International and Industry Action

Welcome to our newest member, Samurai Music and its deeper, more experimental offshoot Samurai Red Seal, who are lining up their first releases for 2011, which will be coming in pairs. The first two 12” releases are from Need For Mirrors, which features ex pat Kiwi DJ Mosus, ex of Christchurch/Scientific promotions (now based in London) in collaboration with Italian producer HLZ. Need For Mirrors have singles lined up with major labels including V Recordings, Shogun Audio and 31 Records. They will have another 12" for Samurai later in 2011. The other 12”is from UK/US artists (and husband and wife) ASC & Vaccine. Also to come will be the debut EP from Auckland newcomers Tokyo Prose who have been making waves across the global Drum and Bass scene with their fresh approach to funky, liquid style DnB. http://www.samuraimusic.co.nz/

New Release Fanfare

This year Little Monster Studio has been getting into the Christmas spirit since August, recording “A Very Little Christmas” in Auckland producer Dave Parker’s West Auckland bedroom. But while bedroom recording conjures images of the lo-fi revolution “A Very Little Christmas” is an astoundingly lush production. Featuring Timothy Blackman, Great North, Bear Cat, Artisan Guns, The Gladeyes, Dear Time's Waste, a saucy duet from Chelsea Jade (Teacups) and James Duncan, Cool Rainbows and much more,  “A Very Little Christmas” is a pristine set of new holiday favourites available in an extremely limited edition hand numbered CD in stores this Christmas only!
www.littlemonsterstudio.co.nz

Parachute Band have just launched a free ‘9 Song Download’ featuring three songs from each of their three albums: Roadmaps & Revelations, Technicolor, And The Yet-To-Be-Released Love Without Measure. Visit freeparachutemusic.com to get it now, and download popular Parachute Band songs like ‘Mercy’ and ‘Living Rain’. You’ll also get to hear brand new Love Without Measure songs exclusively before the album gets released on January 28 at Parachute 2011.

Tahuna Breaks have released a new video for 'Sophie’s Lullaby', a track written for singer Marty Greentree’s eldest daughter, Sophie (who also appears in the video).  The video was directed by Christian Greet of Cirkus, and was shot using steady cams, wheelchair cams, cranes and remote controlled helicopters.  A number of historical Auckland locations were used in the video; view the clip here. It's the final release from the 2009 album 'Black Brown and White';  Tahuna Breaks are currently writing/recording fresh material and will be releasing a brand new single in early 2011. www.tahunabreaks.com

Round Trip Mars announces Invaderism, a free digital compilation celebrating over a decade of music industry irritation and consistently high quality, uncompromised, individualistic music. Each of the ten tracks has been especially produced for this release - really itʼs too good to just give away, but thatʼs what theyʼre doing as a thank you to the labelʼs supporters since 1999, and a certifiably concussive heads up as to where weʼre at. A new track from Invaderism will be made available every second day, starting from the 5th of December, on the Round Trip Mars website (www.roundtripmars.com). On the alternate days RTM head honcho Stinky Jim will be picking out an overlooked gem and personal favourite from every year of the label's history, also available as a high quality free mp3. Each download will only be up for 2 days. On December 25th the full Invaderism compilation will be made available in its entirety, for the first time on Bandcamp and Soundcloud. After all, everyone needs something they can rely on when socks from Aunty just don't cut the gift mustard. Representing on Invaderism are Sean Donnelly (SJD), Phelps & Munro, James Duncan, Jefferson Belt, Unitone HiFi featuring Coco Solid, Mo' Delay, Mycroft Holmes, Stinky Jim, and a mysterious and shady figure they are presently unwilling, or unable, to identify. Invaderism also marks the introduction of the latest addition to the Round Trip Mars thoroughbred stable, Scratch 22, who is setting phasers to stun for his jaw-dropping early 2011 debut album and is just about to head off to Paris to rep NZ in the Red Bull Thre3style Championships Final.

Rattle Records also has some Christmas cheer to offer. Established in 1991, it has released 22 albums, won six awards at the New Zealand Music Awards, and its best-selling album, Te Ku Te Whe, has sold over 10,000 copies in New Zealand. The label’s focus is predominantly on contemporary instrumental music, including music that utilises te taonga püoro, the traditional instruments of Mäori. The label crosses genres, including world, classical, jazz, twenty-first century percussion music, and electronica. In the lead-up to Christmas, Rattle is offering some great deals on albums; and become a Friend of Rattle, or give a gift subscription, and save even more at www.rattle.co.nz Also check out Reuben Bradley's Resonator album release tour covering Wanganui, Wellington and Auckland from December 12 to 15.

On the live front

Shapeshifter are giving away a Golden Ticket which will guarantee entry for one lucky winner and three friends to the completely sold-out, highly anticipated Coromandel Gold Festival. On top of this, the winner will be provided with accommodation for four in idyllic Whitianga, a bar tab for the evening and a Shapeshifter prize pack. Go to www.shapeshifter.co.nz between the 9th and 16th of December and purchase a ticket online to one of Shapeshifter’s summer tour dates and you will automatically go into the draw. The winner will be announced on Friday 17 December on Charlotte Ryan’s 95bfm show Morning Glory.

Don McGlashan (NZ), Sola Rosa (NZ) are amongst the lineup of acts playing at the first ever GrassRoots festival, in alignment with the wealth of talent visiting Australia for the Easter blues season. New Zealand’s Puhinui Peninsula will become a melodious playground as the festival kicks off for two days on Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th April, 2011 at the stunning Puhinui Reserve in Manukau. GrassRoots brings you a string of international artists who will be making their one-off exclusive performance in New Zealand over these two very special days.  First artists to be announced include BB King (USA), Elvis Costello & The Imposters (USA), Ben Harper and Relentless7 (USA), Rodrigo Y Gabriela (Mexico),  Eric Bibb (USA), Paul Ubana Jones (NZ), Ruthie Foster (USA), Cairo Knife Fight (NZ), Ticket (NZ), Don McGlashan (NZ), Sola Rosa (NZ) with many more local and international artists to be announced before the end of January. For more info go to www.grassrootsfestival.co.nz

David Dallas has been announced to play support for rising American soul singer, rapper and musician Aloe Blacc’s one-off New Zealand show at Backstage (The Studio) in Auckland on January 27th 2011. Now based in New York, Dallas is getting set to release a brand new album in the early part of 2011, following up on his Tui Award winning debut album Something Awesome. Meanwhile, Aloe’s Blacc’s 2010 worldwide hits, ‘I Need A Dollar’ (commissioned as the theme tune for HBO series How To Make It In America) and ‘Femme Fatale’ (The Velvet Underground cover), are merely the tip of a very large iceberg: Aloe Blacc is fast becoming the spearhead of modern, 21st century soul.
http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/utr/show/SID/15799/N/Aloe-Blacc.utr


Around the World

The UK Christmas Number One campaign for Cage Against The Machine, the new version of contemporary classical composer John Cage’s silent 4’33”, is being driven by a Facebook page which has topped 74,000 “likes”. The page enables consumers to add email addresses qualifying for a chart-eligible buy link which opens next Monday (December 13), putting the Wall of Sound-released track in direct competition with Sunday’s X Factor winner. Organised by Xfm DJ Eddy Temple-Morris, the track was produced by Paul Epworth with participants, including Suggs, Imogen Heap, Orbital, The Kooks and Bishi, remaining silent for the duration of the recording. Charities which will benefit from sales are Nordoff Robins, Sound & Music, British Tinnitus Association Youth Music and C.A.L.M. Read more...