South Dunedin via Auckland alternative pop outfit Ha the Unclear is on a "Wee Winter Tour'' this month, taking their slap-you-in-the-face lyricism and skewed pop songs for a national outing before heading into the studio to record their sophomore album later this year.
The last time the quirky quartet toured the country was back in November when they were in support of Grammy-nominated Australian songwriter Courtney Barnett. Since their last visit to Dunedin, the group has toured Australia for the first time.
"We haven't really toured since the Courtney Barnett thing, so we thought we better go get tight before we record,'' vocalist, songwriter and bandleader Michael Cathro said from Auckland.
"We're going to do the record in July so hopefully we'll have something ready to go in October. We've demoed about 16 tracks, and we know where everything is at.
"Thom Healy [of Paquin] is going to do the record at his studio; it might be another self-release if it comes to it. I've got this Woollen Records thing I've been playing around with for a while and put some friends out under it, so maybe through that.''
For the tour set the band will combine the new material with songs from their debut album Bacterium, Look at Your Motor Go to create a fresh tour set about how we treat each other and the things around us, and how alien anthropologists will perceive modern society when we're all dead and gone.
Support comes from post-apocalyptic doom boys quartet Space Bats, Attack! Playing their first show in ages, the band with an impressive person-to-noise ratio will be playing some new songs, and riffs so tricky they even have to use their pinky fingers.
BACK IN DUNEDIN
Wellington solo electronic artist Amber Johnson, aka Waterfalls, returns to Dunedin next week, following the release of her beautiful debut EP in early April.
The self-titled EP is rapturous and evocative, delving deeply into the world of analogue synthesizers, digital looping, hypnotic rhythms and vocals.
Its naturalist timbres and animal soul are spiritual and healing, and should be listened to each night with a warming cup of tea for superior mental health on these dark midwinter days.
Support comes in the form of a semi-rare performance from The Golden Awesome and Mestar's Stef Animal, and local duo Richard Maybe's Passion For Nature.
RELEASE PARTY
Dunedin production outfit Sandboards is marking the debut release from Eden Burns and Tomas Krammer at Carousel Bar tonight.
Their track Nothing But A Freak, a groovy deep house number, will be available via Cold Tonic Records on 12'' white label vinyl shared with Dublin producer Krystal Clear.
Capacity is limited at Carousel, so head down early if you're in the mood to get down.
The duo, who first started making music together a year ago, has more music coming out on Feel My Bicep and an EP on Cold Tonic later this year, so stay tuned.
The gigs
• Ha The Unclear "Wee Winter Tour'' with support from Space Bats, Attack!, tonight, at Plato from 8pm. Tickets are $15 (plus booking fee) from UnderTheRadar.co.nz
• Sandboards Nothing But A Freak 12'' Release Party with Pete Groove, tonight at Carousel Bar. 10pm-4am. Free entry.
• Waterfalls, Richard Maybe's Passion For Nature, and Stef Animal, Friday, July 15, at the Crown Hotel. Entry from 9pm.
