Music News

Weekly Round Up: Friday 13th June

Friday 13th June, 2014 2:45PM

This week bought with it the announcement that long-standing Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson is coming to New Zealand in December for three shows, that will see Anderson and band play some of the group's most popular tunes, as well as music from Anderson's latest solo album Homo Erraticus. We also caught wind of the fact that Wellington three-piece Mermaidens will be taking a six-date jaunt around the country (including two secret shows), which kicks off later this month to support the recent release of their Bones EP. Another local hitting the road soon is Lyttelton-based duo Luckless, who are poised to release sophomore album Vindication Blues next month and so will be playing a handful of dates around the country.

In release news... well it's been a pretty prolific week from local artists. Especially in terms of videos! There was new clips coming out of the woodwork from Beastwars, Liam Finn, Minderbender, The Phoenix Foundation and PALS. In terms of audio releases, we were hyped to get our hands on the brand new Coolies single, from their EP Punk is Bread, which is out today. After teasing their new track 'Blister' earlier this week Auckland punks Cool Runnings dropped their new EP I Hate It Here, which was recorded by Lawree from Career Girls. Indie act Glass Owls let loose their new album, titled Out From The Darkness, for streaming. And the Dad Jokes duo, who are currently touring North America, released a couple of tracks, including a fantastic homage to muscle man Van Damme. Finally, make sure you check out this new single from local duo Heavy, it's like Coco Solid and Erik Ultimate reincarnated and it's amazing.

Looking overseas quickly, Blonde Redhead released super sweet track 'No More Honey' as a taste-tester to their upcoming album Barragán. Experimental hip hop outfit Death Grips snuck out new album Niggas on the Moon, which takes the vocals of Bjork and turns them into an instrument. Two of The Flaming Lips members have announced they will be releasing a six-song album under the moniker Electric Wurms. And speaking of side-project-type-things, members from the now defunct The Rapture, Vito Roccoforte and Gabriel Andruzzi, have collaborated to create an EP called Moon Temple, due out later this month.