Monkey Magic II is a CD and DVD (Monkey TV) showcasing contemporary independent New Zealand music to be released on the 19th May.

10 of the tracks on the CD are from artists signed to genre-defying indie record label Monkey Records including Tim Guy, The Hot Grits, An Emerald City, The Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band and Káren Hunter. Also featured are four unsigned or self-released artists who are friends of Monkey – Haunted Love, Steve Abel, The Mamaku Project and Ragamuffin Children.

Monkey TV is a DVD featuring all the music videos made by Monkey Records since the year 2000 featuring some of New Zealand’s most talented emerging filmmakers and animators.

While perhaps not considered that commercially viable by the powers that be, independent radio has embraced and supported many of these artists. The Hot Grits have enjoyed several weeks at no.1 on student radio bFM with their first single, The Ballad of Joe Stalin’. ‘Werewolf’ by Haunted Love was voted Radio One song of the Year on Radio One last year and Cinema 90 by Onelung (here remixed by Sola Rosa) was the most played tune across the bNet for several weeks upon its release in May 2006.

As on the original critically acclaimed Monkey Magic compilation in 2004, this new selection continues to champion new and exciting music from Aotearoa and aims to introduce many of the artists featured to a wider audience In New Zealand and further afield. Many thanks to Creative New Zealand for their continuing support of Monkey Records which helped make this compilation and tour possible.

Monkey Magic DVD (free with CD)

1. Tim Guy – Cater for Lovers
2. Renee-Louise Carafice – Bodhisattva
3. Onelung – Banana Jelly Tower
4. Luke Hurley – The Sound
5. The Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band – The Dance of Death
6. Onelung – White
7. Káren Hunter – Perfect Jump
8. Onelung – Far As I
9. Tim Guy – Summer Breeze
10. Peachy Keen – Not Your Kind Of Girl
11. Onelung – The Royal Loop
12. Hummel – Littoral
13. Onelung – Nu Scientist
14. Sleepytime – Triangles in the Snow

Reviews
I doubt Auckland’s Monkey Records has a motto, but I’m prepared to suggest one: “When you are smaller you have to be smarter.” And although this label may be small it certainly is smart—as this excellent CD/DVD compilation package proves.
The label boasts many fine artists who have been posted at Elsewhere in the recent past (Karen Hunter, Tim Guy, An Emerald City, Ishta, Mamaku Project) and others that will be firm favourites when you hear them.
Among them will doubtless be Steve Abel whose new album Flax Happy is going to be posted here next week. Abel is a singer-songwriter who can count in his band for Flax Happy members of Pluto and Goldenhorse among others, a measure of the high regard in which he is held. A track from that album appears on this collection, as does material by all those Elsewhere postings plus Luke Hurley, Hot Grits, Onelung (who gets airtime regularly on my Kiwi FM show), Sleepytime and others.
And then there is the DVD with a swag of Onelung alongside Hummel, Peachy Keen, Renee-Louise Carafice and others who appear on the CD. This is quite some package which comes with beautiful artwork by Leah Morgan (let’s name and acclaim) and a gatefold sleeve.
Monkey has a wonderful catalogue to celebrate—and they are putting many of these artists on tour to support the album and their individual albums. Grab a copy of this album and check out the dates below.
Monkey Records: small but very smart indeed.
Graham Reid, Elsewhere

Monkey Records has been taking musical risks since 2000, and now has a small intriguing roster of artists that range widely in genre from funk-rock to pop to Eastern European Klezmer. ‘Monkey Magic Volume II’ is clearly enough the label’s second compilation album, successfully blending the disparate acts while also including four tracks from acts not strictly signed or licensed to the label. The accompanying DVD is not track matching, more a showreel of music videos made for the label. The two discs are delightfully packaged in a tourism-friendly native bird decorated pictorial foldout card case. The music on the album is universally sublime. My personal favourites include Tim Guy’s stunning Rescuer, Renee-Louise Carafice’s Jenny Lewis-esque Bodhisattva, An Emerald City’s eastern psychedelic whirlpool A Thousand Stars at Night and the rocking Headlights by The Hot Grits, but choosing favourites is unfair. ‘Monkey Magic’ is that rare beast of a compilation where every song provides pleasurable listening. Monkey Records definitely have one of the more interesting and distinct local rosters, and this compilation is a superb way to investigate these low profile acts, many of which I look forward to hearing more from.
Amanda Mills, NZ Musician

The gorgeous native birds and flowers on the cover of the new Monkey Magic sampler give a clue as to the offerings within – an interesting look at local music with a hippy twist. After a shaky start the CD kicks into gear with a nice but naughty tune from Renee-Louise Carafice, followed shortly by a swirling Emerald City track. The Hot Grits and Ragamuffin Children also contribute sweet pop to the sampler and the stirring sounds of the Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band have to be heard to be believed. The dvd of cute videos includes standout clips by Tim Guy and Peachy Keen… and watch out for the genius hip-hop vid by Onelung. If you’re into New Zealand music, ambient music or pop with an edge, this sampler is a great introduction to 16 new bands you might love, and to the Monkey Records catalogue.   ****
Katie Price, Groove Guide