Amplifier Newsletter
Kia ora ,
This week's newsletter is a big'un! Along with all the notable new releases (of which there really are many), you'll be
excited to see that a new EP of remixes of songs by Fat Freddy's Drop is now available for pre-order on vinyl. Don't waste any time getting in there, because I'm sure it will sell fast.
Best,
Mr Editor
ALL MUSIC NEWS • NEW ON AMPLIFIER
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Album of the Week
Bernie Griffen & The Grifters - Everything So Far
The Grifters, fronted by the big voice of songwriter Bernie Griffen, are a five piece Auckland band established in 2010. They
combine elements of folk, alternative and country, R and a variety of string band instruments with wild lead guitar to produce a sound somewhere between Velvet Underground
and Johnny Cash.
2012 release Everything So Far combines their debut self-released (sold out) EP with brand new recordings. It's about the current things that have
happened in New Zealand; Pike River, the banking crisis, people camping down in Aotea Square, that kind of stuff. And
it's got a couple of almost gospel songs on it, there is one really strong blues, and there is a little story about
murder. Well, murder and robbery...
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EP of the Week
Donell Lewis - Missing My Love
Capitalising on his recent rise to fame, DNK World Music organised the Back To Schools tour throughout August/September
for Donell Lewis to promote his EP Missing My Love and release of the title track and latest single Missing My Love.
The EP features six tracks (including both recent singles) and has been produced by DNK World Music gun producers, DLove
and Karnell.
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Album
Tali - Of Things To Come...
One of the most prolific MCs to come out of drum and bass in the last ten years, Tali's ability to freestyle and sing soulful, positive and intelligent vocals over the mix has seen her stay top of her
game.
Produced by Christoph Bauschinger and mastered by Evan Short, Of Things To Come... is a totally new direction for Tali. Focusing more on an electro-pop vibe, her fifth album showcases her ability to
songwrite and deliver beautiful lyrics and melodies with big catchy choruses.
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Pre-Order
Kora - Light Years
It's been four years since Kora launched its self-titled, worlds-colliding debut album, that connected the dots between funk, rock, reggae, metal, hip hop and electronic rhythms. Now this five-strong
collective of fearless sonic explorers have discovered a whole new constellation of future-shocked funk, soul and r'n'b
- dubbing it 'alien funk'.
Kora's anticipated new album Light Years (available on CD and vinyl) steps into the unknown on a bass odyssey, eschewing guitars in favour of a high-tech arsenal of synthesisers, live and
sampled drums plus the otherworldly four-part harmonies of the brothers Laughton, Francis, Stuart and Brad Kora and
brother-in-arms Dan McGruer.
This album will be released on 26 October and this price is a special presale offer only.
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Single
Jamie McDell - Life In Sunshine
Life In Sunshine is the new single from Jamie McDell. Brought up in a musical family, she was a songwriter from a young age, with a passion for singing about different
things that happen in her life.
It follows the release of her previous single Rewind from her EP All That I Wanted.
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Album
Hello Sailor - Surrey Crescent Moon
Iconic kiwi rock act, Hello Sailor are soon to release their first album in 17 years - Surrey Crescent Moon.
Hello Sailor's seventh studio album is an acknowledgment of their city and the central urban area they grew up in. "A
new generation of picaresque anti-heroes are marching down old 'K' Rd, under the mournful lustre of a Surrey Crescent
moon".
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EP
Kimbra - Vows Remixes
Kimbra releases a special, digital-only Vows Remixes EP. The seven-song collection contains exclusive remixes from Damian Taylor (Bjork, The Killers), M-Phazes (Talib
Kweli), Brass Knuckles (TK) and others.
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Competition
Win a double pass to the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards!
The biggest night in Kiwi music is back and it's going to be bigger and better than ever - the 47th annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards are just around the corner and to help celebrate we have two tickets to giveaway to one lucky reader. To enter, all you need to do is answer the following question: Who is nominated for the most awards in this year's VNZMAs?
Join hosts Shannon Ryan and Ben Boyce on Thursday 1 November from 7pm for a night of star-studded action and glamour at Auckland's premier music venue Vector Arena. You not only get a chance to cheer on your favourite celebs as they walk the red carpet, you can also enjoy live
performances from some of the hottest artists in Kiwi music, including Kimbra, Gin Wigmore, Home Brew, Six60,The Black Seeds and Annah Mac.
To enter the competition, visit the ARTICLES page on Amplifier, or simply click >HERE<
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Album
Plum Green - Rushes
Plum Green's début album brings together an eclectic collection of musicians to contribute to her songs - creating a captivating,
unique record.
Every bit of Rushes vision has been crafted from the songwriters' history of stunning imagery, with her involvement throughout the entire
process (from writing and recording to mastering and album artwork) leaving Plum's indelible touch many have come to
love about the endearing performer.
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EP
Thieves - Thieves
Thieves' second and sinister looking eponymous EP promises to sound much better than monkeys fighting. But rather than being bombarded with ridiculous hyperbole, why
don't you just take a listen and decide for yourself?
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EP
Nikko Chunn - The Moat
Nikko Chunn releases his debut album Behind The Castle Walls early next year - to which new release The Moat is the pre-cursor.
The Moat EP harbours four tracks. The first two are studio-produced and released songs, Claremont Street and Where Words Fall Short; and the others are a brand new love song The Dancer, and rock-pop seether Rescue Me.
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Pre-Order
Fat Freddy's Drop - Fat Electric Drop
DJ Vadim teams up with Fat Freddy's Drop to deliver the Fat Electric Drop EP of remixes - available from 19 October on juicy black vinyl only.
Fat Freddy's Drop's pirate soul train has seen them beat a resolutely independent path to the ears and feet of audiences
around the globe for over a decade.
Formed in 1999 the Wellington seven-piece has never stuck to a script. Their sound draws inspiration from almost every
part of the black music lexicon. Soul drenched vocals and jazz harmonies collide with tape delays and echo chambers,
underpinned by a rhythm section as comfortable laying down a throbbing, techy soundscape as they are a swampy blues
stomp.
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Album
Sweet & Irie - Irie Inspiration
From its birth on the island of Jamaica, through its journey to the South Pacific, reggae music has become a staple of
Island life and culture, and local Rasta man Ed Ru is back to deliver Sweet & Irie's second album Irie Inspiration.
Irie Inspiration harks back to a special time and has been crafted over the last three years with Ed taking time off to go Back To The Islands (the first single) and reconnect with the local music community.
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Single
Sir.T - More Than Music
Sir.T enlists the vocals of label mate Tyree in this song that reminisces about growing up with the love of music, and all the elements of growing up that
contribute to that love in a thoughtful and honest way.
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Photo Gallery
Anika, Boh & Hollie at St John's Cathedral, Wellington
On Thursday 4 October, Anika Moa, Boh Runga and Hollie Smith opened the 5th annual Classic Hits Church Tour with a sold out show at St John's Cathedral in Napier.
The trio treated the audience to two fantastic live sets, performing a selection of their extensive back catalogues.
All images (c) 2012 Alexander Hallag - facebook.com/themusicistalking
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Album
Evermore - Follow The Sun
On the precipice of the release of Evermore's fourth studio album, the veteran band remains wide-eyed, ever ambitious and, amazingly, all still under the age of
thirty! In many ways their journey is just beginning.
Self-recorded, produced, mixed and released, the new album is aptly titled Follow The Sun. The results are Evermore's most accomplished effort to date - sitting somewhere between early U2 and Simple Minds
expansiveness, bluesy late Beatle's jams and driving 70's folk, all connected by a mesh of hopeful, engaging lyrics.
Video of the Week
Ruby Frost - Young
The video for the latest single from Ruby Frost's album Volition.
TOP VIDEOS THIS WEEK
Maisey Rika
Cornerstone Roots
Kimbra
Sun And The Wolf
Fat Freddy's Drop
The Deadly Deaths
Chris Hurn
Meterman
Katie Thompson
Urbantramper
DINA - Urban Pacifika Records 2006
Jethro Clarke
Chris Knox
Amplifier Release Chart
01. Various - Songs From The Inside (CD/DVD)
02. Maisey Rika - Tangaroa Whakamautai - Single
03. Flight Of The Conchords - Feel Inside (And Stuff Like That) - Single
04. Various - Boy - Movie Soundtrack
05. Kora - Light Years
06. Dave Dobbyn - Beside You: 30 Years Of Hits
07. Various - Stroke - Songs For Chris Knox
08. Sola Rosa - Low and Behold, High and Beyond
09. The New Zealand 28 (Maori) Battalion - AKE, AKE, KIA KAHA E! - Songs Of The New Zealand 28 (Maori) Battalion
10. Shapeshifter - Monarch - Single
11. Maisey Rika - Whitiora
12. For Our Women - Not Given Lightly - Single
13. 1814 - Relax
Friday 12 October
Moretons Bar and Restaurant, Auckland
Ren
Friday 12 October
Whammy Bar, Auckland
Gary
Saturday 13 October
Bodega, Wellington
Richie
New Zealand music online
ends