The Shrugs Album release

How to Knit a Pony is the fourth album from Hamilton, NZ band The Shrugs.

While the Shrugs’ first three albums will continue to be sold and distributed by Powertool Records, How to Knit a Pony will be released on the band’s own Waysafe Records in association with Auckland label I Am Evil Records.

The recording of the album was a protracted process by the Shrugs’ standards. Where previous albums have been hammered out in 6 months or so, How to Knit a Pony has taken more than 18 months. Partially this is because of other commitments: being in other bands, having kids, partying, watching TV... and partially it’s because the album is pretty long and the Shrugs are not prepared to relinquish their DIY ethic just yet – meaning that they insisted on recording, mixing and mastering the whole thing themselves. They did have some help from time to time (someone’s got to push the record button in the control room when the whole band is in the live room) but the vast majority of the work was done by the band themselves. A healthy attitude in this day and age.

Some of the things that always made the Shrugs so distinctive are still on How to Knit a Pony: Geoff’s New Zild accent, Gordon’s melodic bass lines, clanging guitars, and the same old self-deprecating humour put up as a defence against a hostile world. But some things are new: Paul Tregilgas’ fluid drumming is a standout feature.

www.myspace.com/theshrugsnz
www.iamevilrecords.com

You will be able to buy the album at the following locations Real Groovy Records, and online at www.nicksmusicbasement.co.nz, amplifier.co.nz, www.smokecds.com, cdbaby.com, itunes & iamevilrecords.com