Farmland + music of the long white cloud
There's something strangely relaxing about holidays spent in a tiny house, surrounded by fields, hearing only dogs barking, the distant roar of airplanes, sheep moving, grasses rustling, and the ever-present chorus of birds. And the radio, currently playing something by the Exies which is just a bit too loud. I have the house to myself, midday sunlight streaming in through the open door beside me... the drawn curtains move slightly in the wind; clouds fill the blue sky like far-away mist, stripped of any distinct edges.QED - financial advice that works. Not an ad, but an example of just why the radio station is being changed. ^ - ^
1. To the D4, 'What I Want'. Pretty brainless, but mercifully short and at least without mention of vampires, death, isolation... no, wait. "I could be dead, I could be richer. I-I don't know what I want: maybe it's you, maybe it's somebody new."
2. On to Elemeno P, typical Kiwi: bouncy, un-sophisticated and frustratingly catchy.
3. Hmmm... something interesting. But un-named. That's not helpful! -bangs head against desk-
4. LOL, now a classic. Crowded House, lead by Neil Finn. What can you say about these guys? "Fall At Your Feet" is one of those songs that so many Kiwis grew up with - it's familiar to us, like grandad. You may never comprehend how brilliant or famous or influential he was, but you don't need to because you love him anyway.
5. -next song begins- Eww. I was hoping NZ hadn't caught that senseless noise / repetitive lyrics / stage whisper / screaming with bad voice / totally basic rhythm disease... but alas, this is proof. Consider yourselves lucky you can't hear it.
6. Now, to something quieter: synth, drums, fuzzy electronics - must be the Phoenix Foundation. I hadn't actually listened to anything of these guys' before this holiday because KiwiFM doesn't broadcast down in Dunedin, but now I have, I can see the appeal. It stands out like a saxaphone solo in the middle of a drum bar (which, incidentally, just happened). 'Hitchcock', that one was called.
7. The next, singer/songwriter, single male voice and subdued back-up; 'I Won't Walk Away' by ?Mozelee? He's got a good voice. I like it.
8. To 'Stars Without Their Make-Up' which is played at least twice a day, every day... "I do like stars without their make-up: I know it doesn't look right, I know I shouldn't but I do." Gentle vocals, keyboards, soft drums, undeniably memorable; the work of Flying Nun prodigy Dave Yetton. He's going on my list of CDs to buy (which currently includes Audioslave's 'Out of Exile' and the cheapest Lenny Kravitz 'Greatest Hits' I can find :-)
9. Other mentionable Kiwi bands are Opshop - melodic and thoughtful pop - and Shihad, antithesis of gentle, rockers to the core and probably capable of starting their own religion. ^ - ^ Or maybe I exaggerate. And there's Rhombus, another group that's infiltrated colleges everywhere: pacific tinges, dub, hip-hop, bass, beats, guitars, and a lot of other instruments I lack the ability to pick out. "Feeling that, healing that, rocking that..." Well, it grows on you. Oh, Pluto!!! Try 'Long White Cross', it's brilliant. And another classic, 'Not Given Lightly' by Chris Knox of Flying Nun once again. There, has your head exploded yet? Goodshirt!
posted by Anonymous @ 11:23 AM
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