Lion Rockers soundsystem

This local crew have built that incredible set of speakers you see on that poster above. Can't wait to hear what kind of bass pressure comes outta that!

DLT - One love

I found this video on a vhs compilation of nz music videos called Screenage Kicks, released by BMG and put together by Chronic/Stuart Broughton, around 1997 (no release date on the vhs or cover pictured below).

DLT featuring the splendid vocal talents of Mighty Asterix, who appears on a few tunes on DLT's classic album The True School, which is sadly not currently available. This needs a reissue! 

The video is directed by Marcus Ringrose / V8. Spot the cameos from Tame Iti, Kirk Harding, and a couple of Gregs and a few Supergroovers and a Headless Chicken....  some nice shots down Tuhoe country too...

Screenage Kicks cover art

Resonators album out

UK reggae outfit The Resonators drop their debut album today on WahWah45s, have a listen below... They are also touring the UK over the next month...The Resonators have opened for the likes of Lee Perry, Derrick Morgan, and Fat Freddys Drop.

"A return to dub music of rare subtelty and imagination - qualities that confirm this band as the UK reggae act to watch" (John Masouri, Album review in Echoes magazine)

 "The Resonators are easily one of the best live dub-reggae bands around, in this country or any other...The Constant is a great reggae record, fans of the band will be happy with it, new listeners will be drawn in by it." (Adam Tait, Shout 4 Music)
 

She Dubs Me interview

I've been doing a few radio interviews in the past week for the Dub Asylum - She Dubs Me remix digital reissue, chatted with Chip Matthews on Basefm, Nick D on Georgefm, and Murry on Radio Ponsonby - you can listen to that last one below.

Also, Ba Ba Boom (Oogun Remix) by Dub Asylum is Tune Of The Week on Basefm this week, read about that here. Thanks, Base peeps!

Out now thru Amplifier, iTunes, etc

Toy Love wax arrives

I went to Real Groovy on Saturday (took some photos, see above), got a copy of the incredible Toy Love vinyl, which comes in a double gatefold sleeve, all colour printing, with a huge booklet with extensive liner notes, AND a free bonus 7". Hats off to John Baker and co for pulling this together. Well done.

The live bands during the day were great fun, have found a few clips and added below, including the raucous punk delight of Grrlfriendz, and Delaney Davidson, who also did an amazing, spooky, slowed-down blues take on Snapper's Buddy.  The groovy organ-driven sound of Wellington's Manta Rays was mighty fine, and Heart Attack Alley were very enjoyable, their album has just come out too, on vinyl. Each band was asked to do a Toy Love cover as part of their set.

I also picked up Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam - Head  to toe ($2), Madhouse - 8, which is Prince doing a jazz album ($2), Isaac Hayes - Juicy fruit LP ($8), and Nathan Haines - Shift Left cd ($6). Fun day out! Thanks to everyone involved in making it happen, and shout out to all the music heads I ran into at Groovy.

ADDED I caught up with Simon Grigg at Real Groovy, he blogged a bit about Toy Love over here.

Also, the NZ Herald report the new Toy Love vinyl hit the album charts, debuting at #15 on the back of around 1000 copies selling.

Soundway free label sampler

Via Soundway: "Download an exclusive 10 track sampler of the hottest cuts from the Soundway stable. Includes not-yet-released tracks from forthcoming albums, tasters of recent releases plus some older songs unavailable physically for some time. Simply enter your email and country below and hit download."

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Nov 3

Nu Shooz - I can't wait
Prince Charles and the city beat band - Jungle stomp
Chic - Good times
Hugh Masekela - Don't go lose it baby (live in NZ in March 2013 - Akld and Womad)
Les difficiles de petion ville - Fem confiance - Tropical treats edit
Pleasure seekers - Give up the funk
Seawind - Free
Stevie Wonder - Living for the city - JT edit 
Slim Smith  -Conversation
Joe Tex and U Black - Standardisation
Rhythm and sound feat Jennifer Lara  -Queen in my empire
Adrian Sherwood - Pass the rizzla
Wrongtom meets Deemus J - Wa do dance
 Resonators - Wandering
Austin Faithfull - I'm in a rocking mood
Lightning head - 2nd line stomp
DJ Nu Mark - Tropicalifornia
Total experience - Contradiction
Jackie Mittoo - Sunshine of your love
Mickey and them - UFO
King Sunny Ade - Ja funmi
Junior Dan - Give thanks no skanks / version
Toots and the Maytals - Monkey man / version
Richie Phoe feat Tippa Irie - Eye on the prize

Toy Love, NZMA's

Toy Love, at the 2012 NZ Music Awards. Photo: Radio Ponsonby/FB

Watch it on demand on TVFOUR, part one here, part two here.

official photo, from NZ Music Awards/FB

Homebrew feel the love

Homebrew's Tom Scott and goat. Photo: Dean Purcell/NZ Herald

Homebrew won best Urban/Hiphop Album at the NZ Music Awards last night, but missed out on their other nominations. Apparently middle NZ was surprised and shocked when the band burst into their living rooms via the television set.

David Clarke @maori_bynature: "if last nights #NZVMA taught me anything its that if it #homebrew is the future of #NZHIPHOP we're screwed!"

Mathew Grocott @mathewgrocott: "What did HomeBrew do (other than perform crap music) that was so offensive? #lazyweb"

Trespassingghost @coconutghost007: "I wasn't outraged at Homebrew, just embarrassed at how shit they were"

Joseph Moore @josephmoore1: "What's with ppl dissing Homebrew for last night? 'I wish the Music Awards just happened without incident! That's what I want to watch!' "

Fa Muna @TK_Muna: " lastnight's nz vmaz were so not worth the wait ! seriously wanted to jump into the tv screen and knock homebrew into a coma."

And what did Homebrew make of all this?

Music with Substance @djsubstancenz " We did what we do. Are you guys new? #Laugh"

Sorry. @HazTweetz "You should've won this you should've won that. Shut the fuck up! We won what we wanted to win!"

Home Brew @homebrewcrew: "All we're ever gonna be remembered for is a goat."

Watch it on demand on TVFOUR, part one here, part two here. 
Homebrew acceptance speech at 37mins, performance near start of pt 2

Nathan Haines interview, 1995

Nathan Haines talking about his debut album, Shift Left, on TV3's nz music show Frenzy, screened 30 March1995. I've got some more of these interviews coming, including Joint Force. Please subscribe to my Youtube channel if you want to stay in the loop.

Shift Left was digitally reissued in July this year, available here on iTunes, with two bonus tracks, Avenue Dreams, and Lady J (TFG dub).

ADDED: I found a copy of the Lady J video, and have uploaded it. Simon Grigg tells me it was the most played local video the year it was released.