Ghost Wave Hunting

Having recently become smitten with NZ Arch Hill recording artists, punk grrrls (and guy), Street Chant on their recent visit to Aus, it became clear that this label has well and truly stamped itself as a fitting contemporary of Flying Nun. Run by members of former Nun bands Jean Paul Sartre Experience and Superette, Arch Hill not only released The Bats last album (they are now back at Flying Nun with their new album Free All Monsters) but also past Nun acts The Clean and David Kilgour. But they can also count the post-Nun band Surf City amongst their numbers. So in playing catch-up on the label (y'know how it is, now have to pretend to having known all about them from way back in the day) a care package of Arch-ness was acquired. The pack included a new release from NZ icon Kilgour and also music by newer bands Ghost Wave and the jangly Family Cactus. All top quality but a definite stand-out is the seven-track Ghost Wave EP. Released back in April, the EP is a delirious mix of fuzz pop and Beach Boys harmonies - a sort of Underground Jesus And Mary Byrd Lovers Chain. Having missed this upon its issue date it's a relief to finally catch up on one of 2011's highlights - here's one of the EP's most outstanding moments, the haze of guitars that is 'Hippy'.
Order here.

Hippy by Ghost Wave

The Depths Of An Obsession

Adam Askew - Death Mix

I love alot of music.

I love alot of music from New Zealand.

I love alot of music on the Flying Nun record label.

AND, of course... I love The Bats.

So... here's ten of my favourite songs from The Bats. Starting near the beginning of their recording career in the mid 1980's, and going all the way up to their latest album.

'Death Mix' by Adam Askew (direct link)

TRACK LIST:
The Bats - 'Joes Again' (Flying Nun Records)
The Bats - 'Had To Be You' (Flying Nun Records)
The Bats - 'Daddy's Highway' (Flying Nun Records)
The Bats - 'Get Fat' (Flying Nun Records)
The Bats - 'Ten To One' (Flying Nun Records)
The Bats - 'Smoking Her Wings' (Flying Nun Records)
The Bats - 'Slow Alight' (Mammoth Records)
The Bats - 'Things' (Magic Marker Records)
The Bats - 'Later On That Night' (Arch Hill)
The Bats - 'Like Water In Your Hands' (Arch Hill)

The Bats' latest album, 'The Guilty Office', is out now on New Zealand label Arch Hill (due for wider release soon). And... keep your eyes out for a brand new Songs/The Bats split 7" on Sydney label The Spring Press.