International and Industry Action

Dunedin independent record label Fishrider Records celebrates 5 years of “psych-pop from below the underground” this year. The first release on the “micro-independent” label was The Dark Beaks “Spill Your Heart” released in 2006. Label founder Ian Henderson says: “The label had to have a name and I was riding a fish-design surfboard at the time so that’s what it became."  Since then the label has released three albums by former Flying Nun Records mavericks, The Puddle.  A further Puddle album, featuring Graeme Humphreys (Able Tasmans, Humphreys & Keen) and newest Puddle member, multi-instrumentalist Alan Starrett (Pop Art Toasters), is nearly ready. In the meantime, Fishrider is preparing to release the debut by young No Wave trio Opposite Sex, who relocated to Dunedin from Gisborne after playing with The Puddle on their North Island tour earlier this year. Highlights of the label’s first 5 years include The Puddle album “The Shakespeare Monkey” selling out of its first pressing of 500 CDs, picking up good reviews, including in some major overseas music publications, getting airplay across the US college radio network, and making the top 20 albums for 2009 at University of San Francisco radio station KUSF. The release of The Puddle album “Playboys in the Bush” on vinyl LP in 2010 was also a highlight; and more vinyl is planned. The label will celebrate the birthday with a very small one-off event at Taste Merchants (a fine specialist beer and wine store) in Lower Stuart Street, Dunedin at 7:30 to 10:00 pm on Wednesday 9th November, featuring not-quite unplugged “taster” sets from Robert Scott (who’s unlikely acoustic duet with Australian rocker Adalita Srsen appears on a Fishrider split 7” single), The Puddle, and Opposite Sex.
Website: http://fishriderrecords.wordpress.com/


New release fanfare

...And speaking of Robert Scott, The Bats released their eighth studio album this week - ‘Free All The Monsters’.  Recorded at Seacliff, a former asylum in the grand Victorian style just outside of Dunedin, New Zealand, and masterfully produced by Dale Cotton (HDU, Dimmer), it captures some of their strongest songs to date. Plus, the new video for second single 'In The Subway' is out today, directed by bassist Paul Kean. Formed in 1982 with Robert Scott (The Clean) on lead vocals and guitar as well as being the chief songwriter, bassist Paul Kean (Toy Love), singer/guitarist Kaye Woodward and drummer Malcolm Grant (The Bilders).
‘Free All The Monsters’ is an album overflowing with cleverly crafted tunes. One that immediately pulls the listener in, and reveals a Bats sound that’s even deeper, darker and more affecting than before. https://www.flyingnun.co.nz/shop/115 Catch The Bats live with Dear Times Waste throughout the country as part of Flying Nun's Nunvember celebrations.
Tickets: http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/utr/nunvember

On Monday October 31st Bannerman welcomes into existence their new album, Dearly Departed - a close brother to The Dusty Dream Hole. Both albums share the same qualities and illustrations are once again by Angela Keoghan. If you're in Auckland tthis Friday night you can pick up a copy at our show at Lucha Lounge (1 York St Newmarket); it's a free gig with Glass Owls.  Otherwise pre-order here: http://www.amplifier.co.nz/default,77545.sm or here: http://itunes.apple.com/nz/preorder/dearly-departed/id472165786. The official album release show will be at Ponsonby's Golden Dawn with Heart Attack Alley on Friday November 18th.  After that you can catch the band in Napier, Wellington and Leigh. Here's a new single for you, The Howling Wind: http://bannerman.bandcamp.com/

The Valves have kept low the past few years although they haven’t been sat around twiddling their thumbs. They have been twiddling with instruments though and after a line up change that involved 3 key members they now return settled and ready to rock!  The sophomore album from The Valves is full of energy and they sound like a band with a point to prove. I guess when you’ve waited 4 years to release a follow up album you have to prove a point and they have here. If you like your rock music to sound like rock music then Christchurch's The Valves could well be for you. http://www.facebook.com/Thevalves.nz

Veteran is a term bandied about rather freely these days, almost as much as legendary - but if any one band deserves that title in this country it is hardcore punk pioneers Sticky Filth. After all not many bands in New Zealand can claim a continuous existence of twenty-six years (1985-2011). 2010 was a tough year for Sticky Filth with founding members Craig Radford and Chris Snowdon both involved in separate serious accidents which saw the originally scheduled 25th anniversary release of Fourth Domain to be put on hold. With both Craig and Chris back on the road to recovery, the release of Fourth Domain is now the perfect comeback for these hardcore punk legends. Described as a powerhouse, with grim and brawny mid tempo buzzing bass lines, snotty pub rock vocals, jagged metallic shreds and head trampling drums, Sticky Filth has graced the stage with bands such as the Henry Rollins Band, Bad Brains, Suicidal Tendencies, Motorhead and The Hard Ons. They’ve seen musical trends come and go but Sticky Filth have stayed true to a formula that passionate fans will always embrace. This new album is 26 years of experience and reportedly their best work yet. The first single Happy Birthday is true to their signature sound, as it celebrates 26 years of life on the road in a rock and roll band. Listen to Sticky Filth ‘Happy Birthday’: http://tinyurl.com/679sny5

Motocade guitarist Geordie McCallum returns with a new project under the moniker SINSIN to create a vibrant mix of shoe gaze and ambient rock. Bringing together three eclectic artists from three renowned Kiwi acts, Geordie is joined by Zowie bass player Harry Champion and Kerretta drummer Hamish Walker in the live line-up. Citing influences such as The Dirty 3, Nick Cave, The Clean and Radiohead, SINSIN’s debut EP Layers shifts from spooky instrumentals to shoe-gaze, pop-rock numbers. A dual format VCD release, Layers also features the videos for title track ‘Layers’, directed by Geordie McCallum, and new music video for epic piano instrumental ‘Responding to Drama’. The Geordie self-directed video for ‘Layers’ inspired the artwork for the EP and is available to view here: www.youtube.com/user/sinsinband  SINSIN’s debut EP, Layers, is due to be released in-store and digitally this coming November 7 through Frequency Media Group. For more information about the band check out: www.sinsin.bandcamp.com

'Third Eye' is the latest single from Auckland-based band Badd Energy - one of Flying Nun's newest signings.  Watch the video at http://youtu.be/aHUor0GHONw  A psychedelic mix of guitars, drum machines and genres, Sam Moore, Coco Solid, Trixie Darko and J.Suave make up this trippy quartet that kick out motley jams blending stoner-swamp riffs with laid back 808 raps. http://www.flyingnun.co.nz/artist/51/show_group  


On the live front

Following the news that today their debut album has powered into the No 1 slot on the NZ album chart and the IMNZ chart AND has gone gold, Six60 are proud to announce a second Powerstation show in Auckland for Saturday 12th November as part of their album release tour.  There are limited tickets left for the Friday 11th November Powerstation show but get in quick!!   Support for both nights are up and coming hip hop band Supervillans. 2011 has proved to be a big year for the band, with both singles ‘Rise Up 2.0’ and ‘Don’t Forget Your Roots’ certified platinum, sold out shows in both New Zealand and Australia, three Tui nominations and the announcement of their first London show. Not to mention their "Massive" run in the IMNZ singles chart this week, plus the band have just found out that they have set a new iTunes record for selling the most albums in NZ for either an international or a local artist. What a week!!  Tickets from www.six60.co.nz, www.ticketmaster.co.nz


Fresh from a successful summer in Europe, Ladi6 is looking forward to hitchin’ a ride with some of her favourite NZ bands and intends to wield her knockout show, proving to Kiwi audiences why she is now so highly regarded overseas. From a dream-come-true support slot for Erykah Badu in Berlin to very well-received shows at Glastonbury and The Big Chill, Ladi with Parks and Julien Dyne have been turning heads overseas in a big way, with more than 50 performances throughout the European summer and a run of festivals in Asia; while her break-through The Liberation Of… album has received glowing reviews in the UK and beyond. Here in NZ, the gold-selling Liberation Of… has seen Ladi win the Taite Music Prize, two Pacific Music Awards gongs and pick up five nominations at the 2011 NZ Music Awards. Ladi was also nominated for a Silver Scroll for her co-write of the song ‘Nothing To Lose’ from the acclaimed Jon Toogood project The Adults. Ladi6 performs two shows alongside a re-jigged and rejuvenated TrinityRoots, The Black Seeds and the mighty Kora. In the midst of all this action, Ladi6 will also perform at the Coro Gold Festival, alongside Shapeshifter, Fat Freddy’s Drop, TrinityRoots, Kora and more. Welcome one of our finest back to her homeland in true NZ style and get your summertime groove on! www.ladi6.com

When Flip Grater took her guitar to Europe, she slept on couches, took in the sights and must-sees of Europe, performed her music in seven countries – and ate some great food. Now she captures her journey in an exciting new book, describing the places, people and experience of touring. The Cookbook Tour Europe contains 34 recipes including delectable dishes such as Globe Artichoke Pie from Italy, Potatoes Provençale in France and Pepper cookies in Sweden. The book is also accompanied by a sampler CD of five songs from Flip Grater's last two albums. Catch Flip live as part of the latest Fly My Pretties line up and then on her NZ Cookbook tour in November and December (with special guest Reuben Bonner of An Emerald City). See below for dates and details.
Buy The Cookbook Tour Europe here
Buy tickets to The Book Tour shows here


Around the World

Independent label music agency Merlin and YouTube today announced a global deal that will license repertoire from hundreds of labels to the YouTube service, effective immediately. The agreement covers thousands of acts, including Yeasayer, Antony and the Johnsons (pictured),Aphex Twin, Prodigy and Grizzly Bear. The deal is the culmination of lengthy negotiations, which Merlin and YouTube said underscores YouTube’s commitment to the independent music sector as well as Merlin’s determination to secure competitive terms on behalf of its members. Among the independent labels involved in this deal are Earache, Secretly Canadian, Ninja Tune, Cooking Vinyl, Warp, Phonofile, Pschent, Morr Music, !K7 and Inertia.

“We’re continually looking for new ways to connect independent artists with their fans and we’re thrilled to have struck a deal with Merlin that will help us do just that, while compensating them for their efforts at the same time,” Chris Maxcy, head of Global Music Partnerships at YouTube, said in a statement.

The agreement generates revenues to Merlin’s member labels whenever their official releases, or user-generated videos featuring their repertoire, are played via the YouTube service.

“We are very pleased to reach an agreement which will allow YouTube’s users to enjoy access to the many amazing artists that our labels represent,” Merlin chief operating officer Charles Caldas said in a statement.

Merlin has existing deals with a number of digital services including Rdio, Spotify, MySpace Music, Catch Media, Simfy, and Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity.  Read more...