31 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY: ANTHONY RITCHIE
31 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY
ANTHONY RITCHIE
OCTOPUS
"Ritchie cleverly writes music that fuses celebration with elements of militaristic drum-taps within a web of cross-hatched rhythms that one quickly realises is very much part of the Ritchie signature style. This is wholly accessible music, flamboyant and exciting, similar in spirit if not musical vocabulary to Morton Gould when he wrote in a more serious vein."
musicweb review of A Bugle Will Do
Anthony Ritchie is without a doubt one of New Zealand's most prolific composers. Today is the premiere of his Violin Concerto, to be performed by Bella Hristova and the Southern Sinfonia, and conducted by Tecwyn Evans! So very exciting.
For more info: www.anthonyritchie.co.nz
ANTHONY RITCHIE music available at RELICS
As a final salute to NZ composers for the final day of NZ music month ... here is a snippet of the doco 'HARPS MAKE FINE COMPANIONS'
Harps Make Fine Companions snippet
30 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY: LOOK BLUE GO PURPLE
30 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY
LOOK BLUE GO PURPLE
LOOK BLUE GO PURPLE COMPILATION
"Look Blue Go Purple was the most important band in Dunedin throughout the mid-1980s. Musically they weren’t necessarily the most proficient, and in terms of song-writing they weren’t the most prolific, but in terms of the scene they were far and away the most irreplaceable group – they were the glue that held everything together. And they made great records, and played the greatest gigs."
Bruce Russell - FLYING NUN website
These 5 women were rocking and we regularly hear great stuff from people reminiscing about their live gigs in the mid 80s. They produced 3 EPs: Bewitched (1985), LBGPEP2 (1986) and This Is This (1988) but I have to say their music gets picked up lightning fast so if you spot them in our store get in quick! At times we have posters in store from their past gigs, these are also pretty popular... check out the link below for what is available at the mo! If you visit the recently face-lifted Toitu Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin, there is a special DUNEDIN SOUND exhibit where you can experience some of the music and vids of the time... we so recommend visiting this place.. and check out the Look Blue Go Purple vid in there!
Ok, lets take a step back in time right now and experience 'Cactus Cat'!
29 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY: SHERPA
29 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY
SHERPA
BLUES & ORANGES
' "My girlfriend did a painting I really liked, which was blue and orange, and looked like me. When you’re creating music you try to link things up and it’s got songs about the blues, and it’s vibrant like orange. They’re opposites but they’re complimentary.”
Aural colouring aside, ‘Blues & Oranges’ is an album bursting with power pop hooks and distorted synths.'
NZ Musician article about SHERPA by Matt deKimble
"An Auckland-based quartet fusing power-pop with garage-grunge."
Sherpa's new album BLUES & ORANGES is well worth hearing, getting great reviews and they are DEFINITELY worth seeing live... the best news is that they are here tomorrow in DUNEDIN and CHRISTCHURCH on Saturday! YAY!
and if you want a little more info about them... check out this great article in this months RIP IT UP:
SHERPA music available at RELICS
28 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY: THE BATS
28 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY
THE BATS
THE LAW OF THINGS
"Remarkably, despite long periods of inactivity, the band's original lineup of Scott plus singer/guitarist Kaye Woodward, bassist Paul Kean, and drummer Malcolm Grant remains intact. So too does that dreamy, disconsolate feeling that settles in whenever the Bats' best music takes hold and nimbly seeps under your skin."
pitchfork.com review of FREE ALL THE MONSTERS
How often is it that you hear of a band that has stayed together for over thirty years, with the complete original line-up of members?!
Such a feat, and the fact that they have been making remarkable music all along the way just adds to the wonder of THE BATS.
Although THE BATS first beginnings came about in Christchurch, they were part of the Dunedin music community of the 80s, whose sound collectively became known as the 'Dunedin Sound'. THE BATS have not only found an intensely loyal New Zealand following over the years, but have regularly toured internationally, guested with Radiohead and The Buzzcocks and count amongst their travels many tours of the United States (yes there is talk of more touring in the not so distant future!!) THE BATS are without a doubt amongst our top you-must-go-and-see-them-live-they're-awesome-and-you-will-never-regret-it bands.
The joy of researching many of the original Flying Nun bands is the discovery of all of the connections that exist between the bands. It doesn't take much reading or asking to discover that many musicians of the 80s era had many projects on the go... for example THE BATS founder Robert Scott is also a member of THE CLEAN. (For some extra historic NZ music learning check out Gareth Shute's book NZ Rock 1987 - 2007).
You might notice in our collection of BATS goodies that we stock a selection of original band gig posters... you might notice that we also have some original artworks that the posters were printed from... Robert Scott is responsible for many of these artworks, and artwork for THE BATS album covers.
27 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY: LA BELLE ALLIANCE
27 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY
LA BELLE ALLIANCE
RELEASE, THE MOZART FELLOWSHIP
"The violin/piano duo of Tessa Petersen and John Van Buskirk is well known to New Zealand audiences. They celebrate twenty years together, with performances in the USA, the Caribbean and Europe prior to settling in New Zealand in 2006."
Chamber Music New Zealand
Tessa Petersen studied at the University of Otago and led the NZ Youth Orchestra before continuing her studies in London at the Royal College of Music. Tessa has played widely in Europe and USA and is presently Executant lecturer in violin at the University of Otago.
John van Buskirk graduated in piano from Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School before completing his post-graduate study at the Liszt Academy in Budapest. He has played widely in Europe and USA and currently lectures and tutors at the University of Otago.
http://www.ticketdirect.co.nz/event/details/68070/la-belle-alliance
The performances of Tessa Petersen and John van Buskirk are reflective, vibrant, stunning! ... LA BELLE ALLIANCE will definitely stir your emotions AND charm you! The concept behind the album RELEASE is intriguing - each track is composed by a NZ composer that has held The Mozart Fellowship at the University of Otago. It might be noted that Anthony Ritchie's 'Meditation for violin and piano' was specifically written for Tessa and John in 2008, and as a youngster, Tessa was also taught violin by Mozart Fellow Anthony Watson.
"The Mozart Fellowship was established in 1969 to aid and encourage composers of music in the practice and advancement of their art, to associate them with the life of the University, and at the same time to foster an interest in contemporary music within the University and in the community. The fellowship is New Zealand’s premier compositional residency; the list of past fellows includes many of New Zealand’s most notable composers."
SOUNZ: Mozart Fellowship Award
"This CD provides an interesting selection of original works written by 10 of the composers who have held a Mozart Fellowship over the 41 years since it began.
Featuring the work of composers Christopher Adams, John Elmsly, Christopher Marshall, Anthony Watson, Ian McDonald, Edwin Carr, Anthony Ritchie, John Rimmer and Larry Pruden. 100% New Zealand Music."
amplifier.co.nz: La Belle Alliance
For more info:
CHAMBER MUSIC NEW ZEALAND: LA BELLE ALLIANCE on TOUR
LA BELLE ALLIANCE music available at RELICS
JOHN VAN BUSKIRK music available at RELICS
26 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY: TAMI NEILSON
26 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY
TAMI NEILSON
DYNAMITE
"She’s a little bit of country, soul and rockabilly all rolled into an award-winning mix of Dynamite!"
Our CONGRATS go out to TAMI NEILSON & DELANEY DAVIDSON for winning the 2014 APRA Best Country Music Song for 'Whiskey and Kisses' !!
Tami's album Dynamite has been receiving stunning reviews, and we just can't seem to keep it on our shelves for very long (which is awesome!!) and a sign of just how loved her album is. Her latest APRA award joins the list of many including NZ Music Awards' ‘Best Country Album’ in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and the NZ Country Music Awards' ‘Best Female Artist’ in 2010 and 2011.
Here are a couple album reviews for you to have a looksie at:
NZ Herald album review for Dynamite
undertheradar album review for Dynamite
For more info: www.tamineilson.com
TAMI NEILSON music available at RELICS
25 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY: BEASTWARS
25 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY
BEASTWARS
BLOOD BECOMES FIRE
"There's no mucking around, Beastwars put their foot on your throat and let you have it right from the start on raging chugger, Dune. So it's more of the same from the fearsome Wellington four-piece then following their debut album from 2011? Well, yes, but this time round the intensity has been cranked up even more, and the sound they make is cleaner and clearer, while still retaining that rugged rawness and trance-inducing heaviness."
Scott Kara, NZ Herald album review for Blood Becomes Fire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIZQHR6-Ngg
For more info: BEASTWARS facebook page
If we are sold out and you are dying to get a copy of any of their music, contact us on +64 3 474 9394 or info@relicsmusic.co.nz and we will happily try to hunt some down for you! Know that we really love their music and are always on a MISH to have BEASTWARS in our store!
