Amplifier

09.02.10

New Zealand must be one of the few countries that goes into a slumber over Christmas/New Year. Now we have entered the New Year this can take some effort to shake off.

I know I'm struggling with dates and the like as my brain is stuck in beachtime, the stereo however is very much into 2010 and with that in mind, today we've a couple of releases from this year for you to check out, the first isn't available to buy until next week but we're taking pre-sales now...

Pre-Selling Now
The Ruby Suns - Fight Softly

Fight Softly is the new studio album by NZ's pop masters The Ruby Suns.

Ryan McPhun (their prime mover) has the kind of voracious musical mind that cites as equal influences '80s New Jack Swing & modern Angolan kuduro, the Beach Boys & Britney Spears, Brazilian tropicalia & Argentinian cumbia. He's the kind of diligent, meticulous soul that spends days hunched over a laptop in a tiny rented studio in Auckland, just to perfect a sequenced drum track (mission accomplished).

Fight Softly is the kind of head-spinning combo of big-picture vision and sumptuous detail that only comes from an artist with a need to express all he's seen. And you can dance to it!

Fight Softly  veers from the path set by its predecessor. Thematically, it's not as wide-eyed or lighthearted, picking apart the relationships faced as we pass through the world - with our surroundings, each other, ourselves. Sonically, it remains as beat-centric, though these beats are deliciously artificial - stretched and compacted and distorted beyond recognition. Melodies are scuzzy and digital, not many guitars strummed or basses plucked. McPhun's soulful upper-register croon, swallowed into the mix, replaces group chants and full-throated singalongs.

Rather than an album of clearly-drawn influences, Fight Softly is a unique, inscrutable synthesis, more itself than anything else.

PRESALE ONLY. RELEASED MON 15TH FEB
MP3's Available from the 15th.

Release Of The Day
Late 80's Mercedes - Live

Late 80's Mercedes rock a live show like none you have ever seen before! Just imagine Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Fall Out Boy mixed with Dean Martin, Harry Connick Jr and the Cherry Poppin Daddies! Got ya thinking?

Well, this 9 piece band from New Zealand will have you jumpin' and jivin' to your favourite, or not so favourite, pop songs. Their finger snapping set list is the perfect mix of swingin' Martini classics, groovy jazz beats and some funk soul rhythms on the side!

Live was recorded live at Zeal, Auckland with additional recording at York St Studios. Engineered by Peter Wood. Produced and mixed by Captain Hook.

Gigs

Here are our pick for live music for this week as found on the Makuna gig guide. 

For a full breakdown on whats on offer around the countries pubs and clubs take a look at Makuna

Have a great day
Ed