This is a good, good band. The fabulously named Fin Rah Zel, named I assume from the powerful sorceress that helped Willow Ufgood to defeat evil queen Bavmorda in the original Willow movie, they give me the opportunity to release the inner D & D geek of old. My character classes of choice were half-Elf…

Go to a dark rave with Tāmaki Makaurau based Grecco Romank! This is pure night club music, not the sort of stuff for the faint hearted. Band members Billie Fee, Mikey Sperring and Damian Golfinopoulos have quite a CV to their names in other NZ acts, and have transferred this to Grecco Romank. We’ve got…

One of this country’s premier blues guitarists returns with an amazing swamp blues track. Courtnay Low is the driving force behind The Unholy Reverie, and this is a lady who has chops and loves to perform. Lost At Sea is a dip into deep Southern Blues, I find myself craving a Po’Boy or some blackfish…

The ballooning success of Silcrow is reinforced by new single What I Am. The four-piece based out of Auckland is a growing force in the Aotearoa rock scene with its blend of bluesy rock and the muddy introspection of grunge. Lorenzo, Oscar, Conor and Carl are carefully crafting a sound that’s definitive of the times…

What a lovely surprise discovering such an inspirational young woman as Rosalie Norton, aka Lehali. Lehali is the village of her ancestors, so to use the name felt natural. It’s a great stage name too, and highlights the Pacifica vibe to the music. Onto that. Company is a lilting, warm ode to one’s friends and…

Michèle Ducray is back! I adore this performer and her uncompromising individuality. Michèle is back with Madame, a genuinely sinister yet undeniably poppy and commercially viable synth pop number. Dark and menacing, the melody and demeanour of the artist put me in mind of the spider singing to the fly – and lo and behold…