The Chills the Dunedin, New Zealand-based band whose early records were released by Flying Nun—haven’t put out a full-length since 1996’s “Sunburnt”. (In 2004, they put out a mini-album, Stand By, and in 2014, a single and a tour EP.) Their next LP, “Silver Bullets”, arrives on October 30th via Fire. Listen to “America Says Hello” above.
The album also features a re-recording of “Molten Gold”, which was released two years ago.
For this album, Chills main man Martin Phillipps is joined by James Dickson, Todd Knudson, Erica Stichbury, and Oli Wilson. While Phillipps is set to play solo shows later this year, a full band tour is in the works for next year. The album was recorded at Albany Street Studios in Dunedin.
Silver Bullets:
01 Father Time
02 Warm Waveform
03 Silver Bullets
04 Underwater Wasteland
05 America Says Hello
06 Liquid Situation
07 Pyramid/When The Poor Can Reach The Moon
08 Aurora Corona
09 I Can’t Help You
10 Tomboy
11 Molten Gold
Posts Tagged ‘New Zealand’
The CHILLS – ” America Says Hello “
Posted: August 2, 2015 in MUSICTags: Dunedin, New Zealand, Siver Bullets, The Chills
SURF CITY – ” Hollow Veins “
Posted: June 5, 2015 in MUSICTags: Fire Records, New Zealand, Surf City
“Sticky summer jams, fuzzy swirls and out and out dream pop blasts”
Auckland, New Zealand’s Surf City draws from the more languid and loose traditions of indie rock and Flying Nun’s melodic sensibilities, merging the two in songs that are both dense and immediate. Founded by Josh Kennedy and Davin Stoddard in 2004, the band was originally titled Kill Surf City, named in honor of a Jesus and Mary Chain b-side. Recruiting the rhythm section of Logan Collins and Jamie Kennedy, the band toured New Zealand and Australia, eventually scoring a spot opening for the then-recently reunited Dinosaur Jr. and signing with Arch Hill to release their first EP. Their debut LP, 2010’s Kudos, found critical acclaim from critics on both sides of the Atlantic, as did its followup, 2013’s We Knew It Was Going To Be Like This. Their newest album, this year’s Jekyll Island, finds Stoddard performing with a new lineup of the group, consisting of guitarist Jamie Kennedy and the rhythm section of Mike Ellis and Andy Frost. Despite the band’s new lineup, their long-running melodic and clean tones are still dominant on “Spec City”. Stoddard’s nasally vocals float alongside a “Sometimes Always”-esque jangle melody as the song rolls along, ebbing and flowing up and down a spaced-out, reverb-drenched wave of guitars. Not unlike its title’s similarity to its author’s, “Spec City” condenses the myriad indie rock-based strengths of Surf City and packages them as directly as the band ever has.
Surf City will support Jekyll Island with the band’s first-ever European tour next month, so be sure to keep up with the band’s adventures over at their Facebook.
SURF CITY – ” One Too Many Things “
Posted: June 5, 2015 in MUSICTags: Fire Records, Jekyll Island, New Zealand, Surf City
Taken from the ‘Jekyll Island’, the forthcoming new album from New Zealand’s ‘Surf City’.
The following up to ‘We Knew It Was Not Going To Be Like This’, Surf City’s third album on Fire will be available on CD / LP / DD in March 2015.
VIOLET SWELLS – ” The Soft Focus “
Posted: May 16, 2015 in MUSICTags: New Zealand, Tasmania, The Violent Swells
Violet Swells draw influence from the jazz musings of Brian Wilson, while producing an electrifying atmosphere, akin to the wild space rock sounds of Pink Floyd. . The haunting sound of a mellotron is infused with raucous fuzz guitars, and bubblegum melodies that create symphonic soundtracks within three minute pop songs. Download our debut single Jupiters Garden, with the B-Side Only for free here: http://violetswells.bandcamp.com And keep up to date here: htpp://www.facebook.com/violetswells the band originate from Hobart, TAS
Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?
These guys have a great sound – equal parts retro and modern psychedelica. This song has a great stomping beat and riff to get your head nodding. Violet Swells are definitely one of the better bands doing this style right now, with better songwriting and sharper hooks.
SURF CITY – ” New York City “
Posted: April 7, 2015 in MUSICTags: Arch Hill Recordings, Auckland, Davin Stoddard, Jekyll Island, New Zealand, Surf City
Surf City – NYC – taken from the album “We Knew It Was Not Going To Be Like This” Out Now on Arch Hill Recordings and Fire Records,
From Auckland, in New Zealand’s Surf City draws from the more languid and loose traditions of indie rock and Flying Nun’s melodic sensibilities, merging the two in songs that are both dense and immediate. Founded by Josh Kennedy and Davin Stoddard in 2004, the band was originally titled Kill Surf City, named in honor of a Jesus and Mary Chain b-side. Recruiting the rhythm section of Logan Collins and Jamie Kennedy, the band toured New Zealand and Australia, eventually scoring a spot opening for the then-recently reunited Dinosaur Jr. and signing with Arch Hill to release their first EP. Their debut LP, 2010’s “Kudos”, found critical acclaim from critics on both sides of the Atlantic, as did its followup, 2013’s “We Knew It Was Going To Be Like This”. Their newest album, this year’s Jekyll Island, finds Stoddard performing with a new lineup of the group, consisting of guitarist Jamie Kennedy and the rhythm section of Mike Ellis and Andy Frost. Despite the band’s new lineup, their long-running melodic and clean tones are still dominant on “Spec City”. Stoddard’s nasally vocals float alongside a “Sometimes Always”-esque jangle melody as the song rolls along, ebbing and flowing up and down a spaced-out, reverb-drenched wave of guitars. Not unlike its title’s similarity to its author’s, “Spec City” condenses the myriad indie rock-based strengths of Surf City and packages them as directly as the band ever has.
Surf City will support Jekyll Island with the band’s first-ever European tour next month, so be sure to keep up with the band’s adventures over at their Facebook. Below, watch the band’s video for their 2013 tack “NYC”.
The STONES – ” Gunner Ho “
Posted: April 3, 2015 in MUSICTags: Flying Nun Records, New Zealand, The Stones
THE STONES were a New Zealand band active in the early 80s before quickly disbanding after the release of two short EPs on the famed Flying Nun Records. Their seemingly well-overdue compilation is now here.
Three Blind Mice is the biggest and best record you can now find featuring the trio, released in unison by Flying Nun Records in New Zealand and Captured Tracks in the United States. Three Blind Mice shows off a band that can get sloppy at times, but that’s the beauty of it all. There’s always a driving rhythm supplied by rock-steady percussion and slinky bass lines to support, followed by broken but bright guitars that come with their very own grainy twang – hear the opening scratch in “See Red.” Vocals are mumbled or occasionally hummed, creating memorable harmonies and the simple urge to want to sing along (“Something New,” “Down and Around”). The Stones probably don’t have some enormous fan base, but those already on-board have most likely been waiting for something like this compilation for far too long. The fact that the newly pressed LP was defected and is missing a track is a different story, however the CD version (and LP download) includes that missing track along with an entire set of live recordings dating back to 1982 and 1983.Together the trio forms this wobbly sound and it truly is their very own. Just imagine Grass Widow but if they were all men. If you’re listening to these tracks for the first time it’s a treat to hear how they open up.
TINY RUINS – ” Live In Session for Sideways Through ” Sydney 11th March 2015
Posted: March 16, 2015 in MUSICTags: Bella Union, Brightly Painted One, Hollie Fullbrook, New Zealand, Tiny Ruins
Tiny Ruins: Live in Session for the Sideways Through Sound radio show on 2SER 107.3 Sydney, Australia.
1. Me At The Museum, You In The Wintergardens
2. Kings County
While continuing to be based in New Zealand, Tiny Ruins has spent much of the past three years touring throughout Australia, the UK, Ireland, Europe and the USA, touring with and opening for bands such as Beach House, Joanna Newsom, Father John Misty, Fleet Foxes, Sonny & the Sunsets, The Handsome Family, Calexico and Neil Finn.
A breakout bedroom electronica outfit that really had no intention of breaking out, New Zealand’s disco-y dream-poppers Yumi Zouma have emerged with an insanely fresh attitude, an effortless 80’s panache, and, in this case, a mysteriously bewitching video that combines a lingering Twin Peaks aesthetic with mass hysterical narcolepsy that, frankly, we can’t quit watching. The young duo’s debut release, a compilation of their two initial EPs and called, brazenly enough, EP1 & EP2, is just released on Cascine Records.
The Fat Angel Sings 