Celebrations In Full Swing

Celebrations In Full Swing

We're over halfway through New Zealand Music Month now, but celebrations are still in full swing. This week marks the opening in cinemas of the Shihad documentary Beautiful Machine, tracing the band's journey from Wellington's punk-metal scene in the '90s, right up to their explosion in popularity with albums like The General Electric and beyond. Taking a look at the history of one of New Zealand's best-loved bands is one of many great ways to recognise the drive and passion that is commemorated by New Zealand Music Month.
Best,
Mr Editor

ALL MUSIC NEWS • NEW ON AMPLIFIER

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• The Twitch's Last Waltz
• Raggamuffin Festival Joins Forces With Pacific Music Awards
• The Jury And The Saints Single Release Tour
• Shayne Carter Announces Final Dimmer Shows
• New Videos From Street Chant
• NZ Music Month Summit Announced
• Lucy Lawless & Friends To Play At The King's Arms In Auckland
• Smokefreerockquest 2012 Manawatu & Rotorua Heat Results
• Great North Album Release Tour
• Paddington Live - A New Music Venue For Auckland
• Shapeshifter Christchurch Show
• Aly Cook An International Finalist In The MusicOZ Awards
More music news »

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Album of the Week
Sarah Brown - The Great Heart Robbery
Sarah Brown, possessed of a special way with heartfelt pop songs, knew she needed to spread her feathery wings on her second album, The Great Heart Robbery.
Sarah hopes the album feels like a beautiful little treasure box that, once pried open, reveals the rarest, most decadent goodies. Beginning with second single Winter With You, the album ebbs and flows with the flavours of blues, gypsy and Americana with a European twist.
Now the fully completed album has been released, all while Sarah Brown manages herself, organises her upcoming New Zealand tour along with her five-piece band and juggles being a first-time mum.

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Single of the Week
Tiki - Is Our Love Worth Fighting For
"I wrote this song the night after my girl and I separated," explains Tiki.
"We had been going through some extremely hard times and decided to give our relationship some much needed space. We both really wanted to make it work and knew it would be a very hard journey but we owed it to our beautiful son to give it our best shot. It's taken a lot of trust, patience & commitment, but we've managed to come back together and work through all the hard stuff to understand each other's needs more than ever."

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Album
Left Or Right - Buzzy
Southern New Zealand band Left Or Right are excited to announce the release of their second record Buzzy, through local label MrYoda Productions.
Since the release of their 2009 debut record Nuggety, Left Or Right have continued on their mission of extensive touring: appearing at some of NZ's sweetest festivals along the way (Kaikoura Roots, Feastock & Catlins River Festival) and performing alongside many of NZ's highest profile acts (The Black Seeds, Kora & Salmonella Dub). All the while, the band have also been honing their song writing craft, with an eye to the recording of the new album.
Just under a year in the making, Buzzy was recorded in Dunedin at Albany St Studios by Mike Holland and Left Or Right, and Mastered by Dale Cotton (Beastwars, The Bats). The making of Buzzy has very much lived up to the record's title, diving into an intense and at times bizarre world of sound.

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Competition
Win an Opossom t-shirt!
In celebration of the upcoming release of Opossom's debut album Electric Hawaii at the beginning of next month, we have two t-shirts to give away. To enter, all you have to do is answer the following question: What was the name of Opossom's first single?
You may also be interested to know that the band - featuring Kody Nielson, Bic Runga and former fellow Mint Chick Michael Logie - have announced a series of New Zealand shows.
You will not want to miss these very special Opossom dates. Auckland's intimate Lucha Lounge hosts a three-night stand of gigs on 31 May, 1 June and 2 June, with Wellington greeting the band on 8 June.
To enter the competition, visit the ARTICLES page on Amplifier or simply click >HERE<

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Single
Riqi Harawira - Gutter Black
Gutter Black is Riqi Harawira's new single, featuring hip hop artist Sir T.
This song has a very personal connection for Riqi, and his message is strong and clear, anyone one with courage and faith can rise from the gutter to follow their dreams!

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Album
Factories - The Supreme Cosmic Consciousness Births A Star Child Into Negative Space At Absolute Zero
For their debut album, Factories duo Sean and Matt gazed upon the heavens, seeking inspiration from the murky ocean of the Macroverse. During the six month period of recording, the five tracks were planned visually, then interpreted over time into the passages found on the recording.
The album thunders out of the gate with the title track. Spanning 14 minutes, the piece fuses rock, electronic and ambient music, documenting the formation and birth of a sentient celestial being.
As the album progresses through the four remaining tracks, the band presents a multitude of interlocking styles, all the while maintaining a wholly signature sound and weaving a thread from the title song throughout, cementing its cohesiveness. By the end of the record, we are back on terra firma.

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Review
The Golden Awesome - Autumn
It seems like forever since I've been waiting to get my grubby lil mits and ears on to this record - seemingly ever since I even heard it was going to exist, I've longed to have and to hold it - for as soon as I had heard my very first recordings of this Wellington troupe, it was in my heart that they were to be the most perfectly named band to grace my CD shelves - in that they truly are what it says on the spine.
Opening with a mammoth sounding title track - equal parts thunder and shimmer - this is no easy alchemy to combine such disparate elements so seamlessly. Astronomy and High Life continue in this grand contrast; the sound of worlds colliding and flowers blooming - simultaneously.
To read the full review (courtesy of Andrew Tidball from cheeseontoast.co.nz) click below!

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Single
Cilla - I Wanna Love You
I Wanna Love You is a track that is anticipated to be on repeat on everyone's playlists for this New Zealand Music Month. With the master-mind music producer, Dee Letoa, this track is set to be a hit.
Cilla comes from a very musical family and is an active member in the Church. She has cleaned up talent quests; held lead roles in music theatre; and has been featured at various concerts around the country. Cilla is also a lead vocalist for the Auckland Gospel Choir and has ambitions to expand her music creations to the world.

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EP
Working With Walt - 5 Sides
Originally released in 1985 on vinyl through Jayrem Records, the 5 Sides EP is now available digitally thanks to DRMNZ and Blind Date Records.
All songs were arranged and produced by Working With Walt, recorded in May and mixed in July 1985 at Mascot Studios in Auckland. The EP was engineered by Phil Yule with assistance from Victor Grbic. Artwork is by David Wood.

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EP
Invader Cain - Feeling The Trend But Thinking Again
Invader Cain's 2012 EP Feeling The Trend But Thinking Again includes
latest singles Burning and Back Of Your Mind along with two new tracks.
The singles were recorded and produced at York Street Studios by Hayden Taylor and the remaining tracks were recorded and produced by Stu Fu at Stargate Studios and further mixed by Chris Chetland and Stu Fu at Kog Studios.

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Free Download
The Eversons - Could It Ever Get Better?
This is the new single from Wellington group The Eversons, who produce witty, punchy guitar-based alternative pop tunes. They've been kind enough to offer it to us as this week's free download!
It is taken from their recently-released album Summer Feeling, which follows on from their self-titled EP released in 2011.

Video of the Week
Chris Hurn - Day Of My Escape
This is the video for Chris Hurn's latest infectious single - and it's not your typical upbeat pop song. Check it out.

TOP VIDEOS THIS WEEK
Fat Freddy's Drop
Kiss Da Cook Episode 3: Paua Wontons

Cornerstone Roots
Journey

Tiki
Freedom To Sing

Minuit
Book of the Dead

Making Tracks
Amadou and Mariam - Hope (Fat Freddy's Cover)

Mel Parsons
I Won't Let You Down

Funkommunity
Pass It On

Jae'O
Invisible

Awa
Papatuanuku feat. Che Fe

Dane Rumble
Lights Go Out

TrinityRoots
Little Things (Original EP version)

Fly My Pretties
Catch the Light

Ben Lummis
I Love You Love Me

View more videos »

Country Release Chart
01. Richard Leschen - New Sun Rising

02. The Warratahs - 25 Year Collection

03. The Eastern - Hope And Wire

04. Birds Of NZ - Birds Of NZ

05. Suzanne Prentice - I'll Do It All Over Again

06. Tiny Ruins - Some Were Meant For Sea

07. Barry Saunders - Weatherman

08. Roger Tibbs - Selections

09. The Phoenix Foundation - Horse Power

10. Fleur Jack & The Jandals - Ghosts Of Cimarron

11. The Johnnys - The Johnnys - EP

12. Dennis Marsh - Maori Songbook

13. Heavy Jones Trio - Nobody Town

Friday 18 May
Disasteradio
Cassette Number Nine, Auckland
Stephen
Friday 18 May
The Thomas Oliver Band
King's Arms, Auckland
Gary
Saturday 19 May
Drop Dead Redhead
Mighty Mighty, Wellington
Richie

ends

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