Release Roundup: Chances Are, Heavy Chest, REPAIRS, Voom, Sin City, Death And The Maiden + More

Spin back the wheels of time and revisit this week's new coverage of DARTZ, Earth Tongue, Carb On Carb, Dbldbl featuring Randa, Luke Buda, Phoebe Rings and French For Rabbits, then scroll downwards for even more fresh Aotearoa release highlights from Chances Are, Heavy Chest, REPAIRS, Voom, Sin City, Death And The Maiden, HOMINID, Alex Pipes, and Heidi Simpson.

Prominently spotlighted today in Bandcamp's New And Notable section, Chances Are (including members of Family Band, Trust Punks, Long Distance Runner and more) unfurl their debut album Asleep At The Wheel Of Love via Sunreturn. Bundling together the trio of Alexander Grant, Lliam Powell and Maté Vella's sonically freewheeling earlier singles 'Born Yesterday', 'Peach', 'Dining Room, 2001' and the title track with two new post-punk / post-rock tunes to round out their world-class, no fat on the bone collection. Grant stated "I think the album certainly represents our nebulous creative relationship. In stops and starts we’ve been making music together for close to 15 years now, so we have an understanding of where we’d like ideas to take us, but needless to say we’re still surprised that we always end up somewhere different. Doors are opened and remain so."

Back in Aotearoa for a solo tour starting tonight in Pōneke (get tour tickets HERE), Heavy Chest's Andre Smith sounds like he's channeling his folk songwriting muse with the poetic five song luminescent lushness of Lake Echo.

Tāmaki Makaurau's REPAIRS lifted the lid on 'LYLAS', the final single / video combo from their forthcoming sophomore record Disappointing Sequel, self-directed by the group and filmed in Kaiwaka. Their album release tour begins on 19th April, nab tickets HERE.

Touring nationwide with fellow Aotearoa indie superstars Reb Fountain and Vera Ellen in May / June, Voom pay sonic tribute of a kind to living legend Martin Phillipps of The Chills with their strummin' new single of the same name. Buzz explained "I wrote 'Martin Phillipps' about 25 years ago, after having heard him talk about his travels round the world in search of his music idols of the past; The Beatles and Beach Boys. My cousin used to be in The Chills until he got kicked out, and having been a huge fan, I was like “How dare you kick out my cousin!?”. The whole song is a stream of improvised consciousness that I layered some instruments over. It sounds like I’m taking the piss a bit — which I probably was — but I also think he’s a magic songwriter and was a big inspiration to me. After about 20 years of it sitting in my computer, I sent the song to him thinking he might take offence, but he said he loved it and wanted to put it in the movie that was being made about him. Good vibrations going out to you Martin, wherever you are."

Based in Naarm, countrified Aotearoa soul-rockers Sin City (featuring members of The Cavemen) salute their late night locals with their blood-pumping, foot-stomping twelve song opus Another Round. "Another Round captures the rowdy, carousing spirit of the band!"

Ōtepoti trio Death And The Maiden make a welcome reemergence, heralding their forthcoming third album Uneven Ground with the sublime gothic / post-punk electronic expanses of lead single 'Leanest Cut' — keep on the lookout for an accompanying video.

The project of Te Whanganui-a-Tara electronic artist Benny Jennings, HOMINID makes a compelling first impression with the sculptural details, inviting textures and fidgety rhythms of debut single 'Introvert//Extrovert'. "I do a lot of field recording; it's a big part of my day-to-day job in the film industry but also how I meditate and connect with the world. I love the idea of my music being a journal of interesting sounds I have found out in the world. The whole track is underpinned with water field recordings, especially an underwater one recorded with a hydrophone (Ambient ASF-1 Hydrophone). There’s this gritty textural whooshing element that sits underneath most of the track, and that is the sound of the tide moving small stones underwater out at Moa Point here in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington).”

Lively, masterfully fluid and funky from the get-go, Aotearoa jazz guitarist, composer, and producer Alex Pipes celebrates his new opus Square One tonight at Ponsonby Social Club. Featuring contributions from such fellow notables as Nathan Haines, Joe Kaptein, Andrew Isdale and more — mixed by Haines and mastered by UK drum and bass artist Jason Cambridge aka DJ A-Sides.

Formerly one half of LAIIKA and recent special guest for cyber-pop superstar Princess Chelsea, Heidi Simpson's second solo single 'Vampire' is a cinematic and soaring slice of goth-pop, romance / horror friendly dreaminess.