CD Reviews: The Means

Functioning as a groove and textural canvas on which they invite others to paint vocals, Kiwi trio Abraham Kunin, Tom Broome and Marika Hodgson, collectively known as The Means, might not be household names but they've made music with a few more well-known types, including AnikaBoh&Hollie and Nathan Haines.

I mention those acts because they point to the crucial blend of pop sensibility and detached jazz cool at the heart of The Means' debut, eight-song release which, although slightly polite, still manages to evoke plenty of smoky soul, particularly when singer Esther Stephens pops up to reinforce her talent.