Every month, Wellington City Libraries acquires new CD’s for its large, broad, eclectic collection, and Wellington music is no exception. We regularly inspect Bandcamp, local music websites, trawl music vendors latest releases and check out independent labels like Flying Nun, Arch Hill, Rattle and Lil’ Chief for the latest in Wellington and New Zealand music. So, with this influx of mint music in mind, every month we’ll provide the latest titles and artists added to our Wellington music collection…

Small holes in the silence / Norman Meehan, Hannah Griffin, Hayden Chisholm.
Following the popular and critically acclaimed Buddhist Rain and Making Baby Float, Norman Meehan and Hannah Griffin teamed up with saxophonist Hayden Chisholm for this third instalment in their New Zealand poetry series. The poems by James K. Baxter, Hone Tuwhare, David Mitchell, Bill Manhire, Alistair Campbell and Eileen Duggan all receive a subtle and nuanced treatment. It has a late night jazz feel with Chisholm (saxophone) adding that extra layer as Meehan’s sparse chords gently weave around Griffin’s lovely understated vocals. The richer aural palette makes this the most striking album so far. More info here. Elsewhere review here and Offthetracks here. Norman talks to RNZs Eva Radich on the making of the album here.

Love can prevail.
New EWH moves away from the sound of their acclaimed debut into more neo-soul territory. Although drummer Myele Manzanza is no longer with the group his presence is felt on the album, as he contributes beats & writing credits to several tracks. Mara TK voice is still hypnotic. Some of the older dub sound is still around, but more than anything else it resembles some of the more free flowing work from Marvin Gaye in the late 70s & 80s (Hear My Dear, In Our Lifetime). Funky meditations on love & life. Allmusic 4/12 star review here. Buy it here.