Music at Elsewhere

Belle and Sebastian: Late Developers (digital outlets)

30 Jan 2023 | 1 min read

In 2004 this Glaswegian indie-pop band was nominated for Britain's Mercury Prize and the following year voted Best Scottish Band Ever in the online magazine The List. They are however an acquired taste: some hear their lighter songs as mannered. But over 11 previously acclaimed albums since 96, they've created a body of lyrically clever and literate work wrapped in catchy melodies.... > Read more

Numün: Book of Beyond (Shimmy-Disc/digital outlets)

27 Jan 2023 | <1 min read

From our distance, this New York trio could probably not be more obscure and unfamiliar. Their label Shimmy Disc (Bongwater, Kramer, Jad Fair, Daniel Johnston etc) might be the sole connection. But unfamiliarity has never stopped Elsewhere from turning an ear, so let us introduce Bob Holmes (from SUSS) with Christopher Romero and Joel Mellin (from Gamelan Dharma Swara) who are... > Read more

Lighter

Deceptikonz: In Perpetuity (digital outlets)

22 Jan 2023 | 2 min read

The Deceptikonz rap crew out of Manurewa helped define the sound and unique culture of South Auckland when signed to the Dawn Raid label in 2001. If rap gives voice to the voiceless, Deceptikonz – Mareko, Savage, Frisko and Devolo – told their stories across three albums, Elimination in 02, Heavy Rotation (06) and their farewell Evolution: Past, Present and Beyond (10).... > Read more

SUSS: SUSS (Shimmy-Disc/digital outlets)

18 Jan 2023 | <1 min read

The adjective “atmospheric” is perhaps too liberally applied these days, but it is certainly the appropriate word for the sound of this New York three-piece of Jonathan Gregg (pedal steel, dobro), Bob Holmes (mandolin, guitars, harmonica, violin, keyboards) and Pat Irwin (guitars, harmonium, keyboards, melodica, loops). Describing themselves as “ambient... > Read more

Kingman, AZ

Liela Moss: Internal Working Model (Bella Union/digital outlets)

16 Jan 2023 | <1 min read

British fashion muse, serial collaborator (Heritage Orchestra playing Giorgio Moroder, Nick Cave and others) and member of the indie-rock guitar band Duke Spirit, the striking Liela Moss here again works some of the brittle electronica end of the spectrum with this album propelled by the urgency of global issues, from the economic meltdown to the climate crisis and social division. With... > Read more

ONE WE MISSED: Sylvie: Sylvie (digital outlets)

16 Jan 2023 | 1 min read | 1

We discovered this delightful, gentle album by chance, and it confused us. A friend passed on one of those cover-mount compilation CDs which came with an English music monthly late last year. As we heard it, one of the songs was called Sylvie by someone called Sylvie (but it was a male singer) from the album entitled Sylvie, although the song itself was an old one written by Iain... > Read more

Sylvie

Lord of the Isles: Subtle Thoughts (digital outlets)

9 Jan 2023 | 1 min read

You don't need to know much about British history to guess that electronica composer Neil McDonald – who goes by the name Lord of the Isles – is a proud Scot. Lord of the Isles was the ancient title handed down to ruler of the islands and some of the mainland in Western Scotland, today the Lord of the Isles is Prince William. The original clan which held the title were the... > Read more

RECOMMENDED RECORD: Arooj Aftab: Vulture Prince Deluxe Edition (vinyl only)

6 Jan 2023 | <1 min read | 1

From time to time Elsewhere will single out a recent release we recommend on vinyl, like this one originally released in 2021 which now comes on heavyweight vinyl as a double album with an additional track not on digital platforms. Check out Elsewhere's other Recommended Record picks . . . . This beautiful album – which was in Elsewhere's best of 2021 selection... > Read more

Various Artists: To the Moon and Back, a Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto (digital outlets)

5 Jan 2023 | <1 min read

It probably won't diminish your enjoyment or interest in this tribute album if you aren't familiar with the work of Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto whose career encompassed the Yellow Magic Orchestra, solo work, award-winning soundtracks (The Last Emperor and Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence to the Grammy-nominated The Revenant), numerous collaborations (David Sylvian to Youssou N'Dour) and music... > Read more

The Sheltering Sky: Alva Noto remodel

Jimi Hendrix Experience: Los Angeles Forum, April 26 1969 (Legacy/digital outlets)

4 Jan 2023 | 1 min read

While there's certainly no paucity of Jimi Hendrix Experience live albums, this previously unreleased one – which had openers Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys (whom Hendrix produced) and Chicago Transit Authority (edgy feedback rockers, soon to become simply the more mainstream Chicago) – is of some interest. It was one of the last shows by the original Experience which was... > Read more

Weyes Blood: And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow (digital outlets)

17 Dec 2022 | 2 min read

Few careers have had quite the interesting trajectory and sidesteps as that of Natalie Mering, known as Weyes Blood. Now 34, she grew up in California and Pennsylvania with her Pentecostal parents (“born-again weirdos”), dropped out of college, relocated to California and New Mexico before washing up in Portland, Oregon where she joined the experimental psychedelic folk band... > Read more

Hans Pucket: No Drama (digital outlets)

12 Dec 2022 | 1 min read

The Wellington four-piece Hans Pucket fronted by singer/writer Oliver Devlin has a mainline into classic pop: check the Eleanor Rigby/ELO strings on the title track of their second album No Drama – produced by the Beths' Jonathan Pearce – before it morphs into something like nihilistic 10cc art-pop (“I'll be adorable but despondent”). Or Some Good News... > Read more

Pipsy: All You Ever Wanted (digital outlets)

12 Dec 2022 | <1 min read

This self-produced debut album is from Wellington's Pipsy who is Paul Pouwels McMillan, formerly drummer for Males, wrote his PhD on the tension between playing covers and original music in the Dunedin scene and identifies as they/them. They use elevating 80s and early 90s synth-pop tropes – and equipment – to craft songs which, while handy for the dancefloor, pay attention to... > Read more

The Bobby Holidays: At the Beach (Holiday/bandcamp)

12 Dec 2022 | 1 min read

Delayed by lockdown but timely now for the (Bobby?) holiday season, this project to record with singer/writer Bobby Werry includes a number of name players familiar to Elsewhere and elsewhere listeners, among them Darren McShane (Superturtle) and the horns of Nick Atkinson (Hopetoun Brown) and Finn Scholes. And drummer Gareth Scott plus a bunch of kids doing backing vocals in couple of... > Read more

Big Joanie: Going Home (bandcamp)

4 Dec 2022 | 1 min read

The British punk thunderclap of the Stranglers, Sex Pistols, Damned and Clash in 1976-77 and the post-punk era of the Eighties they heralded saw many women artists on the field of play, more so than in the Sixties and early Seventies In came Siouxsie Sioux, Poly Styrene, the Paulines Black and Murray (of The Selecter and Penetration respectively), Chrissie Hynde, the Slits and other... > Read more

Richie Setford: Curious Growth (bandcamp)

21 Nov 2022 | 1 min read

It has been some little while since we have heard of and from expat Kiwi Richard Setford who is now a longtime Berliner. The last time was with his 2019 album Aimless Survivor and before that there was a brace of albums under the name Bannerman and he was a member of Batucada Sound Machine. One of our contributing writers caught up with him (as Bannerman) in Berlin in late 2015 when he... > Read more

RECOMMENDED RECORD: Soaked Oats: Working Title (Dot Dash/digital outlets)

20 Nov 2022 | 1 min read

From time to time Elsewhere will single out a recent release we recommend on vinyl, like this one which comes on heavyweight vinyl with an insert lyric sheet. Check out Elsewhere's other Recommended Record picks . . . . Although Elsewhere doesn't review EPs (too many full-length albums clamouring for attention) we do sometimes listen to them, especially if the artist is local... > Read more

Amamelia: Bananamelia! (Sunreturn/bandcamp)

19 Nov 2022 | <1 min read

It's often useful to come to an artist with little prior knowledge. And know even less about their struggles, gender issues, TikTok presence and so on. If the music's any good you can get back to all that. Amamelia is Auckland's Amelia Berry and all Elsewhere had heard was the student radio single Colourbox which hit a special place between minimalist ambience, a languid vocal and... > Read more

RECOMMENDED RECORD: MEDaL: Sequela (Replicate/digital outlets)

14 Nov 2022 | 1 min read

From time to time Elsewhere will single out a recent release we recommend on vinyl, like this which comes on heavyweight vinyl, in a frameable cover and with an inner sleeve of lyrics and another engaging image by David Mulcahy. Check out Elsewhere's other Recommended Record picks . . . . The debut Replica by this trio out of Lyttelton was a Recommended Record on release... > Read more

RECOMMENDED RECORD: SJD: Sweetheart (Fried Oyster/digital outlets)

13 Nov 2022 | 2 min read

From time to time Elsewhere will single out a recent release we recommend on vinyl, like this which comes on coloured vinyl and in a cover painted by SJD himself. Very much a record of two sides also. Check out Elsewhere's other Recommended Record picks . . . . Despite its name, The Mozart Fellowship offered by the University of Otago in Dunedin/Ōtepoti was established in 1969 to,... > Read more