Epic Sweep Records

John Peel’s whanau have given the Space (thespace.org) access to his record collection which is in the process of being made into an interactive online museum. The first 100 of each letter of the collection is being released, one a week from 1st May 2012 to 1st October 2012.

So far ‘A’ through to ‘C’ has made for some interesting reading. Alongside Peel favourites and oddities its nice to know he was musically human after all with more than one album by the likes of Ace, B.T.O, Bad Company, Cactus and Camel. It was also nice to see a couple of albums by the vastly under-rated Cake Kitchen…

…we’ve long run out of copies but I’m not sure I’ve ever posted this, so here’s the video for Crude’s beautiful ‘Grandmother’…

…I got genuinely annoyed today listening to National Radio when I discovered that not only had one of the cooler younger bands I’d heard in the last few years (Brains) split up but that I’d also completely missed the boat on their album too! As a consolation it was nice to know that the ‘brains behind Brains’ (now called Blue Mt Lumber) has a great sounding solo EP. Here’s a track from it…

Does anyone know if I can still get a copy of the Brains ‘Constant Love Forever’ tape?

Alex Neilson’s Trembling Bells have been a favourite for a few years now. This is beautifully shot but all too brief…

Here’s a song from Gaytime’s new album ‘In Their Prime’

Although far from complete, the ‘Chronology’ DVD is a brilliant snap shot of just how good Talking Heads were. It captures them at their quirky, awkward and impressionistic best. Theres a focus on early live footage, particularly from More Songs About Buildings and Food, which is where I think the band got really interesting. The DVD would be worth it for the extras alone, especially the South Bank Show footage which is fantastic. Do yourself or someone else a favour…

In the 90′s Invers had its own brand of brilliantly dumber-than-dumb-garage-metal, seemingly centered around Dan Tait, that surely deserves at the very least a compilation. Here’s one of the finest exponents…

From Cassette Gods:

“Cartoon – 69er on a Magic Carpet

Thank you for sending me the most fucked-up prog-rock funky-time weirdo-party tape I’ve received all year!  Thank you Cartoon!  You are one fucked up people/person. Worth it for the cover of “Birdland” by Weather Report alone (though that’s not all).  This is a seriously well done tape that is completely chopped and screwed.  I mean this is also seriously “bad music”, but it’s got the awful charm of your favorite Boredoms side project or the absolutely immortal Ground Zero Plays Standards (must have).  Don’t hesitate. Amazing artwork, especially on the inside of the J-fold.”

…it’s nice to be able to announce the release of a cassette EP by the mysterious Rotate the Completor…more details on ‘our catalogue’ page…$12 plus postage email nzmusic123@hotmail.com

Sadly, because their building is deemed an earthquake risk, the Frederick Street Sound and Light Exploration Society here in Wellington will be no more after the weekend. Fred’s has been incredibly important for new music in the city for the last 3 years or so and its really sad to see it go. Go check out the final Feds mini-festival bbq party this Saturday from 4pm where there’s heaps of brilliant artists and bands performing, including Cookie Brooklyn.

RIP Freds