Smoke CDS - NZ Music Month
Smoke CDS - NZ Music Month
30 May 2003
Well smokecds music lovers, we have just about reached the end of New Zealand Music Month for 2003. Here's a bunch of fine home grown releases that have been tickling the fancy of all at the smokecds HQ throughout this month.
As always, enjoy, and thanks for being a supporter of New Zealand music.
Trip - Pretty Cool
Formerly known as Trip to
the Moon, Trip are old school soundsmiths Tom Ludvigson and
Trevor Reekie. While 'Pretty Cool' is an understatement on
the standard of the album, the shortened name means no
abbreviation on quality, combining electronic sampling and
live recordings to create a seamless blend of multi-layered
jazz influenced electronic soundscapes.
$24.95
Jet
Jaguar - Think About It Later
The first long-player
release of 2003 for Wellington label Capitalrecordings, this
is the second album release from Melbourne-based
Wellingtonian Jet Jaguar, pioneer of New Zealand electronica
and also known as the prolific Michael Upton (Datsun Stereo,
Dub Connection). 'Think About It Later' is eleven tracks of
low key electronic listening music, full of down-tempo
warmth and pleasant funk. A world class release and
thoroughly recommended.
$24.95
King Kapisi - 2nd Round
Testament (DVD Version)
The return of King Kapisi is
marked by the release of '2nd Round Testament', the follow
up to 2000 s 'Savage Thoughts'. It s a matured sound from
the role model for Pacific Island youth, with a strong core
of hip hop and a range of new influences including jazz,
ragga, reggae and soulful breakbeats. Depicted on the album
cover as a boxing champion, Kapisi has produced an energetic
album, proudly sample-free, a tight follow up from the MC
turned DJ turned producer.
$24.95
Goldenhorse -
Riverhead (Limited Edition)
A tasty debut from this
melodic, thoughtful & accomplished 5-piece band from
Auckland (NZ), chock full of breathy and seductive sweeping
pop epics. Original and smart, with lush intriguing
arrangements, and accomplished musicianship, Goldenhorse
deliver a beautifully precise and tauntingly eloquent set of
songs.
$24.95
Nesian Mystik - Polysaturated
Auckland youngsters Nesian Mystik have captured the nation's
ear with chart-friendly club sounds, the odd slinky slow
jam, some smooth garage styles and even a lick of reggae
somewhere in the mix. The Mystiks more than impress on this
cool and confident album, a very good debut album indeed.
$24.95
Nature's Best 3
By now everyone must
know the story of the Nature's Best Series - all the APRA
members plus a learned cast of 100 got together to list
their all-time favourite 30 New Zealand songs. And things
just got out of hand - with so many great singles to chose
from the concept quickly spread to encompass a second
volume, and now a third volume - and it doesn't look like
stopping here either.
$29.95
Channel Z - The Coleman
Sessions
Named for high profile Channel Z host James
Coleman, the collection includes a wide range of acts with
the likes the Black Seeds, Pacifier, P-Money and the Feelers
sharing the billing. As live recordings, the album works
well, with good sound quality yet retaining the raw clarity
and immediacy of live performance.
$24.95
The Datsuns
- The Datsuns (Limited Edition Bonus CD)
It's the stuff
legends are made of - and believe me The Datsuns are legends
already. This album is an explosive mix of "good" seventies
metal (AC/DC, Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy) and youthful
exuberant punk rock, easily living up to the surrounding
hype. This comes fully recommended - it's one of the best
rock albums made by a New Zealand band - ever. Oh yeah, as
with all good rawk'n'roll, play loud.
$24.95
House Of
Downtown - Mutha Funkin Earth
From the title and
(elaborate, ornate) packaging downward, the whole CD has the
feel of an obscure, mid to late 1970's funk or soul
long-player, one of those great undiscovered gems that guys
like Armand van Helden or Basement Jaxx make fortunes off,
sampling and beefing up for mass market consumption. One of
the better thought-out LPs to come out of New Zealand in the
last wee while, 'Mutha Funkin Earth' is a great package that
deserves to be in as many homes, cars, bars and cafes as
possible.
$24.95
The Brunettes - Holding Hands,
Feeding Ducks & The Boyracer EP (Limited Edition)
A
sugary sweet pop masterpiece, just rough enough in the right
places to seduce the indie-pop listener. Original and smart,
the Brunettes are worth checking if you like acts like Saint
Etienne, Mutton Birds, The Front Lawn, The B52s and most
"quirky-pop" points in between. Stylish and plenty of fun,
this fine local band just keep getting better.
$24.95
Mark de Clive-Lowe - Melodius Beats Volume 1
This is
a great compilation for people who've enjoyed Mark's work
over the last few years while he's been based in London,
while jazz enthusiasts should dig his so-called
"broken-beat" take on the sound. The sound is very much on
the West London jazz tip aka "broken-beat", with the
emphasis on fairly complex instrumental work, as you'd
expect.
$24.95
Flash Harry
The debut solo release
from Barnaby Weir, one of New Zealand's most promising
singer-songwriters, and the vocal powerhouse behind The
Black Seeds... featuring fifteen delightfully crafted songs
fusing together elements of rock and roll, electro, hip-hop,
funk, dub and whatever else he can lay hands on... Flash
Harry is an undeniably addictive piece of futuristic pop -
Aotearoa style... recommended
$24.95
s w e e t -
the smokecds.com crew
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