This one's been floating around in the background for a while now, so i'm delighted to finally be able to talk about this fantastic compilation of 80s underground action from New Zealand, lovingly put together by new imprint, Strangelove. Though it draws on a few deeeeeepcuts from the Flying Nun universe (Roger Knox, the magnificent Headless Chickens) and obviously takes its name from janglist massive Kiwi Animal, don't let that define your understanding of what's on offer here. For me, this strikes a note somewhere between the avant explorations of the Lowtides comp, the DIY charm offensive of early Chapter, and world-opening eclecticism of Skygirl. If you ever needed reminding that NZ isn't just Flying Nun, here's your evidence - from Norma O'Malley's transcendent chamber hymnal (side point - big Tara Clerkin Trio feel to this) to Ballare's minimal wave pumper to Stiff Herberts' Thomas Leer-isms, this a wondrous tour through the undergrowth. No surprise that the most isolated places turn out the purest expressions. Two essential compilations this week (along with Minna Miteru), both charged with names you'll likely not see anywhere else. Handy shortcuts for deep diving, and portals to new worlds! YES!
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‘Kiwi Animals’ is a personal catalog of local oddities; affectionately recasting the 1980’s New Zealand Top 40 in a parallel universe of misfit pop, gonzo-tronics & voodoo-waves.
Channeling South Pacific gothic sensibilities and edge of world melancholia, the album highlights unexpected electronic tangents from iconic NZ groups Blam Blam Blam & Headless Chickens.
It dredges the C-90 revelations of art avante-gardists’ Drone & Kim Blackburn, along with the bittersweet pop of Rupert & Norma O’Malley. There’s the infectious minimal wave of Ballare and a reprised dance suite from Tom Ludvigson & Graeme Gash.
The furthest depths of Flying Nun’s catalog are also plundered- a brilliant earworm from Stiff Herbert and a mysterious Roger Knox birthday promo. Mining the various disparate seams of a local indie label awakening, ‘Kiwi Animals’ congeals with future/primitive ingenuity and an underlying Antipodean pop mischievousness…
