UPPER New Zealand

Rip It Up, Issue 214, 1 June 1995, Page 35

UPPER New Zealand

I UPPER HUTT POSSE Can’t Get Away CD Single (Tangata) The follow-up to the memorable ‘As The Blind See' is a side of the Posse rarely seen. ‘Can’t Get Away’ has them on the cruisy jazz/funk tip — it could be a stripped down Digable Planets if not for the inimitable D Word vocal, and the ragga skills of Wiya. Four versions are here, the re-mix style being the best. Repeated listening is a good idea, but this track is guaranteed to please. I STICKY FILTH Def Thru Misadventure EP 7 Inch Single (Ima Hitt) Taranaki’s finest have been promising this EP for ages, and it’s good to smell vinyl again (not much of the stuff finds its way to RipltUp any more). Def Thru Misadventure hurls out three heavy, break-neck speed metal beauties, kinda like a punk Motorhead. Top choice is the brilliantly titled ‘Vodka, The Devil and Me’, a classic in the same vein as the superb ‘Weep Woman Weep’. Write to Ima Hitt, PC Box 407, New Plymouth. I NOTHING AT ALL! Busted Cassette Another fine cassette release from Nothing At AHI. Four tracks as thrashy, muddy and snotty sounding as you’d expect. ‘Clean Me Next Week’ is wonderful pop/punk done Replacements style. The live favourite ‘Nothing At All!’ is really where it’s at, and will give all third generation rude boys something to smile about. I COSA NOSTRA This Thing Of Ours I Mini Album (Antenna)

Cosa Nostra (the partnership between producer Daniel Barnes and Greg Johnson Set guitarist Trevor Reekie) serve up an eclectic range

of delicate soundscapes and genuine musical experiments on their debut release. The lack of a studied game plan sees them veering from the psychedelic techno stomp of ‘Yo Scuzzball’, to the trancey urban ragga/dub of ‘Still Water’, and onto the beautiful spacious melodies contained on ‘Close To The Edge'. This impresses more with each listen and is quickly reaching the point where you fully realise its brilliance. Most important though — this must be played loud. I DAVE DOBBYN Naked Flame CD Single (Sony) Two of the best songs from Twist feature on Dobbyn’s new single. ‘Naked Flame’ is a charming melody drenched acoustic number, featuring Emma Paki on backing vocals, while ‘What Do You Really Want’ straddles the line between being a powerful ballad and a balls out rocker. Both bona fide stunners.

ISHIHAD Bitter CD Single (Wildside) .' . Unforgiving and brutal are the two words to describe the barrage of rage that is ‘Bitter’. Built on Shihad’s trademark bed of dark, intense riffs, it holds just enough melody to make it not totally uneasy listening. ‘Bring Your Friends’ and ‘Just Like Everybody Else’ don’t even sound like Shihad... Recorded during pre-production sessions for Killjoy,; they’re both uneventful and unchallenging. ’ TEMPEST Precious Times Cassette EP Seven song EP from Christchurch band Tempest. This music has its place, but it sure as fuck doesn’t belong on my stereo. Imagine every 70s heavy metal cliche rolled into one, then triple it.

JOHN RUSSELL