In 40 YEARS IN 52 WEEKS, GARY STEEL trawls through his archives to celebrate a lifetime of writing about modern music, and pens some new perspectives to mark the occasion. The subject of today’s piece: 1979.
Author: Gary Steel
Lots And Lots Of Albums
GARY STEEL stole a dead man’s job and kept doing it for 19 long years.
When Is Recycling Not Recycling?
GARY STEEL finds that the Kaipara District Council is now refusing to accept most recyclables. Is this fair, and how are other councils around New Zealand dealing with their recycling obligations? When I moved to the Kaipara district two-and-a-half years ago it felt like a huge relief to be […]
The Great Witchdoctor Blindfold Test – TOM BAILEY
In Witchdoctor’s famous BLINDFOLD TEST, we invite a musician into an audiophile sound lounge and play them a provocative record selection. This week, former Thompson Twins and sometime International Observer TOM BAILEY is put to the test at Auckland’s Audio Reference showroom. GARY STEEL is the DJ selector.
Janis Joplin: Little Girl Blue
GARY STEEL remembers what it was like to be an adolescent obsessed with dead rock stars.
Plastic Crap For Kids: Crime Of The Century?
Her indictment of Santa’s gifts cut like a knife. “I don’t LIKE my presents! THEY’VE got the BEST presents, and MINE are no good!” She’d been over to see the kids next door and had decided that what Santa brought her just wasn’t good enough. The two girls had each […]
Record-filing Blues And The Loss Of The Man-cave
GARY STEEL has a mid-to-late-life crisis as he loses his man-cave and pontificates the importance of exactitude in the filing of record collections, and other related ephemera.
Monument To A Holocaust
The Kauri Museum is a bittersweet experience for GARY STEEL.
Faust Are The Best Group Ever
So says GARY STEEL, who interviewed Hans Joachim Irmler of the Krautrock legends in 2006. Presented as part of an ongoing series, Flashes From The Archives Of Oblivion, in which Steel dredges up key moments from his considerable archive. When Real Groove’s esteemed editor gave me the rare opportunity to […]
Music For Walking Across A Bridge
GARY STEEL enthuses over an album that reverberates with soothing trumpet, atmospheric ‘found’ sounds and imaginative evocation.
Record Roundup: Recent Albums Reviewed & Rated
GARY STEEL actually listens all the way through a bunch of albums and has his say about them.
Focal Expands Kanta Loudspeaker Range
Focal is soon to release three new premium Kanta range speakers. Following the resounding success of Kanta N°2, Focal has launched three new premium loudspeakers: Kanta N°1 bookshelf, Kanta N°3 floorstander, and Kanta centre speaker. This means the Kanta range of loudspeakers now boasts four models. Kanta is optimised for […]