Something Elsewhere
Short stories, satires, thinking-out-loud stuff and nonsense for your enjoyment, amusement . . . or otherwise. Just utterly Elsewhere.
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THE JB HI-FI GUIDE TO ESSENTIAL VINYL, VOL 5 (2024) Another 100+ records needing a good home
16 Nov 2024 | 1 min read
It is that time again when, for the fifth time, I look at the huge number of vinyl releases this past year and sieve out the best 100 or so that could deserve a place in your collection. As you may see it is once more a wide sampling of genres and artists across the decades because we have factored in the reissues alongside the new releases. And as I mention in the introduction below,... > Read more
Tricks of Light, by Sam Bambery (from Rubicator)
SHELVES OF SOUNDS (2024): Musician/producer and sound designer Eden Mulholland offers his sonic archive
16 Nov 2024 | 2 min read
Most readers of Elsewhere will have encountered the name Eden Mulholland who was part of the band Motorcade and has written for dance and theatre companies, and the World of Wearable Arts. He has won a number of awards for composition and was nominated for a Silver Scroll in 2009. More than a decade ago he – who has no formal musical training – told us, “I take things... > Read more
IS THIS THE MOST ANNOYING SONG EVER? (2024): The horror, the horror
24 Oct 2024 | 1 min read
As we've mentioned previously, there's no point in asking people to name the worst song ever because someone who thinks they are being clever will say “Anything by Taylor Swift”. These are people who generally don't listen to anything by Taylor Swift but recoil from her success. Previous generations have done it with Madonna, U2 and – back in my parents' day –... > Read more
IN PRAISE OF THE MIDDLE-SIZED (2024) The pleasures of the 10 inch record
1 Oct 2024 | 5 min read
As a vinyl format, the 10'' (10 inch) record was a tasty thing between the 7'' 45rpm single and the 12'' 33rpm album. And you could get a lot onto the 10'' when the playing speed was 33. In the Forties and Fifties it was the favoured medium for many jazz artists – especially vocalists and bands, not so much the bebop crowd. And early rock'n'rollers discovered you could get four or... > Read more
Perseus, by Diem Redux (Nic Roughan mix)
MUSIC ON THE MENU: The tasty promotion of Goodspace
24 Sep 2024 | 3 min read
With home studio computer technology and software programmes, it has never been easier to make your own music and, through digital platforms, get it into the public domain. However technology giveth and taketh away. Because everyone is doing it, it has also never been harder to gain attention in a world where literally tens of thousands of new songs are uploaded to platforms every day.... > Read more
AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM (2024): Why are the old folk still touring?
23 Sep 2024 | 2 min read
When British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden played Auckland's Spark Arena on September 16, its two founding members -- bassist Steve Harris and guitarist Dave Murray – were 68 and 67 respectively. Singer Bruce Dickinson was 66, which means he's been screaming “your soul's gonna burn in the lake of fire” (Can I Play With Madness) for more than three decades. And on... > Read more
All Things Must Pass, by George Harrison (rehearsal)
LOVE'S UGLY CHILDREN, AGAIN (2024): Pump It Baby, one more time
1 Aug 2024 | 2 min read
Many bands are here for a good time, not a long time. But, despite the odds (line-up changes, the lifestyle), Love's Ugly Children from Christchurch managed a bit of both. The band of Simon Maclaren (guitar, vocals), Angela “Floss” Leslie (bass, vocals) and Jason Young (drums, vocals) emerged from a previous line-up (Maclaren, Leslie and others) with a new approach and... > Read more
Coming 4 You
MUSIC TO SWEAT TO (2024): The inane that goes with the pain
29 Jul 2024 | 3 min read
Recently someone with time on their hands did the maths and announced that in the past four years there were only three weeks when bands had topped the British charts, one of them being the Beatles with Now and Then. Every other week it was a solo act (or probably ft. someone like Bulldog, remember him?). Further to that, in the week this very clever person was talking he noted that in... > Read more
The Avener: Fade Out Lines (Marcapasos Remix)
AND THE REVOLVING GOES ON (2024): Crowdies, Klaus and Ernie
27 May 2024 | 2 min read
Crowded House's cover art for their forthcoming Gravity Stairs is far from the first to reference the 1966 Beatles' Revolver designed by Klaus Voormann. Voormann's first encountered the Beatles when they were playing in Hamburg. The story has become legend, how after an argument with his girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr -- an aspiring photographer who would take seminal images of... > Read more
A FAST 15 MINUTES: Is it better in English?
11 May 2024 | <1 min read | 1
A 15 minute programme of familiar songs sung in a language other than that in which they were written. The global village goes pop, in its own words. For more of these fast 15 minute programmes go here > Read more
oh, i know this one!
THE AMA FINALISTS (2024): Guess who's baaaack . . .
22 Apr 2024 | 4 min read
After taking a year off in 2023 when there was an analysis of the awards and how inclusive (or not) they were, the Aotearoa Music Awards return. And that absence means that some albums -- like the Beths' Expert in a Dying Field for example -- which were released in 2022 were up for inclusion. It makes for a big -- and yes, inclusive -- awards so here goes. The awards event takes... > Read more
A FAST 15 MINUTES: Start Me Up
14 Apr 2024 | <1 min read
Here's something for you at Elsewhere when you have 15 minutes to spare. Have a listen to this, a short programme about how songs can be started with a hook, a riff, nagging repetition and so on. Enjoy . . . and see how many songs or titles you can recognise. > Read more
getting a song going
SOUND THINKING #9: The podcast for music people
22 Mar 2024 | <1 min read
The ninth episode of the music podcast in which Marty Duda of 13th Floor hosts some reviewers who discuss new albums. This week Chris Warne, Veronika Bell, Andra Jenkins and I review four new albums by Jesus and Mary Chain, Delaney Davidson, Kaylee Bell and Adrianne Lenker. Good informed comment. Here it is. For other episodes of Sound Thinking go here > Read more
SOUND THINKING #8: The podcast for music people
16 Mar 2024 | <1 min read
The eighth episode of the music podcast in which Marty Duda of 13th Floor hosts some reviewers who discuss new albums. This week Chris Warne, Veronika Bell, Andra Jenkins and I review four new albums by The Black Crowes, Dandy Warhols,Amiria Grenell and Kacy Musgraves. Good informed comment. Here it is. For other episodes of Sound Thinking go here > Read more
THE TAITE MUSIC AWARDS (2024): And the nominees are . . .
5 Mar 2024 | 1 min read
One of the most interesting and prestigious events on the local music calendar is the annual Taite Music Prize which recognises an exceptional album and is judged on musical merit not sales. The awards have expanded to include Best Independent Debut Award, another for outstanding music journalism and a classic independently released album from our past. There is also an award for... > Read more
SOUND THINKING #7: The podcast for music people
2 Mar 2024 | <1 min read
The seventh episode of the music podcast in which Marty Duda of 13th Floor hosts some reviewers who discuss new albums. This week Jeff Neems, Veronika Bell, Marty and I review four new albums by Liam Gallagher with John Squire, Faye Webster, The Bevis Frond and Drop Spindle. Good informed comment. Here it is. For other episodes of Sound Thinking go here > Read more
SOUND THINKING #6: The podcast for music people
25 Feb 2024 | <1 min read
The sixth episode of the music podcast in which Marty Duda of 13th Floor hosts some reviewers who discuss new albums. This week Jeff Neems, Chris Warne, Veronika Bell and Marty review four new albums by Church and AP, MGMT, Bird Machine and Greg Johnson . . . and share thoughts on LAB, ticket prices and the new Bob Marley biopic. Good informed comment. Here it is. For other... > Read more
SOUND THINKING #5: The podcast for music people
16 Feb 2024 | <1 min read
The fifth episode of the music podcast in which Marty Duda of 13th Floor hosts some reviewers who discuss new albums. This week Andra Jenkins, Chris Warne, Veronika Bell and I review four new albums by Idles, the Transits, Brittany Howard and Chelsea Wolfe and share thoughts on Graham Nash, Pearl Jam and more… Good informed comment. Here it is. For... > Read more
SOUND THINKING #4: The podcast for music people
10 Feb 2024 | <1 min read
The fourth episode of the podcast in which Marty Duda of 13th Floor hosts some reviewers who discuss new albums. This week Marty, Jeff Neems, Veronika Bell and Andra Jenkin review albums by Tinsley Ellis, Pony Baby, Mean Jeans and Matt Joe Gow. Good informed comment. Here it is. For other episodes of Sound Thinking go here > Read more
SOUND THINKING #3: The podcast for music people
3 Feb 2024 | <1 min read
The third episode of the podcast in which Marty Duda of 13th Floor hosts some reviewers who discuss new albums. This week Marty, Jeff Neems, Veronika Bell and Oxford Lamoureaux review albums by Green Day, J Mascis and local artists the Boondocks and Rosina and the Weavers. Good informed comment. Here it is. . For previous episodes of Sound Thinking album reviews... > Read more