New this week / Singles in review

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014

Spoon - Do You It’s been four years since their last album, Transference, and Spoon are finally making a return. “Do You” is the second single from their upcoming album titled They Want My Soul. An upbeat, summery track, “Do You” finds Spoon retracing familiar ground, but a kind of Read more...

Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014

The queen of tumblrcore returns with her sophomore album boldly titled Ultraviolence, perhaps a reference to Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange? Thus, the pop culture collage that is Del Rey’s music continues. In all honesty, it’s almost easier to start asking what isn’t a reference when analysing Read more...

Giveaway: Arcee - The Cool Zone EP

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014

Local rapper Arcee is giving away two copies of her debut EP, both of which will be signed by the artist herself. To be in to win, keep an eye on the Critic Facebook page this week for details on how to enter. Her EP launch takes place on 12 July and it’s free entry, so if you’re a hip-hop Read more...

New this week / Singles in review

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014

Sharon Van Etten - Every Time The Sun Comes Up The second single from her upcoming album Are We There Yet. Sharon Van Etten crafts yet another melancholic folk song, this time over an affected drum machine. Her voice is full of substance and carries a heaviness that is beautiful, as well Read more...

Download of the week: Salad Boys - Salad Boys (NZ)

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014

Salad Boys are a band from Christchurch, and this album features some incredible chill-out pop songs. Featuring members of T54, the guitar playing is magnificent. Eight songs, lo-fi, dreamy and fun. Sometimes surfy, sometimes upbeat, bringing to mind Flying Nun glory days. Salad Boys is now Read more...

Pop Strangers - Fortuna

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014

Popstrangers are serious about this music thing, and so they should be. Since 2012 not only have they signed to Carpark Records, they’ve also made the bold decision of moving all the way to London. With a slew of strong singles since then (“Country Kills,” “Don’t Be Afraid”), I’ve found myself Read more...

New this week / Singles in review

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014

Sharon Van Etten - Every Time the Sun Comes Up The second single from her upcoming album Are We There Yet. Sharon Van Etten crafts yet another melancholic folk song, this time over an affected drum machine. Her voice is full of substance and carries a heaviness that is beautiful, as Read more...

Download of the week: Sheep, Dog and Wolf - Ablutophobia EP (NZ)

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014

Sheep, Dog and Wolf is the project of prolific New Zealand musician Daniel McBride, recorded in 2011 when he was only 17. He says, “My name is Daniel McBride, 17 years of age, and Ablutophobia EP is the result of nine months on-and-off recording in a tiny little studio I’ve managed to set up Read more...

The Phoenix Foundation - Tom's Lunch EP

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014

Rating: A- In the fall of 2013, New Zealand pop heavyweights The Phoenix Foundation released their sprawling double album Fandango to widespread acclaim. The album featured two drummers, with longtime member Richie Singleton leaving the band in the midst of making the album to focus on Read more...

Artist Profile: Millie Lovelock

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014

Millie Lovelock is one part of space-pop duo Astro Children and also my bandmate in Trick Mammoth. This year she travelled to Montreal as part of the University’s exchange programme. An influential presence on the Dunedin music scene, I asked Millie some questions about her trip and what we can Read more...