Blake is one of the artists of my journey into music reviewing. Simple as that. As a lyricist this lady is measured, concise, artistic, empathic, and kind. As a songwriter she’s professional and astute. New single The Gift You Gave Me is a beautiful piano-led song about loss. Timed for release on Friday 20th December,…

I have never hidden how much I dig Underwire. I’ve seen this band live in its infancy and even then it was clearly a project that was meshed, tight and going places. I’ve previously mentioned Johnny Mills is a good mate and we go back a good twenty or so years together in the Wellington…

I’ve missed the boat on release date, as it’s already been out since Friday 13th (AAAAA!) but The Transits are right back in the thick of it with another surefire hit named Come Melt My Heart. I find this band to be a complete joy to listen to, so forgive me as I’m about to…

Review by Johnny Mills I’ve been hearing about Powder Chutes for a while, they’ve been making a great name with their live powers, as a tight rocking grungy good time.  Their new single ‘Scalpel’, already anointed by Alien Weaponry as their inaugural AJ Hackett Bungy ‘Thrash More’ winner, opens the throttle wide with a ripple-smash…

Brian Baker is back, and he’s based in Whanganui these days. Recording, producing, writing and playing, he’s a busy boy indeed – but unlike the new single title, let’s not keep in on the Down Low. Brian delivers a rich baritone vocal for this track, itself one of those with a melody I like to…

Van Staden & Böhm are Madison Van Staden and Amelia Berry. Currently based across the ditch in the West Island (sorry Aussie readers, a naughty little Kea told me to type that or it would peck my windscreen wipers off), the duo brings us a new Happy Hardcore anthem to fill the dancefloors here this…

Annnnd Jack is back! Sorry folks, issues outside of anyone’s control. Back now – and OHHHHH what a way to step back into reviews. Pōneke based soul-pop band Shivers are giving us their new single Tahuti and it is a statement in so many different ways. Firstly the song is delivered in Te Reo, which…

South African/Kiwi indie rock/punk rock afficionados The Transits are back with their Halloween ’24 offering Living Dead For A Paycheck. Boom. Mic drop of a single. Listen to this once and I defy you to tell me you ain’t got the chorus ringing round in your head for ages afterwards! I have been hooked on…

You know something? There is a really underrated musical instrument that provides the lead instrumentation for Rapper PNC‘s newest single from his Unbothered Rapper project, titled We On. I refer to the Xylophone. This track, produced by PNC‘s long time colleague and buddy 41, gives us a quality lesson in how this instrument can be…

Johnny and the gang are back, and they are not taking the foot off the accelerator. Nope. No way Jose. Underwire‘s new single Greener is yet another example of why I am a huge fan of these Wellington Punk rocker/psychobillies. Released onto Spotify and all other platforms on 20th September, Greener is a track that’s…