A few years back Darren Watson released the famous – or infamous, depending on your beliefs – single Planet Key. Initially banned from airplay, Darren won the right for it to air. I wonder if this new track, Lyin’ Luxon, is going to garner a similar reaction from its subject. Time is going to give us this answer.

Wellington’s most renowned Blues guitarist, Darren has the vocal chops for the genre too. And his ability to turn an idea into a full-blown ensemble piece is well documented in the music industry on these shores. This particular track I am honoured to have been given a pre-launch listen to and I am an instant pop-corn gulping, eyes-transfixed acolyte. I hope this song rattles some cages and gets played to death and back, because our fella is a true wordsmith, and he’s given us lyrics that are tongue in cheek yet earnestly compelling. Mister Luxon, the muse for this ode, is joined in the song by his populist co-conspirators and all three, together with their hangers-on and lobbyist chums, are brought into the dock for inspection cleverly and incisively. And left wanting.

Orchestration for this song is wonderful. It’s a Blues/Country jam, excellently composed and weighted perfectly in the mix and mastering at Darren’s Lamington Studio, where he also played all the instruments. There’s some snazzy slide guitar sitting atop the mix. Very cheeky vibe, very saucy lyric. Close to the end I did one of those LOL things that the youngsters all add to their texts, because the lyrics made me do it. The bottom end is nicely deep and resonant, and all played with panache and frankly made to sound like he was thoroughly enjoying every second.

It’s written, funnily enough, about the current situation on these islands with the new “three headed taniwha” right wing coalition government. The tail wagging the dog is alluded to, appropriately, with an inordinate amount of fundamental policy weighted in the favour of the very small parties that have supported our current majority “shareholder” in the coalition. These parties being fourth and fifth in the recent election result, with 8% and 6% respectively, have compelled Darren to put forth this track because, as you might be able to guess, the small populist parties tend to be more extreme, and evidently having torn our new PM several new tail pipes between them at the negotiation table, they have got a lot of their deeply divisive demands approved. A torrid time is just beginning in these islands, is what Darren is saying.

I’m unafraid of voicing my views in that arena too. I happen to agree with the content of this song, and am looking forward to the video, which is on release alongside the audio on Wednesday 28th February. This will be a song to listen to with the accompaniment of the video, I think, as it’s going to make you think – and be a thorn in the side of this coalition as a permanent reminder that we’re watching.

Bottom line – if you’re a fan of the CEO and his two Deputy Dawgs then stay away from this song. If you’re a leftie then you’ll want to have it on your radar, for the next two and three quarter years at the very least. Entertaining stuff, fabulously talented lyric creation, and without a doubt soon to be one of the most talked-about, controversial songs of 2024, 25 and 26.