Kiwi Albums Released During Music Month

It's a big month for NZ bands and artists and the following groups are all releasing albums this month. So if you want to be a part of this occasion go out and buy some of these today,

8 FOOT SATIVA – ‘POISON OF AGES’ - OUT MAY 21ST
Poison of Ages is a modern thrash album that maintains the well-known 8 Foot sound. It is a guitar driven album, filled with metal hooks and typically memorable riffs with an eclectic sense of melody, breakneck percussion and impassioned, tortured vocals. Poison of Ages addresses the myriad flaws of mankind that will lead to our downfall. www.myspace.com/8footsativa

ADAM WHAUWHAU – ‘TUKUNA MAI’
'Tukuna Mai', Adam Whauwhau's second album, consists of 16 songs, with Adam on acoustic guitar, Damien Porima on lead guitar and Chub Renata on bass. Various tāonga puoro instruments add to the acoustic flavour combined with rich lyrical stories and a stunning voice.

ADI DICK – ‘OUR PLACE’
Grown up in Upper Hutt on a diet of skateboarding and Motown tunes, the guitar playing, slide slinging, soul singing, song writing, sample slaying, slop producing Adi Dick of Fly My Pretties fame drops his debut album Our Place. A stunning mix of home grown soul that fits right in to the NZ dub and roots scene, bringing with it a slight mix of R&B difference. www.myspace.com/adidick

BROTHER LOVE – ‘THE MAN IS JUST A BOY’
This is a 'group' who have always mixed well-crafted songs with a fresh punk attitude and a willingness to explore which sees them crossing genre boundaries like they never existed. In the course of their development, they have been compared to everything from Human Instinct and Jimi Hendrix, to Sonic Youth and Sebadoh, to The Clean and Split Enz.

BRUTALLY FRANK – ‘THE FINER DETAILS’
Brutally Frank’s 2007 debut album ‘The Finer Details’ is one of the must have NZ rock albums of the year. With an eclectic style that blends traditional rock flavours with a modern alternative attitude the band offers a tight, energetic and passionate album. With recent single “Unceasing” hitting the airwaves this is an album not to be missed. www.myspace.com/bfnz

BULLETPROOF - SHAKE THE FOUNDATIONS
Bulletproof's ‘Shake the Foundations’ LP is a futuristic funk infused journey into the mind of one of New Zealand electronica's finest exports. With tracks filtered out from his back catalogue of over 50 worldwide 12" releases, Bulletproof has compiled a vivid insight into some of his finest moments spanning a 7 year career at the forefront of Drum and Bass. www.myspace.com/bulletproofnz

COLLAPSING CITIES – ‘COLLAPSING CITIES’ EP
Collapsing Cities is one of New Zealand’s premiere Dance Rock Bands. Their rare blend of dance and rock has struck a chord with audiences around the country. Singles 'Elixir Always' and 'No Plans' off their self titled EP have lingered in various top tens for months. Their new album is being mixed and will be released in the very near future. www.myspace.com/collapsingcities

EVA AND CHRIS PROWSE – ‘FIVE SONGS’ EP
Five Songs is an EP that pays tribute to some of their influences while establishing a musical signature of their own. They offer fresh country-pop arrangements of songs by writers such as Bic Runga; as well as a pair of striking Chris Prowse originals - the upbeat, bluegrass-y 'I'll Fly For Your Love' and emotive, Irish-inflected 'Leaving Carrickfergus'.

FALSE START – ‘ADORE TU SER’
Fusing together rock and pop / punk into catchy, accessible anthems is second nature for False Start. Having played well over 100 shows since forming, the NZ group kicked off a year of rigourous gigging in June 2005 by winning the Henderson heat of the Primal Battle of the Bands, eventually claiming first equal in the Primal final, out of over 100 Auckland groups. www.myspace.com/falsestartband

FAMOUS FAMOUS – ‘HUNG LIKE A MAN’
The long awaited debut from songwriter/comedian Famous Famous. Produced by Graham Hill and Dan Sperber. Engineered by Andre Upton at the prestigious Helen Young Studio. With a voice reminscent of Cat Stevens and well crafted songs full of lyrics with black humour in the same vein as Leonard Cohen. Hung Like a Man is a local masterpiece.

FUR PATROL – ‘THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER’ EP
Having recently returned to NZ for NZ Music Month after a two year hiatus, Fur Patrol are back with a brand new EP and plans for a full length album later in the year. The EP features five tunes and features their trade mark melodies and powerful catchy rock. www.myspace.com/furpatrol

HOLLIE SMITH – ‘LONG PLAYER’ - OUT MAY 28TH
Hollie Smith’s deep, rich and soulful singing and songwriting style proves she is one to watch in 2007, her vocals on the hit soul song penned by Don McGlashan “Bathe In The River” introduced her name to the wider community. Following up from her Gold selling EP “Hollie Smith” her debut album will showcase more of her songwriting talent and that divine voice we can’t get enough of. www.myspace.com/holliesmithmusic

JULIEN DYNE (opensouls) – ‘PHANTOM LIMBO’ EP - OUT MAY 21ST
Best known as the backbone of acclaimed Aotearoa soul providers Opensouls, Julien’s latest musical venture serves as the perfect platform for him to showcase his sizable percussion and production skills. The EP which has taken shape over the last two years, sees Julien branching out to create a 6-track EP that displays the breadth and scope of his musical influence. www.myspace.com/juliendyne

LANU – ‘THIS IS MY HOME’
‘This Is My Home’ is the wonderful solo debut from NZ-born, Melbourne-based producer Lance Ferguson. Brimming with future soul and broken beat flavours, forward-thinking production and intuitive jazz sensibility, this longplayer marks a distinct departure from the raw, deep funk sound of Ferguson’s other project, The Bamboos. www.myspace.com/lanumusic

LINDON PUFFIN – ‘SHOW PONY’
Puffin has produced a lavish 13-track album that blends his distinctive kiwi voice with a lush ‘70s country rock backdrop, sorta like The Smiths meet The Warratahs or Andrew Snoid fronting an Eagles tribute band…? Puffin has been steadily building a reputation as one of NZ’s most entertaining, loose and offensive solo performers since going solo around ’00. www.myspace.com/lindonpuffin

LOOP SELECT 008 ‘RARE VISION’ OUT MAY 21ST
A multi media box set featuring: a CD of 13 tunes from Recloose, P-Bass Expressway, Adi Dick, The Black Seeds, Kraak & Smaak, Nickodemus and more! Plus a DVD with 2 hours of short films, documentaries, music videos & motion graphics. And don’t forget the book showcasing 20+ visual artists. www.myspace.com/looprecordingsaotearoa

LUCID 3 – ‘DAWN PLANES’ OUT MAY 28TH
The songs on Dawn Planes, Lucid3’s third album, were written between New Plymouth and Europe, where Victoria has spent time in the last two years. The songs are in keeping with her characteristic writing style, but she has made use of more traditional song-writing tools. Marcus and Derek’s rhythm section and contribution to the music puts the distinctively Lucid3 stamp on the tracks. www.myspace.com/lucid3

LUKE WALKER – ‘MAYHEM’ EP
From Miami to Auckland, the Mayhem EP has been rocking the hottest clubs in the World. Still hot off the vinyl press, the EP has been picked up by Ministry of Sound UK for an Electro compilation and has been charted by DMC Update in both their Miami and New Release buzz charts! It also featured in UK's Music Week Cool Cuts chart at #20. www.myspace.com/lukewalkerlowalk

PACIFIC CURLS – ‘PACIFIC SWING’
‘Pacific Swing’ is a celebration of the talents of three women, expressed on instruments as diverse as the ukulele, kalimba and cajon, while throwing in guitars, a variety of taongo puoro, a little beatboxing and of course their gorgeous vocal harmonies.

PIG OUT! – ‘CLUB POEMS’ (REMASTERED VERSION) - OUT MAY 21ST
Pig Out! formed in March ‘06 in Christchurch and have quickly gained notoriety for their intense live shows and unique fusion of house beats, funk rhythms, pounding techno synth lines and freestyle rave mc-ing. Pig Out! have delivered a seriously addictive hit of indie electro pop with ‘Club Poems’. And the remastered version has made the album sound event better. www.myspace.com/pigoutfanclub

PINE – ’12 HOUR COLLISION’
Riot music for quiet people. Pine's mix of fuzzy, sweet, quirk punk with keyboard, snare and guitar has seen an EP and two albums out through Arch Hill Recordings. With global gigs from New York to Oamaru and a recent lounge tour of the nation, Pine's new EP showcases 7 new songs, 2 live tracks and some 16mm filmic goodness from the houses of their buddies. www.myspace.com/pinenz

RITALIN – ROGUETOWN - OUT MAY 28TH
Ritalin is one of New Zealand’s most established and hardworking punk bands. They formed in 1998 whilst still in high school and since then have toured relentlessly. The lads are preparing to explode with the release of their new album ‘Roguetown’, a culmination of the bands efforts of the past four years. www.myspace.com/ritalinkids

ROBERT SCOTT – ‘TASCAM HITS’
...Train comin' round the bend....Robert Scott keeps on goin'....album number, um lost count. This is his Krautrock Album of sorts, well in parts. Home recordings from Port Chalmers, with that unique Tascam cassette compression. This was done around 95/97, and yes Conny is the late great Conny Plank. www.myspace.com/robertscottx

SO SO MODERN – ‘FRIENDLY FIRES’
So So Modern are one of the hottest young kiwi indie bands - A Low Hum darlings, and international touring artists, this Wellington-formed band have blazed a trail through the underground while building a strong fanbase. Having self-released a handful of self-produced and created EPs , So So Modern now offer their fantastic recording ‘Friendly Fires’. www.myspace.com/sosomodern

THE DEADLY DEATHS – ‘THE DEADLY DEATHS’
This trio from Hamilton, New Zealand, describe themselves as “Restrained-Indie-Synth-Pop". Restrained in the sense that they don't like to smash you over the head with screaming vocals but rather evoke a sense of the bittersweet with soft harmonies. Their self-titled debut CD is a collection of smooth laidback songs. www.myspace.com/thedeadlydeaths

THE MANAGERS – ‘TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT’
Legendary ska band The Managers have emerged following 12 months in the studio with their brand new 15-track album ‘Take it or Leave it’. After three years road-testing these songs around NZ and Australia, they are ready for release; and these self proclaimed “thinking woman’s hoodlums” have indeed arrived on centre stage. www.myspace.com/themanagersband

THE NEW CALEDONIA – ‘LOTUS’
The New Caledonia's debut album Lotus is a swirling psychedelic musical invention, crawling out of the muddy waters of Hamilton and bursting into colourful music that sounds like dancing blue deities at a technicolour disco. Having played together for over three years, Lotus is the culmination of the bands progress thus far, and draws influences from progressive music and jazz right through to funk, ambient and pop music. www.myspace.com/thenewcaledonia

THE SNEAKS – ‘PEP SOUNDS’ EP OUT MAY 21ST
The Sneaks sure do pack more hooks per song than most achieve in a lifetime and are just about to release an album. But in the meantime check out the re-release of their EP packed full of noisy pop tunes, but this time with 2 bonus videos including the 2006 bNet Best Video Kuzai Heart You Girl. www.myspace.com/dontfuckwiththesneaks

THE TWEEKS – ‘YOU CAN LISTEN TOO’
The Tweeks (formerly known as The Gladeyes) are a guitar-driven powerpop band from Dunedin, New Zealand. Their debut album 'You Can Listen Too' was recorded throughout 2006 in the Dunedin National Radio recording studio under the watchful eye of Graeme Downes (The Verlaines). www.myspace.com/thetweeks

THE VACANTS – ‘IN TRANSIT’
The Vacants debut release has managed to capture the bands sometimes chaotic, sometimes fine tuned, always unpredictable live show; it’s a 38 minute statement of intent that is both eclectic and utterly convincing. www.myspace.com/levacants

WRONGMEN 7” OUT MAY 21ST
The Wrongmen’s 2006 debut full-length, 'Den of Vipers' was certainly an anomaly amongst New Zealand’s punk and metal releases of the year. When opener “So Wrong” finally hits, be prepared for the band at their most chaotic yet; spiralling in and out of pure frenzy before fluently sliding into their trademark stoner-rock influenced riffs.