganised mix) 10.02
2. NYAM NYAM – FATE 8.06
3. A CERTAIN RATIO – LUCINDA 3.53
4. ESG – YOU’RE NO GOOD 3.09
5. SWAMP CHILDREN – SOFTLY SAYING GOODBYE 4.09
6. QUANDO QUANGO – GO EXCITING (12” mix) 5.57
7. SURPRIZE – IN MOVIMENTO 5.33
8. ANNA DOMINO – TAKE THAT 4.13
9. THE WAKE – HOST 7.57
10. ROYAL FAMILY AND THE POOR – VANEIGEM MIX 6.22
11. SECTION 25 – SAKURA 3.58
12. AD INFINITUM – TELSTAR 3.13

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Carl Craig Mix

If you aint seen this already... "FACT mix 345 is a live recording of Craig’s set at the Netherlands’ Welcome To The Future festival on July 28. The set – already streamed by the festival, but not available to download until now – is an absolute corker, hard as nails but fleet-footed with it, with a few tracks that you know (the Craig mix of Faze Action’s ‘In The Trees’ has never sounded so imperious as it does here) and plenty that you don’t. There’s no tracklist for this one folks, so feel free to offer your own IDs in the comments section; in the meantime, plug in and bug the f**k out." 

Silva and gold


Brand new ep on the way from local lass Silva MC called Neva Done, on the roots reggae tip. Sounding pretty cool.  Out thru iTunes etc this Friday. Or try Amplifier, over here.

"Neva Done is SilvaMC's debut solo release. Recorded in Auckland city, the four track EP includes one banging hiphop production from DJ PARKS, and three bass heavy reggae tunes to welcome Spring 2012.

As a follow up to her debut video single Here We Go Again, the release is also a showcase of SilvaMC's unique rawness and versatility. All songs written and performed by SilvaMC. Recorded at MAINZ and mixed and mastered by Tiopira McDowell.

Silva is rapidly making her mark on the NZ reggae scene. This EP will help establish her as one of New Zealand's prime female hiphop/reggae artists."

She recently featured on the Hot Nights Ep from MayaVanya (free DL of that tune, follow the link). MC Silva on Facebook.


Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Len Lye opera

An opera about one of my favourite artists, you say? Intriguing.

"Lye is one of New Zealand's most celebrated artists who worked for many years in Britain and the US. His international reputation is based on his innovative achievements as a film-maker and kinetic sculptor." NBR

Via Gather and Hunt: " A cast of international and national singers have come together in a kinetic explosion of colour, movement and sound to pay tribute to Lye's legacy. With music composed by Eva de Castro-Robinson, artistic direction by Uwe Grodd, and libretto Roger Horrocks, this multimedia production sounds seriously intriguing. I want to know more, I want to see more, and I think the only answer is to pop along to the Maidment Theatre at some point in the very near future. "

Len Lye: The Opera, by Eve de Castro-Robinson and Roger Horrocks
September 5- 8, 8pm. Price:  $55, tickets from: The Maidment Theatre

This film below was originally accompanied by live music, but no score has been found. In April this year in Greece, a new score was unveiled...

Music for the film of Len Lye "Tusalava" (1929)...
Alexandros Mouzas: Original music
For flute, clarinet, percussion, piano, string orchestra and live electronics
Commissioned by the Athens Concert Hall Organization
Premiere: April 28th 2012, Nikos Skalkottas Hall, Megaron -- the Athens Concert Hall
Conductor: Miltos Logiadis
Camerata -- The Orchestra of Friends of Music

David D'Ath remembered



Obituary - David D'Ath (The Skeptics), from Rip It Up, 1990. BY CHRIS MATTHEWS

"I was dreaming about drugs and strange urges, about the primeval past and the digital overload of the future, about the ride of the Valkyries and the chatter of helicopters as I opened my eyes and realised that it was 1984. I was bedded down on the floor of the Skeptics’ club “Snailclamps”. It was 9 o’clock in the morning and Wagner and the helicopters hadn’t stopped. In a darkened club, on a small stage covered with spiderwebs made of heated, stretched polystyrene, a semi-naked figure, lit by a single red spotlight, was performing the praying mantis movements of Tai Chi to the soundtrack from Apocalypse Now. It was David D’Ath...

The Skeptics: David (vocals), Nick Roughan (bass), Don White (drums) and Robin Gould (guitar), were four high school friends from Palmerston North who started playing together in 1980 (initially as X-It) doing a mixture of covers and originals. The first time I saw them was in Auckland, at the Reverb Room in 1982, after the band I was playing with had to cancel at the last minute.

The Skeptics, who were up for the weekend, agreed to step in using borrowed gear and, fuelled by the pathetic crowd, produced a set of such ferocious intensity that I became an immediate fan. The music was aggressive and unsettling but the focal point was David with his slight stature, his hooked nose and his deep-set eyes. He looked like some strange, punch drunk bird and the veins in his neck bulged as he forced mysterious words and noises from his throat.

They were still playing a handful of covers (Joy Division’s ‘Shadowplay’ and Killing Joke’s ‘Wardance’ among them) but the song that really stood out was their own, ‘Last orders’, about a man who has wrongly predicted the end of the world. With it’s unusual riff of picked harmonics and the narrator’s frustrated chorus of “Lies! The end was yesterday!” it was a good choice for a record and later in the year became one of the songs chosen for the compilation EP Furtive Four - Three Piece Pack.

I saw them a few months later at the Rhumba bar in Auckland and the Skeptics, and David, were not only scary but funny as well. David had placed a table on the dance floor in front of the stage with a cornet on it and when it was his turn to play the others egged him on to run out, retrieve it and climb back on stage in time to produce an ear piercing blast. This ritual was repeated throughout the night and it was like watching the idiot son of Nosferatu who’d been hanging out in a David Lynch film: disturbing but blackly humorous.

The Skeptics made various trips to Auckland over the next few years in their beat-up old ambulance and from 1983-1984 ran their own club in Palmerston North. Stories had drifted north about the weird goings-on in “Snailclamps” (including one about a particularly deluded soul attempting to copulate with the PA during a Skeptics gig) so, of course, when Children’s Hour decided to tour NZ it seemed right and natural (since our bands had become friends) that we should play there (and sleep on the floor).

The club closed down at the end of ‘84 and in 1985 the Skeptics decided to move to Wellington. They’d released two records independently (‘83s Chowder Over Wisconsin and Ponds in ‘85) but neither had managed to capture the magnificence of their live performance (watching David, dangerously close to a seizure, bawling the lyrics to ‘Divine Muscles Flex’ was exhilarating) so they set about building their own recording studio, Writhe. Robin had decided to stay in Palmerston North so John Halvorsen and Brent McLaughlin, previously of the Gordons, were recruited as guitarist and mixer (although Brent later became second drummer for a while).

At this stage the Skeptics became fascinated by the possibilities of sampling keyboards and David became involved in writing music for the first time. Their sound, which had previously been guitar oriented, became more dominated by ominous loops and samples of everything from squeaking doors to Al Pacino’s dialogue from the film Cruising.

It was a very different band that appeared in Auckland in 1987 and they were stunning - songs like ‘Turn Over’ and ‘La Motta’ were thrown from the PA in a sonic storm that was beyond comparison. The sound was being created mostly by machinery but it was raw and organic and David’s voice, as always, was an instrument in itself. How anybody could wring emotion from words like “June, June, June, June, June, July, August” (from the darkly beautiful ‘Agitator’) was inexplicable but it was great to watch. And listen to.'

In 1988 they finally released the great album they’d always been capable of. Titled simply Skeptics III it was recorded at their own studio and stands out as one of the best local records of the last ten years.

At the end of 1989, as they were working on their fourth album Amalgam (to be released shortly) David learned that he had leukaemia. He spent most of this year undergoing various treatments and a bone marrow transplant. Even though his health was fairly precarious, the Skeptics still managed to play two great gigs at the Gluepot with the new songs (particularly ‘Sheen of Gold’) sounding more inventive and better than ever.

On Tuesday, 4th September, 1990, David died.

In a darkened club, on a small stage covered with spiderwebs made of heated, stretched polystyrene, a semi-naked figure, lit by a single red spotlight, was performing the praying mantis movements of Tai Chi to the soundtrack from Apocalypse Now. It was David D’Ath...
He will be remembered."

[I think I sourced this via the Skeptics FB page, thanks to whoever posted it there]

Goat - Let it bleed



Goat are some crazy ass afro psyche rock from Sweden. Check this tune. Footage from NYC in the 70s, have seen some of this in various docos on the era, looks like the Bronx.

"... Over nine pulsating tracks, Goat embark on a kaleidoscopic rollercoaster tour of Afrobeat, Latin disco, post punk, kraut drone and rampant acid rock. It's as if Spacemen 3 ate Funkadelic's Maggot Brain and a random Fela Kuti album – whole – before projectile vomiting a riot of rhythm and psychedelic noise." From an interview with Goat, at the Quietus.

Off the album 'World music', out now on Rocket Recordings. Hat tip to Martyn Pepperell at Vanguard Red

Oh yeah, they look like this...


Monday, September 03, 2012

Herbs join nz music hall of fame


There was an excellent article on the band Herbs in the Weekend Herald (not online yet, sadly updated: online here) by Alan Perrott, covering their chequered history, ahead of their induction to the NZ Music Hall of Fame by APRA. The Hall of Fame was established by APRA and RIANZ in 2007. 

The article made mention of the legal case where the current members of Herbs sued ex members back in 2010 over plans to play Herbs songs under the name Pacific Herbs at Raggamuffin (more here). The Herald reports that case cost Herbs $30,000, money they had planned to use  to record a new album.


From APRA: The New Zealand Music Hall Of Fame celebrates those artists and writers who have made a significant contribution to New Zealand through music. APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) is honoured to announce Herbs are the first inductees to be added to the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame for 2012.

"Herbs broke down a great many doors when they came onto the scene in the early 1980s. They fused Pacific and Reggae sounds into something unique and relevant to this part of the world; they gave a voice to an emerging, politically-aware audience that had grown up with the Springbok Tour, Bastion Point and Mururoa, and they gave a generation of young Maori and Pasifika musicians and songwriters a new path to follow. 


Suddenly, the spotlight had moved, and original New Zealand music could be as culturally diverse as the people who make up this country. That spotlight hasn't shifted back; it's continued to expand to this day, and the vibrant, multi-cultural music scene that we now enjoy owes much of its existence to this one band." Don McGlashan, APRA New Zealand Writer Director.

Over 30 years, eight albums and 27 members, Herbs are arguably the founding fathers of Pacific reggae in New Zealand. Throughout the bands career, Herbs have kept their musical message clear in expressing gentle but effective protest.

"Herbs have made an enormous contribution to the cultural fabric of life in this country, while forging a unique and original sound," says APRA's Anthony Healey. "This is a real honour to pay tribute to genuine pioneers in New Zealand music".

Herbs members being inducted are: Dilworth Karaka, Toni Fonoti, Phil Toms, Spencer Fusimalohi, John Berkley, Fred Faleauto, Charles Tumahai (deceased), Maurice Watene, Tama Lundon, Jack Allen, Carl Perkins, Willie Hona, Thom Nepia, Tama Renata, Gordon Joll, Grant Pukeroa and Kristen Hapi.

Herbs will be honoured and inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards, Auckland Town Hall onThursday 13th September 2012.

WATCH: 2003 interview about Herbs with Dilworth Karaka, with great footage of Bastion Point, 81 Tour, the band live etc.

ADDED Graham Reid writes on Herbs...  HERBS, NZ'S politicised reggae revolution into the Hall of Fame (2012): Hard tings an' times

ADDED Herbs have done a digital reissue of Long Ago, Light of the Pacific, Whats Be Happen and more, via Amplifier, big news!

LCD shut up



I finally managed to catch the LCD Soundsystem concert doco Shut up and play the hits at the weekend. Very entertaining, well worth checking if you like the band. Final week screening at the Academy (Auckland) - in their tiny Encore Cinema, 6 rows of seats, 3 seats wide. Had the place to myself so I could sing along and no one complained. Sweet. One of my fave moments above...James Murphy pondering age... "I was 38 and I decided to make another album and then I blinked and I was 41..."

The clip below has Murphy talking about failure, and how he came up with the song Losing My Edge, after seeing a 22 year old kid DJing the same records he'd been making a name for playing. In the film Murphy says a lot of people told him they thought it was one of LCD's funny songs, but he was totally serious about it. That song was originally going to be the b-side on their 12-inch, and even his two partners in his label DFA didn't like it.

Do just what you like



Matthew Bannister (Sneaky Feelings/Dribbling Darts) has recently posted this entertaining video up on Youtube, for his late 90s outfit The Weather.

I directed this video for the band - they already had the concept mostly worked out and the director wasn't able to do it and passed the job to me. It's basically grabbing different pop eras from thru the ages. I had fun making this video, and had a great crew working on it too. I recall coaching Matthew on some rap poses, and loaned him a t-shirt to make him look sufficiently 'hiphop'. He does a good Barbra Streisand too....

Saturday, September 01, 2012

Lord Echo x Jakarta


Lord Echo drops a ltd edition 7-inch edit of Thinking Of You on German label Jakarta Records soon, you can listen to the flipside here featuring Jennifer Zea, on a free album sampler of Jakarta's catalog, incls Fabulous/Arabia and Shogun Orchestra too...

 

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Sept 1

LCD Soundsystem - 45:33 - Padded cell remix
Was not was - Walk the dinsoaur
The cage feat Nona Hendryx - Do what ya wanna do - dub version
P-bass expressway - Easyride - Downtown Brown remix
Vera Hamilton - But I aint no more
Gladys Knight and the Pips - Who is she and what is she to you
DL Jones and DJ 2nd Nature - Whoa Bobby
Nas feat Olu Dara - Bridging the gap
Cutty Ranks - The stopper - Richard Dorfmeister remix
Big Youth - Waterhouse rock - Groove corp remix
Black uhuru - I love King Selassie
Dr Alban - Hello Afrika - Fast blast club mix
Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 - Agua de beber
Didier's sound spectrum - Cupol
Curtis Mayfield - Doo doo wap is strong in here
Lyn Collins - Give it up or turn it loose
Jesse Johnson feat Sly Stone - Crazay
Rose royce - Do your dance -Amichay's skating rink edit (Soundcloud)
Edwin Starr - H.A.P.P.Y. radio  -Peter Mac edit
Eddie Kendricks - Going up in smoke - G's smoking edit (Soundcloud)
Franki Valli and the four seasons - Sun country
Wreckx n effect - Wreckshop
Estere - Cruel Charlie (Soundcloud DL)
Thievery corporation - 33:45