Tāmaki Makaurau is home to a band that brings avant-garde into a new, sonic dimension. Repairs, made up of Martin Phillips (he/him), Nicola Edwards (she/her) and James Milne (he/him), bring us their new single and promo video, Map, Territory.

We’re treated to a feedback-laden wall of distorted sound, blended rather skillfully and putting me in mind of absolutely nothing I have ever heard before. Ever. Joyously unusual, I wouldn’t pigeon-hole this into a genre at all, so well done indeed for that to this band. This is, as mentioned, avant-garde, bold, and to my ears unique.

The musicianship is without question right up there, however effected the instruments have been. And before any grammar grumps jump up and down, I refer to sound effects, not something having been affected. See? I knew the diff. Want to talk about there, their and they’re? I could go all night.

The vocal is kind of a futurist/post-punk sound. Not so much a Lydon snarl, a Strummer sneer, or a Joey Ramone fog-horn bellow. It’s sweet, in fact. An angelic sounding vocal, accompanying something from somewhere else entirely! The song is about camp horror and pastoral dread, the band says. The entertaining video was assisted by NZ on Air funding, and has been ably constructed by WazKat Productions. Look it up on the You Tubes. It’s just short of 3 minutes of controlled anarchy (the punk rock readers ears pricked up en masse at that word, I just know) with some clever visuals derived from YellowJackets, MidSommar and Blair Witch. Pop on the channel and see if you can spot them.

This is a very unique song, and I just know the punk bands I’ve reviewed should stick it on for a listen. Get amongst it – this is genre defining stuff. It would go well in the underground anarchy-punk scene, either a club or a live gig… or a dystopian hellscape that’s probably on the way, frankly. I have a feeling with this band that no two songs will sound the same – which adds chaos to the anarchy. And what did Malcolm say we all get from chaos? CHA CHING $$$

Ooooooh, I think I want to go watch The Great Rock n Roll Swindle right away! These guys are crazily cool. Support them! It’s on Spotty Fly – theirs and ours.