The Puddle play their long-overdue Playboys in the Bush album release show in Dunedin with help from Opposite Sex, recently relocated from Gisborne to Dunedin and soon to release their debut album of extraordinary punk-jazz-pop on Fishrider Records (home to The Puddle's recent catalogue).
The Puddle was formed in 1983/84 by leader/ singer/ writer/ guitarist George D Henderson. The Puddle 1986 – 93 Flying Nun Records catalogue of an 12 EP, two albums and a single are long out of print, but a Lazarus-like comeback over the past 5 years has seen the release of 3 new albums to international acclaim. The latest album Playboys in the Bush is out now CD and vinyl LP.
The Puddle's catholic mix of pop, blues, psychedelia, jazz, minimalism, rock'n'roll and god-knows-what-else appeals to humans of all ages who are not too proud to dance and the lyrics of love, sex, philosophy, history, mythology, bewilderment and space travel are clearly audible at all times. Their live performances are legendary, walking the fine line between epiphany and cacophony with unexpected musical and lyrical rabbits pulled from invisible hats.
The current line up of The Puddle features Gavin Shaw on bass, multi-instrumentalist Allan Starrett on keyboards & viola and George’s brother (and occassional1984/85 Puddle drummer) Ian Henderson on drums. The addition of the ubiquitous Mr Starrett (who collaborated with George in Mink and The Puddle's Songs for Emily Valentine album in the 1990s, and has also played with the Pop Art Toasters, The Bats & David Kilgour) brings back that essential keyboard and multi-instrumental element missing since the early days of The Puddle when their line-up notoriously featured a flute and a French horn player, instantly distancing them from the (fictional) “Dunedin sound.”
Opposite Sex started life as a trio in Gisborne and supported The Puddle there back in February. Since then Tim (drums, vocals) and Lucy (bass, vocals) have moved to Dunedin and have been playing as a drums & bass two-piece and building an entusiastic following. Along with former guitarist Fergus, who drove down for a few weeks, Opposite Sex have recorded an album at Fishrider Studio which is planned for release on Fishrider Records later this year. Their mix of melodic punky pop with folky waltzes and angular flashes of dark weirdness is the kind of original leftfield music The Puddle instantly recognised as sharing a common heritage in music taste.
As a special deal for this show the holders of ticket pre-sales from Under the Radar will be rewarded with a free highly collectable Fishrider 7 split single featuring Robert Scott and The Puddle, or, if you'd prefer a $10 discount off the price of The Puddle LP (meaning it is only $20) or CDs (meaning this is only $10). Just bring your ticket and select your deal. Doors at 8, Opposite Sex on at 9, The Puddle at 10, all over before midnight.
