Here's Five: The Datsuns

After a bit of a breather The Datsuns are coming together on home soil to raise hell at a special show at Auckland's Kings Arms Tavern on Friday, before heading off to Wellington to appear at Homegrown Festival. Friday's show will be the band's first New Zealand performance since December 2014,  as being spread across Wellington, Auckland, Stockholm and London makes it pretty tricky to wrangle a show from the foursome. But no doubt being back in the same hemisphere will see the boys busting out songs from their upcoming seventh album (the name of which is still underwraps), so in anticipation of their show we asked bassist/vocalist Dolf de Borst to share some songs that have influenced the group in recent times, and here's what he coughed up...

"With the band living in three different time zones it's pretty weird making records and writing new music together. Instead of hanging out and playing records we end up sending inter-web links and download codes to each other, but it's interesting to see what everyone comes across in their little corner of the world. Here are some of the songs that are buzzing around between us at the moment..."

1. The Drones - 'Shut Down SETI'
A plea to cease our search for extra terrestrials set to damaged sci-fi melodies, ethereal chants, and feral freakout keys. Best line: "Do we need an overlord that finds us underwhelming?"

2. Thee Oh Sees - 'Withered Hand'
A full tilt sonic assault and still completely danceable, this is one of my favourite tracks from what I think is their latest LP, I can hardly keep up with how often they put out records, it's great! Thee Oh Sees always balance buzz and aggression with hooks and weirdness.

3. Karen Dalton - 'Something On Your Mind'
I was recommended this through the Spotify Discover Weekly algorithm and I was totally surprised by this beautiful performance. Karen Dalton sings with a genuinely unique voice that stopped me in my tracks and made me shut out the world till the song was over.

4. Kevin Morby - 'I Have Been To The Mountain'
Fire alarm synth, strings, piano and brass along with amazing backing vocals enhance this excellent "3 minute wonder" of a pop song. Acoustic guitars have this way of sounding heavy to me, it's something in the percussive nature of the instrument and how it leaves space for all these other textures.

5. The Move - 'Fields Of People'
This has it all, pompous classical style intro, amazing harmonies over a heavy rhythm section morphing into an extended 6 minute sitar(?) wig out to close.

The Datsuns are playing this Friday 1st April at The Kings Arms Tavern with support from the Bloodbags. Head over here for more information and to buy tickets.