STV002- Sandra Bell: Dreams of Falling out June 24th
Sandra Bell Dreams Of Falling LP out June 24, 2016 via Straight to Video Records Review Copies Available Dreams Of Falling holds a singular place in both Sandra Bell’s discography and the evolution of New Zealand’s underground music. Bell is a singer, songwriter and poet, currently residing in Auckland, New Zealand, who has... [ Read More → ]
The Creative Works of Chris Knox 1965-2014 an Interview
Stumbled upon a treasure trove an amazing body of work pulled together– just shy of 50 years worth, actually– by the musician, painter, video artist, comic artist, filmmaker, all around creative, and KIWI icon, Chris Knox. Astonishingly, there has not yet been a monograph of Chris’ visual artwork– appropriately contextualizing it through the years. There’s... [ Read More → ]
Simon Grigg Shines Light on AK79
Designed by Terence Hogan using an image of The Terrorways’ Dean Martelli, the front cover of AK79 has become one of the best known images of New Zealand rock and roll over the years The defining release of the thriving Auckland punk scene of the late 70s, AK79, compiled by Auckland broadcasters Bryan Staff and John... [ Read More → ]
New NZ Comp Bulletholes 4: Exploring the Unknown
Auckland’s Powertool Records, the same label to thank for releasing new works by Sandra Bell, The Puddle, Robert Scott, Bill Direen, ( I could go on) and generally speaking– the label that actively releases a diverse range of ex-Corpus Hermeticum, Xpressway, and Flying Nun artist’s material; has a new compilation out called Bulletholes 4: Exploring... [ Read More → ]
US Premiere of 2 New Street Chant Vids, 7″ Pre-Order + Interview
I can’t say enough how great Street Chant are– as a band, as people, as artists. I, for one have been waiting for these two songs to be released since hearing them live months ago. And now these two videos (comprising a double A-side 7″ available via Arch Hill soon) enhance the potency of the... [ Read More → ]
Bruce Russell on ‘Time To Go-The Southern Psychedelic Moment: 1981-86’
Really can’t say how stoked I was to stumble 15 minutes late into work today, coffee spilt, phone forgot in bed, and log onto the interwebs to find that Bruce Russell contributed the following piece to Volcanic Tongue on the genesis of the NZ Underground on the occasion of the latest FN comp he organized.... [ Read More → ]
Recent NZ Gems Uploaded in Youtube-Land
‘Slammerworm’ has been uploading more NZ gems and segments from the Onset-Offset VHS compilation. Hopefully he will be uploading the rest of the tape soon. (Yes, I asked.) The Policy in their practice room, 1984. Original video filmed and edited by Campbell McLay and Ritchie Venus for the Onset-Offset video compilatiion ‘Get Up and Go’.... [ Read More → ]
Dispatch from Aoteara #1
Joe Stumble ran my favorite blog, Last Days of Man on Earth for five years, before moving to NZ from the [American] Midwest in 2010 to pursue his Masters degree at Auckland University. He will be writing regularly for Straight To Video about life in New Zealand, primarily with regards to the arts. –KM... [ Read More → ]
New Popstrangers Vid
My favorite of the new Flying Nun bands. These guys came over for CMJ and played a handful of really brilliant shows. Hoping they come back soon, so more people in the states can check them out. They are pressing a double a side to vinyl in the new The generic drugs are therapeutically equivalent... [ Read More → ]
A Glimpse at Garbage and the Flowers
Former drummer Torben Tilly, now of Berlin based electronic duo Minit, described G&tF’s sound thusly: “There’s this crystalline structure of a song with its architecture of chords and idiomatic vocal melody. It’s something quite arcane and folkloric, owing a lot to Helen and Yuri Frusin’s song-writing and Helen Johnstones’ sapphirine voice. … These songs... [ Read More → ]
New Bruce Russell comp
A couple of months back, I started blathering on about FN’s 30th. One of the things that I was pretty excited about was a new Bruce Russell comp, called “Time To Go.” Listen to this fantastic radio interview, which gives insight to Russell’s involvement with the label and previews excerpts–complete with personal accounts– from the... [ Read More → ]
Getting Even Older- Flying Nun Celebrates 30 Years, 1981-2011
This November, NZ’s Flying Nun records will celebrate their 30th year as a label. Record store-proprietor-turned-label founder, Roger Shepherd recently discussed the upcoming festivities and reissues on Kiwi FM. Several new releases are slated for 2011 (including Popstrangers, Surf Friends, T54, and Grayson Gilmour), they’ll release “Tally Ho” a best of CD comp (paying homage... [ Read More → ]