Arooj Aftab’s heart-stoppingly gorgeous Night Reign
GARY STEEL finally finds something to melt into in Arooj Aftab's bewitching and sensuous new album, Night Reign.
Perfect Pitch
Twenty-five years ago GARY STEEL met up with wayward Kiwi electronic duo Pitch Black for a nice chat. A NZ Music Month special.
World’s Worst Records: Janelle Monae
MATT KELLY absolutely loved her previous album but Janelle Monae's latest sucks so bad that he can't help feel let down.
Jayrem – The ‘not Flying Nun’ 1980s Kiwi record label
To celebrate NZ Music Month GARY STEEL digs up a rare 1986 interview with Wellington record label owner Jim Moss.
World’s Worst Records – The Portsmouth Sinfonia
MATT KELLY writes about a record that is both diabolically awful and amazingly great and which everyone should get out there and hear.
Mike Oldfield with bells on
Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells is over 50 years old but still sounds fresh. GARY STEEL chats with the man behind the upcoming Auckland performance
World’s Worst Records – Blackout Band
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear #103: Blackout Band – Video Games (2007) MATT KELLY writes about the strange case of a
Aldous Harding: The lost interview
Especially for New Zealand Music Month GARY STEEL disinters a 10-year-old interview with Aldous Harding conducted at the time of her debut album.
World’s Worst Records – The Small Faces
MATT KELLY is aghast at how far this formerly great band had fallen by the time of its reunion albums and explains their sad
Icehouse, 40 years ago
It’s not often you get to interview Iva Davies (Icehouse) and Jo Camilleri (Jo Jo Zep) at the same time. GARY STEEL did way
Random Vinyl Play: This 1969 debut is an unheralded classic
In a new column, GARY STEEL dips into his vinyl racks. Today it’s the tasty debut by UK psychedelic band Caravan.
30 Years Ago: Michael Nyman’s unexpected chart success
Michael Nyman is not a pop star. Yet his soundtrack to The Piano has landed him in the commercial marketplace, writes GARY STEEL
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear – Macho Man Randy Savage
MATT KELLY loves records by washed-up wrestlers but Randy Savage's attempt to musically spar with Hulk Hogan is an unmitigated disaster.
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear #100: Metallica with Lou Reed – Lulu
MATT KELLY somehow manages to listen to 90 minutes of possibly the worst collaborative album by major rock figures ever made.
NZ music’s battle to be heard – 40 years ago, that is
NZ music acts whining about how hard it is to make a mark in 2024 might find this piece about the struggle to make
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear: Wing
MATT KELLY's tribute to one of the best/worst singers ever to grace NZ stages and Southpark, a true classic of awful. RIP Wing.
Graham Nash’s 60 Years Of Songs & Stories
GARY STEEL chats with GRAHAM NASH about his halcyon 60 years in rock and his first-ever solo dates in New Zealand.
Two Pink Guy albums for the price of one. Gah!
MATT KELLY listens all the way through (so you don't have to) to two of the most imbecilic records ever made. Shame on Pink
There’s a riot goin’ on: Riot III
Riot III's explosive and controversial music gets a respectful reissue 43 years later. GARY STEEL, who was there at the time, digs in.
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear: Fallout Boy’s Mania
MATT KELLY once had a bit of a thing for Fallout Boy, but no more, savaging their Mania album for being the dog it
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