International and Industry Action
Thanks to Cheese on Toast, we heard that in a recent post on NME.com, Rhys Webb of The Horrors was asked to submit his first ever guest Radar column, where he devoted a good third of his column to Connan Mockasin. “…I think Connan Mockasin’s ‘Forever Dolphin Love’ will undoubtedly be one of this year’s finest records. He is one of the best guitarists I’ve ever seen, looking like Andy Warhol and playing (almost) like Jimi Hendrix. But where most musicians provoke the listener with volume, Connan enchants with a delicate delivery. Make sure you check out his fantastically surreal videos. I think he’s a truly important musician and one of the greats of this generation…” he said. The film When a City Falls - the people's story from the streets of Christchurch - features an orginial soundtrack by Tiki Taane and Aaron Tokona (Cairo Knife Fight), with legendary NZ musician Richard Nunns. The sixth annual Playground Weekender - held 90 minutes out of Sydney - features Fat Freddy’s Drop. Have a peak at Lisa Crawley’s brand new (cute, quirky, fun 60s inspired) music video - Lisa Crawley - You Won't Be There.

New release fanfare
This week sees the release of the deluxe edition of David Dallas’ album The Rose Tint (already sitting at #1 on the iTunes Hip Hop Chart!). To celebrate its release, from Wednesday 16th until Saturday 19th November, Auckland based fans of Dallas’ can head to Conch Records at 115A Ponsonby Road for a music retail experience like no other. Last week David was in the U.S for the State side launch of The Rose Tint, and it was revealed that David has created the theme song for charismatic WWE wrestlers ‘The Usos’. The Samoan twins are one of the most exciting & fastest-rising tag teams in the WWE. Knights of the DUB Table combine elements of Reggae, Drum‘n’Bass, Hip-Hop and Rock into their own fusion of Dub flavoured music with powerful high-energy performances that leave the crowds wanting more. 2010 saw them release the 'Tronic EP' containing four original Knights tracks and five bonus remixes featuring 2 from Tiki Taane and Optimus Gryme. Veteran is a term bandied about rather freely these days - almost as much as legendary - but if any band deserves that title in this country it is hardcore punk pioneers Sticky Filth.  Fourth Domain is the band's 25th anniversay release, and their fourth album, and it's out this week.

Describing their sound as many fingers in many pies, The Nudge (Ryan Prebble, James Coyle and Iraia Whakamoe) have served up their new album - Big Nudge Pie - a concoction of a blues and rock base, with a deep swamp filling, and a raucous party crust. The highly anticipated new (and ninth) solo longplayer from NZ born Mark de Clive-Lowe (MdCL), 'Renegad's', is out on Tru Thoughts and proudly distributed in NZ by Rhythmethod. Shake Shake Rattle & Rock N Roll features 17 original Kiwi songs for kids under 7 – including ‘Wibble, Wobble’, ‘Row, Row’, ‘Catch Your Beanbag’ and ‘Pakipaki’. The Christchurch-based String Trio - Cathy Irons (violin), Serenity Thurlow (viola) & Tomas Hurnik (cello), all members of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra - have aimed for a pure, well-blended, carefully phrased and unified classical sound on their album Sapphires. "Time To Go" explores the early history of Flying Nun from 1981–86, a ‘heroic period’ of lo-tech recording, handmade covers and ‘extended play’ 45s. Researched and compiled by Bruce Russell (Dead C), Time To Go features songs from the likes of The Clean, Tall Dwarfs, The Chills and Sneaky Feelings, as well bands that may not have been as prolific but have influenced countless musicians both from New Zealand and overseas since, such as The Pin Group, The Victor Dimsich Band, Look Blue Go Purple and Wreck Small Speakers on Expensive Stereos.

On the live front
Fou Nature - the live band - are playing the Republic Bar in Manukau this Saturday November 19, with DJ Ron, Johnny Angel and more. They'll be mixing up Old School | Nu skool | Contemporary pop & Rnb | Covers and Originals. Cornerstone Roots play the San Francisco Bath House, Wellington 9th December to celebrate their new single Journey. “Journey is a reflective song about how we respond to life’s ups and downs, and the conviction with which we continue on that journey” bandleader Brian Ruawai said. Opening their San Francisco Bath House show is rising star Ria Hall, soul funk singer and kapa haka exponent who has released a self-titled debut EP produced by Riki Gooch. Plus a freestyle mash up of dub and dubstep from Tui SoundSystem led by frontman and producer Mr Samy’samson. After a successful album release tour, The Sami Sisters are once again heading out acrossthe county to play from November 24. Proudly supporting New Zealand music legend Tim Finn for a number of these, The Sami Sisters are also throwing in a couple of shows of their own for good measure. Joining the band in Raglan and New Plymouth will be Alistair Deverick (The Ruby Suns) and Jeremy Toy (She's So Rad, Opensouls). And speaking of She's So Rad....they're set to play the Flying Nun 30th anniversary tribute show in Auckland this Friday and have released a taster of things to come with a cover of The Chills' 'Night of Chill Blue'.

The Roots Festival at Auckland Town Hall on Saturday 3 December brings together both on-the-rise and established local and international talent in a seven-hour extravaganza that also incorporates styles of funk, reggae, soul and dub. Playing the inaugural Roots Festival are House of Shem, 1814, Cornerstone Roots, The Midnights, Tui Sound System, Dead Fool's Fiesta, and DJs Thane Kirby, Grassmouth, Dubhead, Prospect, Exile and Locksteady. Upper Hutt Posse are about to embark on their Declaration of Resistance Tour in support of their new 'live band' studio album of the same name. They will be joined on their shows by a range of energetic acts - NRG Rising, Dam Native, Nytmare and Evil Mule amongst others. USU Students' Association at Unitec presents the Lipton Ice Tea Sounds In The Sun on Saturday 3 March 2012 from 1 to 8.30pm at Unitec Mt Albert. "Drum roll please for Katchafire, 1814, Kidz In Space, Bulletproof feat Jessie G and Rugged Tekniques along with the award winning Prestige Dance Crew. Watch out early next year for the big hitter headline announcement of one of New Zealand's biggest bands!", says Event Manager Adam Basham. The Managers are on the bill for a fundraiser show that  Moisty Atsushi has been working on organising for a little town in Japan called Namie, Fukushima. The show will include artists Moisty Atsushi and Miho Wada, each backed by the Rocksteady All Stars. There will also be performances from The Iron Hammers featuring Solomonix, Managers, and DJ Ska Rob. The final line-up has been revealed for Rhythm and Vines 2011, including the addition of a new Red Bull Music Academy stage. Curated by music aficionado Nick Dwyer, the stage will host many artists who have attended the international music workshop including - The Ruby Suns, Die! Die! Die!, Electric Wire Hustle, Clap Clap Riot, Frank Booker, Recloose, Scratch 22 and She’s So Rad. Other acts announced include - Youngman, Beardyman, Jordan Luck Band, 1814 and DJ’s People of Paris.


Around the World
Google has launched its music service and store in the US, ready to rival the might of Apple’s iTunes. The launch was held last night in a warehouse in Los Angeles, beneath a work of street art claiming “Life Is Beautiful.” As reported on CNET, Google had continued to negotiate and close licensing deals all the way up until the launch last night, securing contracts with Universal, EMI and Sony Music Entertainment, whose signing only just scraped in at the last minute. Google struggled to sign Warner Music Group with terms still yet to be agreed upon. Hundreds of independent labels have joined on to gain the rights to stream 13 million tracks. Unsigned bands can also jump onboard with Google Music’s tool called Artist Hub where they can upload their material to page purchased for $25 and sell their music at a price of their own choosing. The artist will keep 70 percent of the revenue in their own pockets and can later sell their music via YouTube. http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/industry/2011/11/17/google-launch-music-store/

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