The Vaselines
Enter the Vaselines

Featured tracks: Molly’s Lips, Son of a Gun (demo version)

When I listened to this collection for the first time I was completely engaged. I could feel a smile stretch right across my face – I couldn’t help myself! They sound like a bedroom Magnetic Fields from Dunedin in the 80’s. This is a compilation of previously released EPs and an album that have been remastered, plus it has a bonus disk of demos and live stuff!

ps Did you know that Kurt Cobain named his daughter after Frances McKee who is the lovely lady in the band?
MINTY FRESH

The Horrors
Primary Colours

Featured tracks: Three Decades, Scarlett Fields

I am so glad that this is what The Horrors came out with after their first album Strange House. It’s a more sophisticated release that showcases their integrity as musicians, proving they aren’t just some gangly dudes who like to dress up and look spooky. Though you really have to look at the complete package when it comes to The Horrors, this album solidifies them as more than just a hype band. Cinematic, dark and inspiring.
MINTY FRESH

The Hairdos
I like it spooky

Featured tracks: Night Creeper, I Like It Spooky

You can only buy this EP at gigs – The Hairdos played at the Adelaide earlier this year and it was was INCREDIBLE! It’s was one of those gigs where you leave feeling totally revitalised – get along to the next one. Yeah it may be a little rough around the edges, but it is the perfect wee indicator of what these guys are all about. Sounds like a less uptight, looser Cramps. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to die?
MINTY FRESH

Snowfield / Seth Frightening
Untitled (split 7″)

Featured tracks: The Raven, If this is liberty then give me death

This beautifully designed split 7” has been locally released by two of New Zealand’s underground songwriters. And on it they are covering each others songs! What a good idea. Only available from Slowboat or if you get in touch with Snowfield at cupcakerabbit@gmail.com.
MINTY FRESH

St Vincent
Actor

Featured tracks: The Neighbours, Marrow

When I first listened to Annie Clarke AKA St Vincent’s Actor I immediately thought of Bambi and The Sound of Music. There’s something completely theatrical about the vocals, production and thematic countenance combined that remind me of singing maids, bluebirds, and Nazi’s. Well, maybe not the latter, but on her sophomore album this ex member of The Polyphonic Spree definitely has a silver screen, other-worldly thing going on.
COURTNEY SANDERS

Chicks on Speed
Cutting the Edge

Featured tracks: Art Speaks Out / Vibrator, Coolhunters / The Worst Band in the World

Chicks on Speed are going to be that controversial choice at a Listening Post because they’re not really considered a band by many, and I guess in conventional terms they probably aren’t. However, they are integral cultural commentators, unafraid to raise issues in a popular context that others won’t touch, and are completely inclusion-worthy as a result. Leotards and spoken word combined has never been more relevant.
COURTNEY SANDERS

Florence and the Machine
A Lot of Love, A Lot of Blood EP

Featured tracks: Kiss With a Fist, The Dog Days are Over

Hailing from London-town, Florence Welch is a flame haired femme with a wailing voice that takes on the talents of Cat Power and the issues of Lily Allen. Keeping things lo-fi by singing in parks, forests, clown-filled playgrounds and the like, this nymphette evokes all the emotion of Grace Slick at her peak, sans man problems (at least within band).
COURTNEY SANDERS

Ponytail
Ice Cream Spiritual

Featured tracks: 7 Souls, Sky Drool

Aside from the fact that Ponytail was signed to a record label (We Are Free) with an incredible history (bankruptcy via gambling debts leading to establishment of said label) they also have a lead singer whose vocals are impossible to categorise. Molly Siegel doesn’t sing words, she’s not in tune, and often not even in time, and in any other band this’d be a massive fail. But, within the instrumental ability of post punkers Ponytail it totally works, and Ice Cream Spiritual is some sort of Eastern dance around happiness as a result.
COURTNEY SANDERS

Motocade
Tightrope Highway

Featured tracks: Octopus, Oldest Trick in the Book

Motocade are an Auckland based Indie-Pop quartet who have been solidly plying their trade to discerning ears for the best part of 4 years. Motocade have released 2 EPs (or short-form albums) making this their debut long-player. Eden Mulholland is a class songwriter with an ear for the
massive Pop hook.
LOTION

The Juan Maclean
The Future Will Come

Featured tracks:Simple Life, A New Bot

The Juan MacLean is New York Electronic producer Juan & his mainstay vocalist / keyboardist Nancy Wang. Signed to the incredibly solid DFA label, The Juan have just released their second album – ‘The Future Will Come’. Indie / Electronic / Disco-House? Or is that Space Disco??
LOTION

Tame Impala
Tame Impala EP

Featured tracks: Half Full Glass of Wine, 40,000 Mosquitoes Flying in Formation

Tame Impala are a 3-piece Psychedelic Rock outfit hailing from Perth, Australia. We don’t use the term ‘psychedelic’ lightly. This sounds like it was recorded in the late 60’s with band members & groupies drenched in barbituates and LSD. New signing to Modular Records… perhaps their most bold signing yet.
LOTION

Tourettes
Who Said You Can’t Dance to Misery

Featured tracks:Helper Monkey, Letting Go

MC Tourettes has just unleashed his 2nd album off the Breakin Wreckwordz label. ‘Left of Centre’, dark, ominous, scary! All of these things but the bugger still manages to pull you into his sick world where everything grooves and brutal honesty always triumphs. A stand-out NZ Hip-Hop release for 09…
LOTION