Go Buy It: George FM Yearbook 2011

GEORGE FM YEARBOOK 2011
Now Available In Stores and On Line

The radio station I've been lucky enough to remain involved with for some years now has recently released a compilation of tracks voted on by listeners and mixed by Dick Johnson, and I feel obliged to encourage you to purchase it. Not because of any sense of loyalty to the station, but because it's really rather good. There's plenty of huge songs on there (SBTRKT, Chase and Status, Nero, Toddla T, Magnetic Man and Katy B, Joe Goddard, Two Bears, PNAU and plenty more), and best of all, a stack of local talent - Ladi 6, Tiki and Sambora, David Dallas, P-Money and Dan Aux, MayaVanya and even old Magik himself. 

So go on, get your metaphorical wallet out and get amongst...

Review: The Adults 'The Adults'

THE ADULTS
The Adults
[Warner]

"Delicately pretty". Not words usually associated with Jon Toogood's band Shihad; but on what is effectively the whippet-thin frontman's debut solo album he has embraced them - and the spirit of collaboration, surrounding himself with some of New Zealand's finest songwriters and musicians: Ladi 6 (who provides vocals for album highlight 'Nothing To Lose'), Anika Moa, Julia Deans, Shayne Carter, Tiki Taane, Riki Gooch and plenty more besides. While calling the assemblage The Adults might be a less-than-subtle indication as to what to expect from the album, the fact is you won't hear this blasting from panel vans and student flats this summer. Yes, there is rock in here, but the diverse selection of styles (proper pop, country, folk and even funk influences) befits the breadth of guests present. Toogood plays ringmaster exceptionally, corralling all of this into an incredibly cohesive whole, which is also a hugely enjoyable listen.

3 and 1/2 stars from 5

Review: Tiki 'In The World Of Light' + Shapeshifter 'System Remix'

TIKI 

In The World Of Light

[TikiDub]

SHAPESHIFTER

System Remix

[TrueTone]

"There ain't no party / Like a NZ party / In the summer time" sings Tiki Taane over Summer Time, opening track of his #1 debut, second solo album, In The World Of Light. I reckon Tiki's one of the cleverest people in the NZ music business. He's fully aware of how marketable he is to, on the face of it, two hugely differing camps: those who lap up the pop-reggae of Always On My Mind and those who prefer the bass-heavy swagger of Soundtrack To Forever. Thing is, (aside from the astoundingly monstrous Tangaroa, easily the highlight of his solo debut Past, Present, Future) whichever way you want to slice it, Tiki's music is designed to please as many people as possible as often as possible - often all in one place at once. It's a pursuit he seems to take very seriously indeed. Having said that, this is a very big, very likeable album, with notable guest spots from Moana and The Tribe, Crushington and Hollie Smith retracing her Celtic roots atop heavy metal guitar courtesy Tiki's Dad, Uekaha Taane.

System Remix follows Shapeshifter's massive fifth studio album System Is A Vampire and is another example of crowd-pleasing bass-focussed music, but unfortunately the bulk of these remixes seem to be working to a thoroughly predictable and ultimately kinda dull template. There are undoubtedly highlights: Pacific Heights' gorgeous rework of The Touch; a reverent re-rub of Twin Galaxies by The Upbeats; and two stonkers from State Of Mind, with their reworks of Dutchies, and Electric Dream - easily the highlight of this collection, despite the original being taken from the Soulstice album. This collection is clearly intended for fanatical fans of Shapeshifter, but for me is a bit of a let down and really only serves to illustrate how much better the group's original versions are.

TIKI 3/5

SHAPESHIFTER 2/5

Check out the review of State Of Mind's album Nil By Ear here...