Ishta is an exciting, eclectic world music fusion band from Aotearoa/NZ. Featuring sitar, double bass, percussion, flute, sax, guitar, didge and vocals their sound encompasses a diverse range of styles from uptempo ethnic groove to dub/roots to blissful lounge.
Ishta were based in Auckland for three years. During that time their sound evolved into an […]
‘Bright Colours’ is a highly acclaimed debut album from Auckland band Eightfold featuring beautifull, heartfelt acoustic songs and lavish arrangements. The band consists of Chris MacGregor (vocals and guitar), Sam Benge (guitar and bass) and Mariano Mezzeo (percussion).
Bright Colours features special guests Nigel Gavin on bass (Jews Brothers, Nairobi Trio), Kingsley Melhuish on trumpet […]
The Peachy Keen album might not have happened if it wasn’t for the timely appearance of a fairy godmother. While they were playing at The Wellington Fringe they were approached by a German writer who was so impressed she offered them money to record an album. This enabled the band to purchase some […]
Nu Scientist, by Onelung, delivers a tasty mash up of funky electronic grooves, lazy beats and experimental soundscapes.
On this, his fourth album, Onelung aka New Zealander Kevin Tutt serves up a mouth-watering smorgasbord of rhythms, dipping into a world of leftfield sampled delights. Tunes on offer here are all sample based, and are sourced […]
Johannes Contag’s Sleepytime cycle of albums and performances reaches a new stage with “Sleepytime Vol 2: Schlafwandler”. Completing the arc of alpha-wave inducing ambiences of his first release “you are feeling sleepy”, Johannes’ latest offering explores the idea of aural sleepwalking. His latent soundtracks zoom in on the in-between spaces and afterthoughts of traditional instrumentation […]
“[The Loneliest of Creatures] is one of the best dark ambient pieces of music ever to have come out of New Zealand. It is also, in many ways, a triumph that Reyne’s previous works have been leading up to: a thoroughly emotional and moving piece of sound art which deserves wide exposure.” – FIEND […]
Music for Flem is a quirky, atmospheric and beautiful soundtrack for an imaginary movie by guitar virtuoso Nigel Gavin. The instruments used are guitars, basses, frame drums, 5 and 8 string banjos, sheng, flower pot, mandolin, and loops of various combination of the above, played and recorded by Nigel.
Music for Flem Vol. II
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Second album by Hummel aka Andy Cummins continues in the same vein as the his self-titled debut with spoken word, song, samples, live instruments and electronica adding up to a haunting and evocative soundscape.
Reviews
“(mediOCHRE is)…a sonic journey from lo-fi beginnings through spoken-word samples, downbeat electronica, live guitars, gentle songs, and techno-static. It finds its soul […]
Historic live to air performance by Dystopia on Auckland’s bfm. Featuring Liz Maw (spoken word), Josephine (vocals), Shinya (sitar and electric guitar), Rob Croft (precussion) and Nigel Braddock (keyboards) the band produced an electrifying, haunting set to a bemused lunchtime student radio audience.
In the NZ Herald, Graham Reid said
Another low-key ambient outing with a Cloudboy connection: Hummel is the album and nom de disque of Andy Cummins who has toured with Cloudboy as a vocalist but, as with Contag, has a private life in the quiet zone. Plucked guitars, barely audible vocal sounds, a few emotionally intense […]
Hummel is an aural soundscape; a lyrical landscape; words sung and spoken, incurring dynamics; musical contrasts with fluid transitions. A token; a watermark; a collage; a correlation. A simple, textural, tonal montage. Hummel consists of large scapes of downbeat electronica, blended with sparse live acoustic guitar and vocal songs.
These are woven with spoken word and […]
Dr Kevorkian and The Suicide Machine may just be making the most important sound of 2002. An enchanting patchwork of ethereal harmony, unabashed gothic melody, and a cerebral songwriting swagger, ‘The Ironman’ is simply stunning. A thoroughly unique work of art from start to finish. Whether by hook or crook, you MUST own this album.
RATING […]
A blissful album of ambient miniatures by Cloudboy Johannes Contag.
According to Jo, “The first track is the relaxant / sleep-inducer alpha rhythm device; all subsequent tracks are dream states, ranging from blissful and tranquil to restless and frightened, ultimately however resolved to lazy pre-wakeup dozing satisfaction.”
Reviews
“A marvellous work of contemplative simplicity, You Are Feeling Sleepy […]
‘The Wisdom of Insecurity’ by Dystopia combines potent, lyrical storytelling with beautiful and evocative soundscapes consisting of ambient, classical and world influences. This album was the first release on fledgling label Monkey Records in the year 2000 and features spoken word artist Liz Maw reading poetry, label founder Nigel Braddock playing keyboards and Shinya Asakura […]
Onelung’s third album is a heady brew of breakbeat/drum n’ bass and general mix mayhem.
Reviews
“This is a good as most of the international groove-based releases I’ve heard lately, and a good deal more left-field in terms of it’s odd sample choices.” Real Groove
“Flashbacks is well named, as listening to it brings to the forefront memories […]
Sampladelicist Onelung’s second CD of beatstyles, The Electronic Laboratory, uses nothing but samples downloaded from the internet, duly manipulated and messed up with fearless abandon. Originally self-released in 1999 as a CD burn, this album is now available only as a download.
Reviews
“This is a funky driven, drum breaking, beat fest, layed with a plethora […]
