New Zealand
See: Damien Binder releases a gorgeous video for the spellbinding track ‘Everything But’
We premiered Damien Binder‘s track ‘Everything But’ way back in May. We said it was a glorious example of Binder’s craft: a shimmering restless piece that travels with a spark and a verve, laced with melancholia and a meditative air: Binder’s voice is so immersive and mesmerising there should be a warning not to operate …
Track: New Zealand’s Sulfate release the dark, fuzzy track ‘Crossing’ and announce new album ‘Godzone’ through Flying Nun Records
‘Crossing’, from New Zealand band Sulfate, is a delicious, fuzzy, angst-ridden piece of darkness that buzzes with a satisfying intensity. A metallic syncopated undercurrent is swamped by angular, crunchy guitars and yearning vocals that have echoes of the brittle, observational delivery of the Robert Forster side of The Go-Betweens. The themes match the gothic darkness …
Premiere: New Zealand’s Voodoo Bloo reveal explosive, unhinged sledgehammer of a video for ‘MMA’
Back in May, Backseat Mafia reviewed the new single from Voodoo Bloo – essentially the work of Rory McDonald (Sheffield born but Wellington resident). We are honoured to be able to bring to you an exclusive first viewing of the accompanying video to this blistering track. And it is absolutely on fire. We wrote that …
Track: Lorde makes a welcome return fuelled by ‘Solar Power’
After quite a lengthy absence since her last release, New Zealand’s Lorde has made a forceful and powerful return with the track ‘Solar Power’. A languid and liquid track, ‘Solar Power’ is a slow burning fuse that builds up to an anthemic finish with the kind of rhythmic drive of ‘Screamadelica’-era Primal Scream. The accompanying …
Premiere: New Zealand’s Nik Brinkman produces a languid and dreamy ‘Candy’, infused with a psychedelic haze
New Zealand artist Nik Brinkman has the languorous, snarling indifferent vocals of The Jesus and Mary Chain mixed with a dreamy, multicoloured haze that, in his new track ‘Candy’ that we are very honoured to premiere today on Backseat Mafia, creates an absolutely delicious piece of punky psychedelia. Hazy reverb and flange soaked instrumentation waltzes …
Track: New Zealand’s Voodoo Bloo unleash ‘MMA’: a caustic blast of untrammelled energy and attitude
Like a projectile from a cannon, Voodoo Bloo‘s ‘MMA’ blasts out with indiscriminate intent and an ultimate sense of hedonism and thrills. It’s wild and anarchic, visceral and unhinged and such a relentless piece of anarchy, you’ll be on pills for your nerves after one listen. And then you’ll want to play it again. Voodoo …
Album Review: Merk’s ‘Infinite Youth’ is an exquisite exploration of the end of childhood innocence and the transience of life
New Zealand artist Merk is the moniker of Auckland, New Zealand artist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Mark Perkins, who began his career as a touring member of Tom Lark and Fazerdaze. I reviewed his single ‘Laps Around The Sun’ earlier this year finding it to be yearning, raw and melodic, with a deep melancholia reflecting on …
See: BENEE releases rich and evocative video for the gorgeous track ‘Happen To Me’
The glorious track ‘Happen to Me’ comes off New Zealander artist BENEE‘s precociously refined debut album ‘Hey u x’ released last year: it is an atmospheric, moody single with Benee’s voice a soothing and yearning presence over the sparse instrumentation. The video has touches of gothic excess and opulence: a rich tapestry of indulgence with …
Track: New Zealand’s The Datsuns explode back into the ether with ‘Dehumanise’ and announcement of a new album.
It is recommended that you have your emergency contacts nearby when you intake the new single ‘Dehumanise’ by New Zealand’s Lords of Loud, The Datsuns. It has the full force a bolt of electricity administered by a faulty defibrillator and the effects will be felt in your ears hours after administration. And what a cathartic …
Track: New Zealand’s Emily C. Browning releases the slinky electro pop delight ‘I Wasn’t Into You Anyway’.
Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, Emily C. Browning, with a background in Jazz and a career playing guitars for others, has just released her first solo work – the lovely single ‘I Wasn’t Into You Anyway’. There is a smart self-deprecatory sense of humour evident in both the song and the accompanying video – Browning …