- Wellington in the ’80s through the lens of an outsider music group
GARY STEEL reviews a new book that’s not only the story of an extraordinary band, label and scene, but an alternative history of Wellington in the 1980s. - Getting the brewing bug with Mangrove Jack’s starter kit
PAT PILCHER loves a good brew but not the cost and discovers that there is a cheap-skates way to save money and still get a tasty beer. - The new Surface Pro 11: a winner with a few serious caveats
There’s a lot to like about Microsoft’s svelte new Surface Pro 11 tablet/laptop but PAT PILCHER has a few niggles about the cost of necessary add-ons. - Dance around the world with Corben Simpson
He won a Silver Scroll award in 1971. He sang for Blerta. He recorded an album in bed. After more than 50 years Corben Simpson is finally on CD and fresh vinyl. GARY STEEL takes a listen. - Theophany’s Airo Loudspeakers are a sonic marvel
ANDY BAKER lives with a pair of gorgeous Theophany Airo loudspeakers for a few months and is blown away by their soundstage, dynamics and presence. - Goodbye Chromecast, Hello Google TV Streamer!
Time’s up for fiddly wee doodads like Chromecast writes PAT PILCHER, who is quite taken with both the aesthetics and abilities of Google’s new TV streamer. - 10 great documentaries on Neon right now
Sky TV’s Neon streaming service has got a cracker of a selection of documentaries at the moment. GARY STEEL reviews a sampling. - Technics’ SC-CX700: smart speakers for smart spaces
Lucky WADE BOOTH gets to preview the first ever Technics premium wireless speakers and check out just how smart they really are. - 10 (mostly Kiwi) wines you should try
When PHIL PARKER isn’t drinking and writing about it he’s taking avid drinkers on tours of Auckland wineries. Below is a superb selection of his current tipples. - Motorola’s Edge 50 Pro: a flagship smartphone in all but price
After auditioning Motorola’s snazzy new Edge 50 Pro PATRICK PILCHER wonders why the gadget-obsessed aren’t more keen on the impressive trickle-down technology of mid-price phones. - Win! A WiiM Ultra Network Music Streamer!
The WiiM brand is exploding the price barrier and amazing audiophiles with its brilliant-sounding and extraordinarily intuitive streamers. And now this, the WiiM Ultra, which offers amazing versatility with none of the connective barriers found in some other brands. The WiiM Ultra Network Music Streamer boasts premium 32-bit/384kHz ES9038 Q2M SABRE DAC and high fidelity - Synergy Audio Visual to launch New Zealand distribution with acquisition of key brands from PQ Imports
Synergy Audio Visual launches in New Zealand Distribution with key PQ Imports brands like Advance Paris, MoFi Electronics and REL Subwoofers. - Oz edition of The Office is basically Kiwi
ASHTON BROWN reviews the new, Australian version of perennial comedy favourite The Office and wonders if it should be viewed as a comedy genre rather than just a show. - Tech’s delusion of simplicity
We know how to push the right buttons on our shiny doodads but, asks ANNA BUTTERFIELD, do we know what’s going on under the dazzling exterior? - The format wars suck
GARY STEEL has been thinking about vinyl vs. streaming vs. compact discs (etc) and just wants it all to stop. - Samsung’s Galaxy Flip 6: Flipping brilliant
If you’ve been holding off until flip phones got so good that any flaws are negligible PAT PILCHER reckons that with Samsung’s Flip 6, there’s almost nothing not to like. Read his review below. - Who you jiving with that cosmic debris? Zappa’s Apostrophe (’) at 50
Frank Zappa’s most popular album gets a chunky six-disc elaboration. GARY STEEL wonders whether it warrants the attention. - Leave no online trace with Norton VPN
There are some compelling reasons for subscribing to a VPN, but what even is a VPN? PAT PILCHER reviews an especially reliable contender and explains its merits. - Samsung’s rugged new Ultra Watch on the test bench
PAT PILCHER tries Samsung’s rugged new smartwatch on for size and finds that this handsome beast has plenty to recommend it. - How to make Google Gemini the Default Android Assistant
PAT PILCHER takes Google’s new Gemini AI assistant for a spin and tells you everything you need to know to get this latest greatest app up and running on your phone. - World’s Worst Records – Alison Gold’s Chinese Food
Our expert on the worst of the worst, the honourable MATT KELLY, gets stuck into a very dubious release that verges on culturally insensitive. - Deebot X5 Pro Omni: so good it’s practically human
Our resident robot vacuum expert, PAT PILCHER, puts the latest AI-assisted cleaner through its paces and is astounded at its near-human ability to detect and banish the mess. - Megalopolis is a ghastly mess
ASHTON BROWN checks out legendary film director Francis Ford Coppola’s new opus expecting to be wowed, but gets annoyed and falls asleep instead. - Isthmus microbrewery: life begins at the hop
In this month’s Crafty Corner column, ASHTON BROWN discovers that his allergy wasn’t caused by beer after all and gets stuck into some super-fine brews. - Logitech’s Keys To Go 2: Is this the most portable keyboard ever?
PAT PILCHER gets his stubby fingers around the keys of the most portable keyboard yet and finds it a great travel companion. - Technics launches elegant wireless speaker system
Next month Technics will release its first-ever active wireless speaker system, the all-purpose plug-and-play stylish SC-CX700. - Moon Unit Zappa’s memoir: a ripping rock and roll read
The original valley girl’s memoir is an acutely observed and at times shocking tell-all about growing up in the dysfunctional family of a 1970s rock star, writes GARY STEEL. - GoPro Hero 13 Black: the best action cam yet
Despite his fondness for slouching in front of a games console PAT PILCHER isn’t shy about getting out into a bracing Southerly to test the latest GoPro. And it’s an all-action winner. - World’s Worst Records – Dizzee Rascal’s The Fifth
Dizzee Rascal has made some acclaimed albums but The Fifth isn’t one of them, writes MATT KELLY, who rues just how low the rapper had to go on this sorry project. - JBL’s Live Flex 3 Wireless EarBuds are on the case
These earbuds come in a case that’s a design stand-out but do they offer anything else that makes them stand out from the crowd? PAT PILCHER thinks so. - Shriekback: Making the brain dance
Way back in 1986 GARY STEEL chatted with Shriekback main man Barry Andrews prior to the group’s NZ tour. Here’s that interview. - Green with Envy? HP’s X360 Envy 2-in-1 notebook PC
HP’s latest Envy laptop can work with its keyboard or as a stand-alone tablet but there’s much more to it than that, writes PAT PILCHER. - Audiophile-grade Technics SL-1300G turntable ups the ante
Technics has announced its stunning audiophile-grade SL-1300G turntable boasting innovative Delta Sigma Drive motor control. - Spring sipping – wine reviews
PHIL PARKER celebrates the hint of warmer temperatures and the slow segue into summer with another selection of tasty wines. - Stuck between rock and a hi-fi space
GARY STEEL loves the world of music he’s discovered in hi-fi appreciation but hates what its sonic refinement does to many of his favourite records. - The great play to pay scam
Is it possible to earn decent wads of cash from ‘play to pay’ apps? PAT PILCHER drives himself a little nuts getting to the bottom of this grey area activity. - World’s Worst Records: Liverpool FC’s Anfield Rap
MATT KELLY could write a book about the thoroughly awful phenomenon of English football club singles, but wisely chooses to stick to an especially risible example. - Smart moves: Panasonic TVs return to the USA
Kiwis love Panasonic panels but they’ve been MIA for some years in the USA. PAT PILCHER details the return of Panasonic TVs to the American market. - Panasonic Z95A: Is this The Smartest TV ever?
New TV models come around each year but PAT PILCHER discovers that Panasonic’s latest isn’t just an evolution, it’s a smart revolution. - This 2024 HP Spectre laptop is a productivity powerhouse
It may not be cheap writes PAT PILCHER but the latest iteration of HP’s Spectre is a productivity powerhouse that won’t disappoint serious users. - WIN this latest greatest Bluesound NODE wireless music streamer!
WIN this latest greatest Bluesound NODE wireless music streamer! Enter your details in the box below to go in the draw to win the latest iteration of Bluesound’s NODE. At the same time, you’ll be signing up to Witchdoctor’s non-invasive and very useful fortnightly newsletter. Bluesound transformed the hi-fi world when it launched the NODE, - This black box just makes music happen… naturally
Andrew Baker enjoys his time with M2Tech’s Classic amp so much that he forgets he’s doing a job and simply listens… and listens… and listens - The best (and worst) streaming TV shows & films right now
A regular column in which GARY STEEL sifts through the mountain of available streaming TV and brings your attention to great new and old shows as well as those to avoid. - Bluesound releases a trio of new NODE music streamers
Bluesound’s NODE is one of the most successful and affordable music streamers on the market. We detail the company’s three dashing new models. - Teremoana Rapley: Back in time to ‘97 for the Lifetime Achievement award-winner
To celebrate her Lifetime Achievement honour at the forthcoming Pacific Music Awards here’s GARY STEEL’s previously unpublished 1997 interview with Teremoana Rapley. - Guilty Pleasures: Electric Light Orchestra’s Eldorado
ELO’s grandiose 1974 monstrosity is an over-the-top masterpiece, according to long-time appreciator GARY STEEL. - Run for your life, aliens attacking!
ASHTON BROWN immerses himself in the latest hit from the long-running Alien franchise. Will it be a surprising and original take or simply more of the same, or a bit of both? - The Fantabulous Witchdoctor Guide To External DACs
If you’re keen to add a sound-transforming digital to analogue converter to your audiophile weaponry, here’s your entry point. RICHARD BUTTERFIELD is here to guide you through. Engineering is all about compromise, especially when it comes to consumer electronics. Cost is always the biggest factor, with margins and supply chains dictating much of what actually - These new Panasonic TVs are so smart they break the brain barrier
PAT PILCHER attends the launch event of Panasonic’s rather astounding new line-up of super-smart TVs and reports on their exceptional intelligence. - Tubular Bells – Played just like the record, but different
Mike Oldfield’s former keyboardist/orchestrator makes a work of genius come alive one more time. Reviewed by GARY STEEL. - Luxury foldable smartphone just gets better
Samsung’s latest Fold phone is packed with superb technology and features but can it improve on it predecessor? PAT PILCHER walks you through the user experience. - Live Shows From Way Back – Wellington 1983
Gary Steel sniffs out another mouldering review from another not-so-present era. Wellington Performers Collective Fundraiser, Rock Theatre, Friday/Saturday 27/28 May 1983 - An alarming piece of kit
In tough times home security needs solutions and PAT PILCHER finds a security system with a burglar alarm that does what it’s supposed to do. - World’s worst records: Ladbaby
MATT KELLY was going to review Journey until he heard Ladbaby’s appropriation of a really shit song. We feel really sorry for him. - This Daddy Longlegs bites
ASHTON BROWN overcame his fear and sat through the latest horror sensation. Here are his thoughts on the film that’s got everyone talking. - WD My Passport 6TB review – the Tardis of hard drives
This wee beaut is a great travel companion but will also handle those daily or less regular backup chores with aplomb, writes PAT PILCHER. - Fine family wines from Aotearoa
This month PHIL PARKER features wine from two iconic NZ producers, Sir George Fistonich and Pegasus Bay’s Donaldson family. - Steve Vai talks Zappa, guitar wizardry and life on the road
GARY STEEL enters the mouldering vault of past interviews and digs out his never-before-published 1997 chat with guitarist extraordinaire, Steve Vai. - Streaming shows and films to watch right now (in NZ)
A regular column in which GARY STEEL sifts through the mountain of available streaming TV and brings your attention to great new and old shows as well as those to avoid. - Samsung AI update changes everything
Smartphone updates are totally unremarkable, right? Think again. Samsung’s One UI 6.1 is a game-changer, as PAT PILCHER discovered on holiday. - World’s Worst Records – Fallout Boy
MATT KELLY is so fed up with Fallout Boy that he writes his own review of this utter dreck in verse. - Crafty Corner: winter hops
ASHTON BROWN proves that hops put a spring in your step even in the depths of winter by supping on crazy, hazy and even hairy beers. - Review: Ecovacs Deebot T30 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum Cleaner
PAT PILCHER is something of an expert in hi-tech robot vacuum cleaners and he explains how this sucky number really is the business. - World’s Worst Records – Bruno Mars
MATT KELLY digs up a record that Bruno Mars might just want to forget in which the pop phenomenon is caught literally taking his baby steps in song. - How to revolutionise your cooking routine
PAT PILCHER was scared stiff of pressure cookers before he came across a cooker that has revolutionised his cooking routine with sensational tasting dishes. - Is this the solution to NZ’s media crisis?
NZ media is in a state of catastrophic upheaval and could be in its death throes. PAT PILCHER wonders if Canada has found a way to keep it alive. - The long-delayed release of a legendary 1968 performance by Zappa/The Mothers
Frank Zappa and his Mothers would never be hotter than they were the week in 1968 when this gig was recorded. GARY STEEL takes a listen. - This mesh router looks like a manta ray
With its ease of set-up, striking design and way of dealing with Wi-Fi dead spots, the Aquila Pro is up there with the best of its kind, writes PAT PILCHER. - This way cool French amp is a genuine hi-fi bargain
Our very own ANDY BAKER gets some luxury time with a French amp that’s wowing the hi-fi world for its smart feature set and nice price. - The best (and worst) streaming TV shows & films right now
A regular column in which GARY STEEL sifts through the mountain of available streaming TV and brings your attention to great new and old shows as well as those to avoid. - Smart features make this affordable phone a contender
PAT PILCHER plays with the new Motorola G34 smartphone and finds that there’s plenty to recommend it for the affordable price. - World’s Worst Records – David Hasselhoff
MATT KELLY presents Part One of a survey of the complete musical works of Sir David Michael Hasselhoff. Eek. - Korero Te Reo
PHIL PARKER is all for embracing diversity, especially when it comes to wine varieties from all over the world. - Engaging sound, amazing price point
WADE BOOTH soaked up the sounds emitting from PSB’s handsome new T65 speakers and found their sound engaging and their price point remarkable. - Finally, a notebook that does justice to gaming
It’s rare to find a notebook that does gaming well but PAT PILCHER plays with HP’s new Omen Transcend and is pleasantly surprised. - 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. - Do quality audio cables make a difference?
The debate rages on. Many self-proclaimed experts reckon that any cheap cable will sound as good as an expensive one. GARY STEEL reveals the truth. - 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. - Here’s an insanely handy travel gadget
Chargers are useless if there’s nothing to charge them with, but PAT PILCHER has discovered a nifty space-saving solution to this dilemma. - 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. - You need more Ethernet ports. End of story
PAT PILCHER has one heck of a lot of gadgets which means he needs a lot of Ethernet ports. If you do too, check out this this review. - The best (and worst) streaming TV shows & films right now
A regular column in which GARY STEEL sifts through the mountain of available streaming TV and brings your attention to great new and old shows as well as those to avoid. - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
ASHTON BROWN finds the latest instalment of the Mad Max franchise not quite up to scratch but still worth a look-see despite the non-appearance of Mel Gibson. - 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. - Nest, mesh and forget
Desirous of blinding-fast internet speed and no blind spots in your home? PAT PILCHER thinks Google’s new Nest Wi-Fi Pro might be the answer. - 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. - Records just sound better this way
GRANT FAMILTON auditions a phono preamp that raises the bar for tube-based gear, and he just can’t stop listening. - Cutting and crafting with Cricut’s Joy Xtra
PAT PILCHER details how the latest super-versatile Cricut crafting machine has got his imagination running wild. - Crafty Corner has an Epic experience
ASHTON BROWN gets utterly blotto taste-testing a range of fine beers at the Epic Taproom. - Technics revs up with Lamborghini
Technics and Lamborghini get together on a hot new turntable project. - 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 of the iconic work. - Amazon’s latest smart home hub is touchy-feely
PAT PILCHER plays with Amazon’s latest smart home hub and finds that it’s a nicely intuitive interfacer with his gadget-laden environment. - 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 band of teens and their 10-year-old rock singer whose voice was like a buzzsaw to the skull. I’ve written before about how artists such as Steve Winwood and Steve Marriott were - Here’s a keyboard/mouse combo that goes and goes
PAT PILCHER bashes out his review on Logitech’s new and nicely-priced keyboard and mouse combo and is highly impressed. - Long lost stories: The Mockers 41 years ago
HELEN COLLETT interviewed The Mockers’ main man Andrew Fagan as the band perched on the edge of chart success. A NZ Music Month special. - Less expensive than civet cat coffee
Innovative technology, luxury build, beaut design aesthetic and superb musical performance combine on this Kiwi amp writes ANDY BAKER. - The wetter the better for these wireless earbuds
According to tech guru PAT PILCHER Jabra’s new midline ear buds like it rough and can handle a deluge of the wet stuff. They sound good too. - Streaming for a song – WiiM’s wee winners
This streamer and amp topple the audiophile applecart with brilliant sound, smart thinking and an unbeatable price, writes WADE BOOTH. - 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. - This ringer is so much more than just a doorbell
PAT PILCHER installs and puts the latest Ring doorbell through its paces and finds that it’s a very smart piece of gadgetry indeed.
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