"The Gown" by The Bats

 

In our view, The Bats were magic in the early '80s and they continue to be magic in 2025. They don't do it with bombast, frills, gimmicks, or by following the style du jour. They do it with sharp songwriting, relatable themes, personal connection, and quality performances. This week brought striking song "The Gown", which is the third single from their upcoming LP Corner Coming Up. The instrumentation is slightly restrained for a tune from this band, but with the percussion and bass up in the mix. Atmospheric and haunting, "The Gown" underscores that The Bats are not resting on their laurels. We think it is best appreciated with the volume turned up.

The Bats are Robert Scott, Kaye Woodward, Paul Kean, and Malcolm Grant. Corner Coming Up will be released October 17 via Flying Nun Records.

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"Loline" by The Bats

 

Our long time favorites The Bats are back in the frame for 2025, and of course we couldn't be happier for that news. And the New Zealand band isn't coming in quietly. The first single is the just release "Loline", a song that fuzzes, sizzles, rattles our speaker boxes and rocks our world. This is music that isn't just energetic for a group in their fifth decade, this is as vibrant as The Bats have ever been! Check it out below in the cute 'tour de New Zeland ' video below, or the stream.

We have no details on the upcoming album as it is still being recorded. But it seems that it will be released via the venerable Flying Nun Records.

The Bats are, and always have been, Robert Scott, Kaye Woodward, Paul Kean, and Malcolm Grant.

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Various links for "Loline"

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Reb Fountain - How Love Bends

 

Perhaps a bold prediction to make in the fourth month of the year, but we think that more than a few tasteful music writers will include How Love Bends on their 'best of 2025' lists. The creation of New Zealand artist Reb Fountain, the album offers richly drawn alt fok/pop songs with a cinematic feel. Emotionally expansive and adventurously illustrated, how Love Bends is deeply satisfying on an intellectual and artistic level.

For this recording Reb is assisted by Dave Khan (guitar/keys), Karin Canzek (bass), and Earl Robertson (drums). How Love Bends is out now in digital form via Fountain Records and Flying Nun Records. Vinyl will  be available in early May.

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Various links for How Love Bends

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"New album by The Chills, two songs available

 

One of our highly anticipated upcoming releases is Spring Board: The Early Unrecorded Songs. The album collects 20 early-career, previously unreleased songs by brilliant songwriter Martin Phillipps of The Chills. Martin wanted the songs out in the world and had been working on this album when he unexpectedly died in 2024. With the collaboration of band members, family and friends his vision will be realized on February 28 via Fire Records. Album tracks "Dolphins" and "If This World Is Made For Me".

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Jim Nothing - Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn

 

They say things become clearer with the passage of time. While we aren't sure that is true (and by the way, who are "they" anyway?), but mid-October the candidates for our favorite album list are becoming clearer. And Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn by Auckland, New Zealand's Jim Nothing is certain to make the list. Boasting nuanced storytelling and observations of everyday life packaged in some of the best garagey powerpop we have had the pleasure of cuing up in a long time, it is an exhilarating listen from start to finish. If you are enough of a fan of New Zealand guitar bands to have perused the recent book Needles and Plastic, or better yet have a collection of the past gems from the island nation, you will be able to identify influences such as The Clean, The Bats, The Verlaines, and even a touch of Tall Dwarfs. But Jim Nothing isn't a nostalgia play. The music here is fresh and immediate, the creators just have a preference for the same style of music that draws is in whenever it is well done. Buy this album -- you deserve it.

Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn which is out now via Meritorio Records (most of the world) and Melted Ice Cream (New Zealand). Jim Nothing is James Sullivan and some talented friends

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Best Bets - The Hollow Husk of Feeling

 

We are music fans, not critics, which is why we don't post negative news. So you can be sure that if we publish a post about a song or album, we truly like it and have picked it from among our many submissions and discoveries. However, even among all of our favored musical "children", some work stands out. And that brings us to The Hollow Husk of Feeling, the second full length album by New Zealand's Best Bets. From a sturdy, broadly conceived power pop platform the band delivers 12 tracks stretching from the edge of jangle pop to the border of alt rock. Guitars jangle, chime slash or describe tangled figures as the material requires, and the rhythm section controls the pace with power and finesse. But this set of songs is more than solid gold sounds, as Best Bets features three songwriters with a feel for melody and a talent for lyrical craftsmanship. If you are only going to have room for ten guitar pop albums this year, make certain that The Hollow Husk of Feeling is one of the ten.

Best Bets are Olly Crawford Ellis, James Harding, Matt Phimmavanh, and Joe Sampson. James and Olly are members of Transistors and Joe has been in Salad Boys, T54 and other projects (including the label Melted Ice Cream). The Hollow Husk of Feeling is out now via Meritorio Records and Melted Ice Cream.

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"Wildflowers" by Jim Nothing

 

We are listening to Nothing, and it sounds great! No, we haven't given up music, we are just enthralled with "Wildflowers" by Auckland, New Zealand's Jim Nothing. The guitar fuzz in our ears and the thumping in our chest is an ace reminder of why we love guitar pop. The song is the fifth single from the 13-track Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn which is due October 18 via Meritorio Records (most of the world) and Melted Ice Cream (New Zealand). Jim Nothing is James Sullivan and some talented friends.

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"Monster" by Best Bets

 

"Monster" comes out of the blocks like the premier bull at the rodeo. The guitar and rhythm section feel like they are in your chest cavity while the catchy melody hangs on for dear life. We aren't prone to gamble (because one mistake could wipe out the week's beer budget), but we are happy to wager that Best Bets are going to thrill us with upcoming LP The Hollow Husk of Feeling. The New Zealand band, now a four-piece with the addition of Joe Sampson (who has been on these pages several times in the past), crafts power pop with plenty of garage fuzz. Just the way we like it! The Hollow Husk of Feeling will be released on September 27 via Meritorio Records (Eur/USA/Can) and Melted Ice Cream (NZ/rest of the universe).

Best Bets are Olly Crawford Ellis, James Harding, Matt Phimmavanh, and Joe Sampson. James and Olly are members of Transistors and Joe  has been in Salad Boys, T54 and other projects (including the label Melted Ice Cream). 

Best Bets · Monster

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"In A Shell" by Mystery Waitress

 

Mystery Waitress is back on our pages with the haunting closing track from their upcoming LP Bright Black Night. "In A Shell" sets a mood that has us reflecting on loneliness and the difficulty in finding connection in our lives. Weighty stuff for a Monday, perhaps, but a smashing good song.

Bright Black Night is the Wellington, NZ band's second album. It will be released August 2 via Flying Nun Records.

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"Everyone" by Voom

 

Here is a relaxing, folky pop tune about a very unrelaxing event: The Big Bang, You know, the world explodes and everyone is burnt toast, blown to smithereens or whatever happens in The Big Bang. The event sounds scary, but the "Everyone" is ultra cool so we have that going for us, which is nice. Besides, the central message is that we are all connected, even if it takes The Big Bang to demonstrate it.

The song is by Auckland, New Zealand's Voom and is out now as a digital single via Flying Nun.

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"Nightbug" by Mystery Waitress

 

Our track of the day is "Nightbug". All atmosphere, gritty riffs and swaggering vocals, it makes us yearn for the nightlife, as well as prompting gratitude for the replay button. The song is the latest from Wellington, New Zealand band Mystery Waitress, and it is the first single from their upcoming LP Black Black Night. Look for the album August 2 via Flying Nun. And if you live nearby, listen for the album blasting from our speakers.

Mystery Waitress are Tess Dillon, Olivia Campion, Xanthe Rook, and James Morgan.

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Various links for "Nightbug"

Wurld Series The Giant's Lawn

 

Spoiler alert: The Giant's Lawn is one of our favorite albums of the year. So, on to other things.

Just kidding about the "other things", but we are quite serious about the rich musical tapestry that New Zealand's Wurld Series has dropped for our pleasure. Dipping into the well of New Zealand indie pop but expanding the palette with progressive folk, psychedelia and folk rock that will recall sounds from the UK in the '60s and '70s, the band offers spry compositions that balance light and dark, drone and twinkle, fuzz/jangle and pastoral calm. With 17 songs, Wurld Series has given themselves plenty of room to develop their ideas and cover multiple facets of their art, but nothing is redundant or overstays its welcome. The guitars are a joy throughout and the arrangements are fantastic and often fantastical. 

We think this album deserves to be on the turntable of every indie fan, and it is already in our 10 ten of 2023 list.

Wurld Series are Luke Towart, Brian Feary, Ben Woods, and Ben Dodd. The Giant's Lawn is out now via Meritorio Records and Melted Ice Cream.

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"Rearing Wesley" by Wurld Series

 

What a lovely nugget of psychedelic folk from Wurld Series. "Rearing Wesley" is the new single from the New Zealand band's upcoming November 17 release The Giant's Lawn. Check below for the Bandcamp stream or, better yet, the fantastical video. We love the guitar on this track.

The Giant's Lawn will be released in vinyl and digital formats via Meritorio Records and Melted Ice Cream.

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"The Giant's Lawn Part I" and "Lord of Shelves" by Wurld Series

 

Tonight we have treats from our Christchurch friends Wurld Series. They come in the form of the first two singles from the band's upcoming LP, The Giant's Lawn. "The Giant's Lawn Part I" is the grandly psychedelic folk pop opener for the album. "Lord of Shelves" is guitar pop done well. On this two-song evidence, we have marked this The Giant's Lawn as an album we must have.

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Two Remastered Songs by The Chills / Brave Words to Be Reissued

 

Martin Phillipps formed The Chills many years ago, but the New Zealand band continues to produce vital, exceptional music. However, with the passage of time some of the earlier gems have become unavailable. A few years ago Fire Records reissued Kaleidoscope World (Expanded Edition) and Submarine Bells. This October, for the first time in 35 years, Fire Records will reissue Brave Words. The album, which some believe is The Chills' finest, will be expanded, remixed and remastered. It will be available as two vinyl discs or two CDs.

Two of the remastered songs are available to stream and purchase now. Enjoy!

"Party In My Heart"

"I Think I'd Thought I'd Nothing Else To Think About"

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Fire Records page for Brave Words (Expanded and Remastered)

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Guardian Singles - Feed Me To The Doves

 

Feed Me To The Doves by Guardian Singles commanded our total attention from the first song to the last. Vibrating with energy and filled with punk and post-punk infused social and political commentary, it is chaos reformed and structured into a bold and captivating statement. The members of this New Zealand band are completely locked-in with the songs sounding both polished and live to tape. And by the way, this rhythm section absolutely rocks our world.

Guardian Singles are Thom Burton (guitar/vocals), Fiona Campbell (drums), Yolanda Fagan (bass), and Durham Fenwick (lead guitar). Feed Me To The Doves is out now via Trouble In Mind Records.

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The Chills announce special reissues of Brave Words and Kaleidoscope World

 

Around WYMA World Headquarters there are few announcements that could produce more chills than New Zealand's indie pioneers The Chills' statement that their first two albums, 1987's Brave Words and 1990's Kaleidoscope World. Brave Words will be remastered, remixed and expanded and Kaleidoscope World will also be an expanded version. Both will be available as a double LP as well as a digital release via Fire Records. Fans in Europe should take note that The Chills we be touring in Europe in June.

And just to remind everyone of the quality of the songs, here are the first two tracks from Kaleidoscope World, the title track and "Satin Doll", which also happen to have been the first two tracks on the iconic Dunedin Double released by Flying Nun in 1982), plus "Rolling Moon".

Bandcamp for order of Brave Word (expanded and remastered)

Bandcamp for order of Kaleidoscope World (expanded edition)

Various links for Brave Word reissue, EU tour and others

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Tall Dwarfs - Unravelled: 1981-2002

 

If you and/or someone close to you is a regular reader of this blog, we have the perfect after-Christmas present for you: Unravelled: 1981-2002. It is a 55-track compilation of the work of New Zealand's Tall Dwarfs. The project of Alec Bathgate and Chris Knox, who previously had been in Toy Love. Tall Dwarfs was the captivating synthesis of '60s guitar pop, '80s jangle and plenty of inventive experimentation (OK, a bit of weirdness as well). The compilation does not include every one of their recordings, but it covers a large portion with tracks from their entire time as a band. If we had to provide a pithy descriptor it might be "the Beatles and Young Fresh Fellows form their version of Television Personalities". Of course, many reasonable minds can and will differ, but it is hard to do justice to such wide-ranging creativity. Add it to you collection, and you likely will listen often.

Unravelled is available in digital, 4-LP, and 2-CD formats via Merge Records.

 

Bandcamp for Unravelled

Jim Nothing - In The Marigolds

 

What have we been listening to a lot lately? Nothing. That might seem strange for the executive team of the world famous When You Motor Away blog, but it is true. But details matter, and the 'nothing' that occupies our time isn't the sound of silence, but rather In The Marigolds, the new LP from New Zealand's Jim Nothing. The name of the project is striking, but inaccurate. First, the band consists or more than a man named Jim. There actually are three members: James Sullivan (vocals/guitar), Anita Clark (vocals/violin), and Brian Feary (drums). Second, the implication from the term "nothing" could be that there isn't much of consequence offered on the album. But as followers of the New Zealand scene would attest, any band comprised of members of Salad Boys, Wurld Series, The Phoenix Foundation, Motte and other projects is going to be well worth our time.

The songs on In The Marigolds tip the cap to a lot of the South Island bands that have thrilled us in the past, as well as the other projects of the band members. But a tip of the cap is just a reference point, not an imitation. Here Jim Nothing stitches a tapestry of jangle and guitar pop with accents of fuzz and scuzz. The rhythm section chugs with authority and the vocals have a slightly scuffed up charm. And it must be said that Anita Clark makes a strong case for the violin in a pop/rock band. In our view, this is one of those albums that you like quite a bit when you first hear it, and then you like it better each time you listen. We can't always define what 'our thing' is in music, but In The Marigolds is our thing.

All the songs on In The Marigolds were written by James Sullivan. Additional players were Ben Odering (bass) and Paul Brown (bass). The album is out now via Meritorio Records (EU) and Melted Ice Cream (NZ).

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The Beths - Expert In A Dying Field

 

Quite simply, The Beths are a terrific band. They are terrific now, and they would have been terrific if they were doing the same thing in the '80, '90s, or '00s. But happily for us, they are doing it now, and have done it in style on their new album Expert In A Dying Field.  

On the all important yardstick of songcraft, they ace the test: Elizabeth Stoke's lean but meaningful lyrics that make the right impact, wrapped in the band's tidy and varied arrangements and buoyed by expert musicianship and a palpable love of their craft. So that makes them a very good band. What makes them terrific is that they adorn their creations with riffs, runs, pauses and various other nuances that take a song that could be compared to a delicious cookie and make it into a song that could be compared to a wedding cake. Not overdone, mind you, just done right. We could write a number of sentences about the lyrical content, but it isn't our style to emphasize reading our words over your need to listen to the music. However, we think the title track is an excellent example of the band's intelligent an wry approach to a theme. One could assume that "Expert In A Dying Field" focused on some poor soul that finds his or her skills no longer in demand. And in a way, such is the case. But the specific subject is a protagonist whose relationship is ending, and all of the memories of and details about the departing partner -- a subject in which the protagonist has become an expert -- are now knowledge in the dying field of that relationship. And to be perfectly honest, reading our sentence describing the song points out to us how much better the band has expressed the same thing. So stop reading and start listening. 

The Beths are Elizabeth Stokes, Jonathan Pearce, Benjamin Sinclair, and Tristan Deck. Expert In A Dying Field will be out September 16 via Carpark Records (US) and Ivy League Records (Australia).

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Various links for The Beths and Expert In A Dying Field