The Amplifier - Newsletter

The Amplifier - Newsletter

NEWS | ARTISTS | RELEASES | TRACKS | VIDEOS

Hello ,

We all asked Santa for a bike up here at Amplifier Towers whilst on our annual visit to see the guy ... while we won't know for sure if he will come through with the goods for us, he demanded we share some goodies with you lot .

So this week we offer you a means to grab yourselves some freebies; there's a Lil Chief Records label Sampler for all of you who purchase something from their catalogue and you can get 10 free NZ tracks courtesy of the TV Guide Extra (in shops now).

As if that wasn't enough, apparently we don't smile enough - so please at this point imagine us all smiling... yep it's not a pretty sight, so best move on and read the newsie.

Have a great week.

amplifier

Latest Goodies

NEWS HEADLINES

- Get your Groove on this Waitangi Day at Groove in the Park 2008!

- Sandwiches Summerset 08

- Raggamuffin Festival, Rotorua Feb 08

- The Midnights NYE shows announced

- J'08 Live - Evermore, Elemeno P & Spacifix

For more news click here

SINGLE LUKE THOMPSON - BLEED

With a Top 20 hit single to his name, Perfect Drive, and a long list of live performances and radio and TV appearances - Luke Thompson now presents Bleed.

The new single & video from his debut album to be released February 2008.

Bleed is accompanied by the release of a music video shot in the midst of the vibrant night life and cluttered streetscapes of Kings Cross, Sydney. The clip was directed by UK-born fashion photographer and visual designer Giles Lambert.

ALBUM MICHAEL HOUSTOUN - INLAND

This 2 disc, solo piano album by New Zealand's favourite classical musician both stretches and soothes. Inland realizes Michael Houstoun's long-held goal to record the music of composers he has maintained a close relationship with. A household name in New Zealand for over 35 years, Michael Houstoun is a national treasure, and was been awarded a 2007 Arts Foundation Laureate. Featuring evocative, imaginative and accessible repertoire that spans a range of styles, Inland reaches out far beyond Michael Houstoun's historic concert hall audience.

While much of his reputation has been built on traditional piano music, more recently Michael Houstoun has increasingly been heard performing new, New Zealand material – here, notably by John Psathas, Gao Ping, Douglas Lilburn, Ken Young, Victoria Kelly and Mike Nock; the basis of his new release on Rattle.

Michael's first outing with Rattle was on John Psathas' debut Rhythm Spike, and recently featured extensively on John's massively popular View From Olympus album. Now, with Inland, Michael has initiated a recording of contemporary New Zealand music under his own name.

AMPLIFIER BOX OFFICE A BUSH PARTY WITH FAT FREDDYS DROP

Music Mountain Matakana, in association with The Drop, is pleased to announce a bush party starring Fat Freddy's Drop and special guests.

Nestled in pristine native bush, MMM is a relatively new boutique venue located a little over one hours drive north of Auckland. The very organic, very cool and laid back set up was enough to entice Freddy's away from recording schedule commitments to party in the bush in February 2008.

A Bush party will be an event to cherish, one of only three shows licensed for MMM in 2008, and a rare live appearance by Freddy's north of the Bombay Hills this summer.

A Bush Party With Fat Freddys Drop
Flowz & The USOS. DJ's Mu, Slave, Cian & Thief
Saturday 23rd February 2008
Music Mountain Matakana
Gates Open 4.30pm – 11.30pm

VIDEO AGE PRYOR - SHANKS' PONY

Shanks' Pony, title track of Age Pryor's latest long player.

Directed by Taika Waititi, at Nektar Films in Wellington, and made with the help of about 30 volunteers.

A feel good video for a feel good song and there are fish.

LIL CHIEF RECORDS PRESENTS GREETINGS FROM NEW ZEALAND

Lil' Chief Records is a label that prides itself for releasing a consistent scope of "orchestrated pop music."

Representing arists such as; Edmund Cake, The Brunettes, The Reduction Agents, The Ruby Suns, The Tokey Tones and Alec Bathgate out of a broken down old house in Sandringham, Auckland. Its kitchen doubles as practice room and sometime performance venue. Jonathan's (The Brunettes) dark and windowless bedroom is where all most of the recording takes place.

To celebrate a great year the good folks at Lil Chief have pressed up a bunch of label sampler CDs and everyone that purchases a Lil Chief CD until the end of the year gets one free with their purchase.

The samplers feature 20 tracks from Lil Chief artists from releases both new and not so new.

EP LAUREN THOMSON - OUR LOVE IS DUE

"Noir-Country/Roots at its rawest and finest." - IN Magazine

Singer/songwriter - now there's a phrase to make the hardiest music fan run for the hills. Most people think half-baked songs, acoustic guitars and dingy cafés whenever those words are uttered, but attach that worn tag to American icons such as EmmyLou Harris, Gillian Welch, Sufjan Stevens and even angst-ridden songster Ryan Adams and you get a clearer picture of where the genius of Lauren Thomson fits in.

A standout on Auckland's live circuit and a much celebrated addition at festivals like Parachute, Noise and indie weekend stands like Barnstock (yep, you read write… Barnstock), Lauren has become a much sought after opener and touring partner for the likes of Miriam Clancy, Brian Platt, and others.

Our Love Is Due is the debut from this country folk singer, produced by Simon Moore.

AMPLIFIER BOX OFFICE PLUTO

In October Pluto released their eagerly anticipated third offering Sunken Water, an album that plays through, start to finish with professionalism, layers of depth and most importantly haunting soul.

The Auckland five-piece have carved their name across the New Zealand music landscape with a highly reputed live show, two critically acclaimed albums and an aura of mystique & intrigue.

We have tickets for the following two shows available to you now:

San Francisco Bathhouse - Wellington 19/12

Bar Mode - Palmerston North 20/12

TRACK HAYLEY J HANSELL - SPACE AND TIME

An institution behind the scenes, Hayley J. Hansell breaks out from her 95BFM Drive host, record store and sound engineering passions to release her latest single: Space & Time.

With a star studded production team from both New Zealand and the US, the single release attacks with hip hop, jazz and traditional soul. Centering all of Hansell's musical knowledge and trademark sincerity, she delivers with a voice both calm and arresting. Coming correct with a tender track, her message is rivalled only by those she has chosen to work with.

Producer J. Rawls, whose past production credits include tracks with Mos Def & Talib Kweli, J-Live, and Stonesthrow artist Dudley Perkins, chips in all the way from Ohio (USA) for Space & Time - while back home Hansell calls in the help of studio engineer DJ Orphan (producer of the Hayley J. Hansell track The Enemy).

VIDEO THE UPBEATS - THINKING CAP FEAT. GEORGIE

From The Upbeats deubt album Nobody's Out There comes the video for Thinking Cap feat. Georgie.

Directed by MOFRESH: Preston & Jerry with illustration by Wade Cowin.

ALBUM THE VERLAINES - POT BOILER

The Verlaines remain one of Dunedin's seminal bands from the city's first wave of young groups that rose to prominence along with their then Christchurch based record label, Flying Nun.

It's been ten years since The Verlaines last release, outside 2003's best of, Your Just Too Obscure For Me compilation. But finally, their new studio album is upon us, eleven new tracks under the title Pot Boiler.

FREE 10 TRACKS FOR SUMMER

Amplifier in conjunction with the TV Guide are currently running a promotion where everyone who purchases a copy of the TV Guide Extra gets ten free New Zealand music downloads, (worth $19.90).

Featuring tracks from; Don MCGlashon, Flight Of the Conchords, Johnny Devlin, 5Star Fallout, Tahuna Breaks, The Brunettes, Batucada Sound Machine, One Million Dollars, Jelly Deluxe and Tura Bullfrog Rata.

So if you'd like some free kiwi goodness for your digital music player get a copy of the TV Guide Extra, simple really.

RECENT ADDITIONS DECEMBER 3 - DECEMBER 10

Artists:

2face
Lauren Thomson
Michael Houstoun
Norman Meehan
Radiator (pictured)
The Intercontinentals
White On White

New Additions:

2face - Up your Self, (Download)
Adams Dream - Scorpio Sun, (Download)
Craig Mckenzie - nine new tracks, (Download)
dDub - Hesitate No, (Download)
Lauren Thomson - Our Love Is Due, (EP)
Luke Thompson - Bleed, (Download)
Hayley J Hansell - Space and Time, (Download)
Michael Houstoun - Inland, (CD/Download)
Norman Meehan - Modigliani, (CD)
Peter Thompson - Penrose, (Download)
Radiator - Love, Hope And Distortion, (CD)
The Intercontinentals - four tracks, (Download)
The Usurpers - four tracks, (Download)
The Verlaines - Pot Boiler, (CD)
White On White - Noises, (LP)

Staff Selecta

Mary
Little Bushman
Stephen

Lichen Ears EP
Ruby Suns
Richie

I Like Rain
Jean Paul Satre Experience
Simon

Ends

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