Man Overboard

Rip It Up, Issue 64, 1 November 1982, Page 2

Man Overboard

by Ken Barnes

The column opening this issue is devoted to yet another consuming interest of mine, New Zealand and Australian music. Australia is enjoying a boomlet of global interest, from Rick Springfield to the Birthday Party, so it's not exactly suffering from inattention, and although there are some great recent Australian records, I'll deal with them later on. I'm starting with New Zealand, as neglected an English-language music scene as exists, but one whose diversity, exuberance, and volume of good music rivals any locality's. Don't treat this as any kind of definitive guide to modern NZ music. Even in the U.S. there are enthusiasts like Ron Kane (without whose educative aid, along with the equally indispensable help of Rip It Up editor Murray Cammick, I couldn't have made it even this far) whose knowledge of NZ minutiae dwarfs mine. But I have been interested in New Zealand rock after acquiring |thanks to local historian Roy Colbert) a rather amazing selection of '6os records by artists like Ray Columbus & the Invaders, the La De Das (both of whom have available reissue packages), Larry's Rebels, the Underdogs, the Pleazers, the Avengers and the Fourmyula (whose Chris Parry later went on to produce the Jam's early records and mastermind the Cure, who now seem to be a primary influence on the modern bands). More recently it was Split Enz and their spinoffs the Swingers (whose mindboggling "Counting The Beat" is now a U.S. single) who rekindled my interest. But there's a lot more that hasn't escaped the country's borders until recently, when importers like Jem and Important started bringing in some current releases. A good way to start acquainting yourself with NZ music today is with an anthology- the "Hits & Myths" series, for instance, of which the second volume, More Hits & Myths, recently appeared. Besides odd Swingers and Split Enz tracks, you get 14 more songs, 10 of considerable interest - from the cavernous modern UK-style sounds of Danse Macabre and Penknife Glides to the sardonic XTC-ish rock of Blam Blam Blams near-classic "There Is

No Depression In New Zealand" to the chirpy pop of the Crocodiles (who have two interesting albums, one out in England], There's a haunting track by Graeme Gash, and best of all there’s the Screaming Meemees' irresistible "Till I Die," which I wrote about in my June column. You’ll probably also enjoy Goar's Milk Soap, a sampler of spottier overall quality but featuring the Meemees, Swingers and Danse Macabre again (different tracks], plus the amusing 'Trendy Lefties" by the Mockers (good group), a fine Jam-like rocker by the New Entrants, and the best cut I've heard by the highly-touted, souloriented (and now, I think, defunct) Ncwmatics. So far my favorite NZ group is the Screaming Meemees. an opinion formed earlier from a four-song EP and confirmed by their recent album, If This Is Paradise I'll Take The Bag, which is actually rougher-sounding than their earlier material but spotlights slabs of guitars that almost reach early-Who excitement levels at times. The first side is as raw and stirring as anyone could ask. Other good records: The Penknife Glides' Sound of Drums EP features a title track that's the equal of most Echo & the Bunnymen records. Danse Macabre's Between The Lines EP also echoes the Bunnymen, with Torch” and "Conditioner” the sterling standouts. The Clean have a very raw single called "Platypus" with a guitar break that crosses the Velvet Underground (apparently a big modern-day NZ influence, along with Television) with the "Anyway Anyhow Anywhere" Who. A later 12-inch EP, Boodle Boodle Boodle, has a topnotch three-song side full of sprawling electric guitar riffs and interesting acoustic flavorings. (A more recent EP didn't impress me as much, and I think the Clean too are now defunct.) Blam Blam Blam's self-titled mini-LP has the afore-praised "Depression" and another exceptional track, "Got To Be Guilty." "Walls Of Art" by the Knobz has a great chorus: and a double-album sampler with a side for each of four groups shows the Sneaky Feelings and Chills edging the interestingly named Stones and Verlaines (!) on a generally crude but promising set. Some NZ artists could stand to be a bit less slavish in their emulation of British trends (Cure, Echo, etc.), but their innate melodicism and raw-edged guitar tendencies are to be greatly prized. I'm sure there are more great records to come. Meanwhile, if you care to open NZ lines of communication, the highly informative magazine Rip it Up is located at PO Box 5689, Auckland 1, New

Zealand.