Our music review archives go back 20 years now. In that time various Library Staff members have reviewed a huge range of material, across every genre in our collection and, since we used to have multiple copies of titles, we still hold a lot of these items in out off-site storage facility.
Due to a catalogue upgrade the links from our old HTML Music & Film web-pages no longer worked, so they became unavailable to browse some time ago. However, since from February 1st of this year we are running a one year trial where all CDs will be free to borrow, we thought it was a good time to go back and revisit some of these old reviews for a new series called ‘CDs From The Vault’.
Chain gang of love / Raveonettes
This long-awaited full length album from the Danish duo stretches the promise of their debut EP with a brilliant array of new material (this time in the happier key of B flat major, while never straying too far from their Jesus and Mary Chain roots. (Neil P.)
Under the influence : Ian Brown
The second in the series of stars-make-their-own-compilation-CDs, this is a timeless selection by the onetime Stone Rose. Hip hop, reggae, soul, gospel (and a token white number!) make up a mouth-watering melange of classics, some of which you’ll never hear anywhere else. (Neil P.)
La revancha del tango / Gotan Project
The Gotan guys blend the sexy syncopations of tango with the dark, echoing textures of dub and the beats of house and nu jazz to create a sound that is at once timeless and extremely modern, familiar and completely original, and basically just so darn all-around hip that it’ll infuse your squalid little urban apartment with all the allure of a smoke-filled Parisian jazz club. (Robert)
Paradigm shift / Sheehan, Rhian
Wellington musician Rhian Sheehan presents his first downbeat album, an easy-listening, attractive blend of acoustic instruments & electronic computer wizardry. These are very individual soundscapes, with sound effects, samples and melodies all beautifully melded together. Lotus Hartley (Nomad) sings – and somehow you will not be surprised to read on the leaflet that Jeremy Geor ( 50Hz) was involved in this whole slick local production. Rhian Sheehan trained as a guitarist – there are also a couple of his own pure & lovely acoustic guitar tracks on this album. If you like this you might also like two other local albums: Haunted out-takes by Aucklander Sola Rosa (and his previous album Solarized). (Pauline)
Tallahassee / Mountain Goats (Musical group)
Another in the “lo-fi” genre, a friend put me on to this. If you’re a fan of Bonnie “Prince” Billy, or Smog, then check this out. (Fiona)