Timothy Blackman: Modern Sprawl

Timothy Blackman: Modern Sprawl

I first saw Timothy Blackman perform on a winter’s evening in 1997 at Lower Hutt’s Epuni Hall. Nobody had heard of his band and I had no understanding as to why a group of third formers were performing as part of a hardcore line up. The following week I met the young songwriter at the front entrance of Hutt Valley High School while he was giving out tapes the band had recorded on a four track. He gave me a copy on the condition that I passed it on once I had listened to it three times. The band became a regular act around the lower North Island and I still campaign that tape today.

In 2002, Tim’s ever-increasing passion for the environment saw him relocate to Dunedin, where by day, he studied geography and environmental planning. By night Tim would write, record and perform introspective and often isolated pop songs inspired by artists such as Daniel Johnston, Jandek, Elliot Smith, Smog, Johanna Newsom, Neil Young and Sufjan Stevens.

Timothy Blackman’s first solo release came as a result of a reclusive two-week period in 2006 in which Giraffes, Wharves and Sinking Sand was written, recorded and released. The album was described as “scratchy acoustic brilliance” (salient) and “promising” (pavement) with ‘Pigeon in the Vampire’ spending 8 weeks on the Radio One top 11. This success saw Tim invited to play at the Bnet Live to Airs and perform on Dunedin’s own Channel 9 for May Music Month celebrations. In 2007 Tim has performed extensively throughout New Zealand and at a performance in Wellington was described as “not your standard singer songwriter” (Wellington live music dot com).

His latest offering Modern Sprawl was inspired by the uncontrollably sprawling suburbs of Auckland City. The recording includes songs that were written/performed by Blackman and recorded at his Auckland Flat by a close friend in July 2007. To celebrate the release will be a single performance in Wellington on the 22nd of December at Room 101, with support from Shaun K Anderson.

Modern Sprawl out December 10th on Home Alone

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