New Zealand
News: New Zealand’s French For Rabbits announce new album ‘The Overflow’ through Reckless Yes/AAA Records/A Modest Proposal Records, and release the sparkling single ‘Ouija Board’.
After delighting us with the single ‘The Overflow’ last month (see my review here), New Zealand dream popsters extraordinaire French For Rabbits have just announced the release of their new album ‘The Overflow’ for 12 November 2021 and sweetened the deal with another shimmering luminescent single, ‘Ouija Board’. ‘Ouija Board’ is a gentler, more reflective …
Track: New Zealand’s Nik Brinkman’s new single ‘Sugarland’ is a delicious shimmering wonder.
With a theme running to the sweeter side, New Zealand’s Nik Brinkman follows up ‘Candy’, premiered by us back in June with another languid, hazy delight, ‘Sugarland’. The crystalline guitars form a crisp, crunchy background to the dreamy haze of the song with its recurring riffs and floaty atmosphere. Brinkman’s magical vocals are evocative and …
Track: New Zealand’s Sulfate emits ‘There You Are!’: a buzzing, thrashing new single that prowls like a panther, plus announces tour.
There is something very distinctive in the air. New Zealand’s Flying Nun signees Sulfate have followed up their debut single ‘Crossing’ (reviewed by me here) with a brilliant brooding, fuzzy ‘There You Are!’: coasting over an insistent bass, barely contained feedback and singer Peter Ruddell’s (Wax Chattels) voice a deep, sonorous ominous rumble. There is …
Track: Reb Fountain sparkles with her inimitable style and grace in her new single ‘Lacuna’, and announces New Zealand tour.
‘Lacuna’, the new single from New Zealand icon Reb Fountain swaps a swaggering bravado evident in her last single ‘Beastie’ (see review here) for something more restrained but just as powerful: a simmering, prowling and enigmatic track that has a hint of something ominous. With its subtle sinuous spine and a fuzzy guitar interlude, ‘Lacuna’ …
Track: New Zealand French for Rabbits unveil the dreamy pop track ‘The Overflow’ and announce signing to UK independent label, Reckless Yes
‘The Overflow’ eases out of the speakers with a dreamy fugue – a soft and enchanting melody embellished with some glorious harmonies weaving in and out of the dappling notes. French for Rabbits, hailing from New Zealand’s capital Wellington, have created something that feels ever so delicate and fragile, deeply melancholic and yet floating on …
See: Damien Binder releases a gorgeous video for the spellbinding track ‘Everything But’
We premiered Damien Binder‘s track ‘Everything But’ way back in May. We said it was a glorious example of Binder’s craft: a shimmering restless piece that travels with a spark and a verve, laced with melancholia and a meditative air: Binder’s voice is so immersive and mesmerising there should be a warning not to operate …
Track: New Zealand’s Sulfate release the dark, fuzzy track ‘Crossing’ and announce new album ‘Godzone’ through Flying Nun Records
‘Crossing’, from New Zealand band Sulfate, is a delicious, fuzzy, angst-ridden piece of darkness that buzzes with a satisfying intensity. A metallic syncopated undercurrent is swamped by angular, crunchy guitars and yearning vocals that have echoes of the brittle, observational delivery of the Robert Forster side of The Go-Betweens. The themes match the gothic darkness …
Premiere: New Zealand’s Voodoo Bloo reveal explosive, unhinged sledgehammer of a video for ‘MMA’
Back in May, Backseat Mafia reviewed the new single from Voodoo Bloo – essentially the work of Rory McDonald (Sheffield born but Wellington resident). We are honoured to be able to bring to you an exclusive first viewing of the accompanying video to this blistering track. And it is absolutely on fire. We wrote that …
Track: Lorde makes a welcome return fuelled by ‘Solar Power’
After quite a lengthy absence since her last release, New Zealand’s Lorde has made a forceful and powerful return with the track ‘Solar Power’. A languid and liquid track, ‘Solar Power’ is a slow burning fuse that builds up to an anthemic finish with the kind of rhythmic drive of ‘Screamadelica’-era Primal Scream. The accompanying …
Premiere: New Zealand’s Nik Brinkman produces a languid and dreamy ‘Candy’, infused with a psychedelic haze
New Zealand artist Nik Brinkman has the languorous, snarling indifferent vocals of The Jesus and Mary Chain mixed with a dreamy, multicoloured haze that, in his new track ‘Candy’ that we are very honoured to premiere today on Backseat Mafia, creates an absolutely delicious piece of punky psychedelia. Hazy reverb and flange soaked instrumentation waltzes …