New Zealand has this knack of making beautiful music that spans genres one would never believe possible. Taranaki’s alt-Swamp Blues band The Mons Whaler has certainly captured this with the title track to their new EP Won’t Let You Go. Comprising vocalist/guitarist Hemi Coates, bass/BVs Phil Hoskin, Drums/Percussion/BVs Andre Peri and keyboards/BVs/lead guitar Courtnay Low,…

This is a different genre to what I normally look for, but wow, what a compelling sound! Goblin Problem is the solo project for Cheap Sav For Dead Friends frontman Jack (great first name) Buchanan, and is NOT the same type of music at all. This is a trance-esque, slightly Moby, slightly Empire Of The…

The Julian Temple Band has been around for many, many years and the experience shows. The single I’m reviewing today is named Tunnels, eponymously as it turns out as that is also the name of their seventh album, just released. Julian Temple sings with an unmissable, unique timbre. One second the post-punk raspy growl of…

RRRRAAAAAARRRRGHHHHH!!!! I absolutely LOVE a well designed, delivered and blisteringly energetic punk rock stomper, and my buddies Underwire have delivered for me again! Falling All Over is out on the 29th September, and I’ll not steal the thunder of their EPK with too much of the detail on the professionals used to record, mix and…

There is a specific sound that nobody but nobody does quite like New Zealanders. Fat Freddy’s, Trinity Roots, Salmonella Dub, The Black Seeds, Katchafire, Che Fu, Herbs. It goes on and on, and my apologies if I missed out one of your favourites. That dub/reggae/R & B crossover that smacks of summer, laid back ladies…

Dunedin has always been home to an avant-garde version of the New Wave sound that came out of the punk rock explosion of the 1970s. This seems to have continued unabated through the decades, and now I find Saurian. These four guys are unique. I’ve reviewed their previous single, and while I loved that one…

And yet another sure-fire hit and live show favourite from the burgeoning indie rock scene in Aotearoa. Sandtrap, who came top 3 in the 2020 Smokefree Rockquest, hail from the City of Sails and consist of Kainoa Ogilvie on vocals, Luke Bennett on guitar, Luca Keltie on bass, and drummer Jimi Terei. They are just…

There’s an unbelievably large talent pool of musicians in these islands of Aotearoa. So many of them are unafraid to experiment and embrace their idols as influences, wearing their love affair with their peers proudly like a badge, and celebrating their legacy with a new, burgeoning rock scene that’s making me very excited for the…

Stray Dogs, four Auckland based chaps with a penchant for a catchy tune and the slickest pop-punk production you’ll hear this side of nowhere else. From the up-coming album Stay Loyal, the guys – Josh (vocals), Cam (guitar), Steve (bass) and Grant (drums) – present us with the single and video for their second release…

Many years ago there was a genre that “evolved” from what had been known as Indie rock. It became known as Britpop. In the mists of time gone by I caught a show at Auckland’s Powerstation, headlined by a band that was taking the world by storm at the time: some countrymen and a countrywoman…