11 Oct 2024
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Articles By Trevor Faville

Pining Radiata - EP Review: Skin
27 Sep 2024 // review by Trevor Faville
These days it's not unusual to see, and indeed expect, a high level of songwriting craft and instrumental skill from younger or less experienced bands. Debut recordings now tend to be polished and well-crafted affairs.
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Luna Shadows - Album Review: bathwater
19 Jun 2024 // review by Trevor Faville
Luna Shadows' new album bathwater arrives on the back of considerable momentum from their previous work. Currently based in Los Angeles, since releasing the single Hallelujah California in 2016, Luna Shadows has garnered considerable attention, some serious press and impressive listening numbers.
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Elmo Strauss - Album Review: In My Sleep
08 Dec 2023 // review by Trevor Faville
Elmo Strauss began writing, recording and producing music in the format he describes as a ‘One Man Band’ since 2021, with the release of debut album Light and Dark. In My Sleep is his latest collection and is a logical follow on from the first album, in terms of the sound and the process.
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The Fuzzies - Album Review: Cupid
15 Nov 2023 // review by Trevor Faville
The Fuzzies are a three-piece self-described ‘Alternative pop trio’ from Auckland. Collectively Niki Maera (Mary), Kelly Michael (Tabula Rasa, Enshrine) and Andrew Maitai (Powertool Records, Joed Out) bring the momentum of considerable experience into the music on this album.
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Claudia Robin Gunn - Album Review: Firefly
02 Oct 2023 // review by Trevor Faville
Working in music education gives some insight into what challenging area that Children’s Music can be. The first essential consideration is simply coming to terms with the makeup of the audience, and knowing that children, whanau, and teachers are combined into particularly unique ‘demographic’.
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Hummucide - Album Review: Tides
18 Aug 2023 // review by Trevor Faville
Hummucide are a well established group of musicians originally based in Wellington (although now working round the world) “Heavy Jazz” is the way they describe their sound, and that's an accurate phrase- and a rather nifty one, too. Tides is the group's first full length album release and it's the result of an extensive and extended process of crafting and refining.
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Tone6 - Single Review: Close Your Eyes
05 Jul 2023 // review by Trevor Faville
Tone6 are a vocal group from Auckland, consisting of Kirita Leavasa , Selevasio Tu'ima, Peachez Vetenibua, Seletute Tu'ima, Viliami Tupa'i and Shaelyn Togafiti , who began working together when attending Saintzup Performing Arts School. The collective experience and ability of these singers belies their youth, and while Close Your Eyes is just their second release, it's a powerful and assured musical statement.
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Yann Le Dorré - Single Review: I Love You
09 Jun 2023 // review by Trevor Faville
I Love You is the second solo release from Yann Le Dorre, formally a mainstay in the Poneke-based ‘gutter folk’ outfit Yolk. I Love You a follows a path described by previous release Missed as clear development from the work Le Dorre has done in Yolk- removed is the extra instrumentation in favour of a baritone voice set in a minimalist musical backing.
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IVY - Single Review: Heartless
19 May 2023 // review by Trevor Faville
Ivy are easily one of the more sonically ambitious bands that you can hear from Aotearoa New Zealand currently. Heartless is their latest work following on from last year's EP For The Sake of It, where it would not sound at all out of place.
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Valley Kids - Single Review: Otherside
10 May 2023 // review by Trevor Faville
Poneke based Valley Kids have been drawing a career arc that continues upward from their first release in 2020, and with the support of NZ On Air the four piece have released their third single Otherside. Right from the opening guitar refrain, it's clear what an experienced and cohesive unit this is.
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IVY - EP Review: For The Sake Of It
14 Mar 2023 // review by Trevor Faville
Ivy are a band hailing from Dunedin, and For The Sake Of It is a five song collection which expands on their debut release single Stranger, which came out at the end of 2022. As might be expected from a band who adds the words “alternative” and “prog” to their description, Ivy are ambitious musically, and have a very broad reach when it comes to lyrical inspiration.
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Sarah Valintine - Single Review: Words
19 Dec 2022 // review by Trevor Faville
Sarah Valintine is a Tamaki Makaurau-Based poet and songwriter. Words is her latest release, and it's a part of a more expansive project called the Pop Poetry Collection.
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Christine White - Single Review: Raven
14 Oct 2022 // review by Trevor Faville
Christine White is an experienced and accomplished composer, with an impressive musical background. Raven is the first part of what is being described as a ‘multifaceted release’ called The Raven Project and is available on video and audio formats.
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Dillastrate - Single Review: Taku Aroha
09 Sep 2022 // review by Trevor Faville
Dillastrate is made up of drummer/vocalist Henare 'H' Kaa and Tim Driver who handles Keys/loops/vocals, adding MC Luis Mill for live work. This group comes with a background of considerable musical skill and experience and brings this all to bear with their latest single Taku Aroha.
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Goldsmith Baynes - Single/Video Review: Hei Kawe i a Au
17 Aug 2022 // review by Trevor Faville
Allana Goldsmith and Mark Baynes have worked together for a decade and form the creative heart of Goldsmith Baynes. They both have extensive experience in the international and local worlds of Jazz and have brought considerable skills and knowledge to this single Hei Kawe i a Au which is from their upcoming debut album E Rere Ra.
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Nuggiez - Album Review: Toil In The Time of Monsters
09 Jun 2022 // review by Trevor Faville
In something of a classic Punk tradition, the opening paragraph in the press release for this release begins with some social commentary, and a position statement- establishing Nuggiez’ attitude and intent before mentioning the band or its music, and if ever there is an appropriate introduction to this band, that would be it.Nuggiez are based in Tamaki Makaurau , and have been evolving the material for Toil In The Time of Monsters over a period of quite some time.
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Kyla Greening - Single Review: Rich Girl
31 Mar 2022 // review by Trevor Faville
Kyla Greening hails from Cambridge, and while Rich Girl is her first release as such, she is already known to many in the Waikato as an experienced performer and  very capable singer who is comfortable in range of music situations. Fair to say that for many it could be said that for many, this release has been keenly anticipated, Greening combines three key elements into Rich Girl - A thorough understanding of RnB/ Soul songwriting and arranging, sensitive and intelligent production/arrangements, and a sophisticated, melodic sensibility.
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Ersha Island - Double Single Review: Good Day/Gut Feeling
09 Mar 2022 // review by Trevor Faville
Ersha Island consists of Auckland based siblings Danielle Hao-Aickin (vocals and keys) and Tee Hao-Aickin (violin) both of whom bring extensive musical training and experience into this foray into a more contemporary genre. Quite a bit of press attention has already gone the way of this duo, and even a cursory read of this reveals two highly motivated women with a clear vision of what they are doing- in terms of both the musical intent and cultural perspective.
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Dylan Storey - Single/Video Review: Foreign Sands
30 Nov 2021 // review by Trevor Faville
Dylan Storey is based in Auckland and is the kind of musician who steadfastly treads his own path, be it as a contributing guitarist for the likes of Reb Fountain and Fleur Jack, or working in a variety of pro bands- as well as writing and releasing his own work. Storey maintains an impressive work rate and eclectic output.
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Shivers - Single Review: Runaway
09 Jul 2021 // review by Trevor Faville
This is the second release from Shivers since the group evolved in Wellington in 2018. Founders Adrian Win and Timmy Porter are at the heart of the sound, but Runaway involves a larger cast of contributors-notably drummer Rick Cranson.
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Simon Hirst - Single Review: No Turning Back
13 May 2021 // review by Trevor Faville
Hamilton Singer-songwriter Simon Hirst has released a new single No Turning Back. This is his first new material since the Feet of God collection from 2018.
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Marsha - Single Review: Last Night
28 Apr 2021 // review by Trevor Faville
Marsha’s history dates from 2018 or so, and Last Night is the latest release for these "four dudes from Christchurch". It's an accomplished track - a considered melody and thoughtful vocal arrangements are an early and immediate take-away.
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Indie Soull - Album Review: The Book of Angels
17 Mar 2021 // review by Trevor Faville
Indie Soull is the working name for much-travelled author and musician Mutch Katsonga and The Book of Angels is his latest release and forms part of an extensive catalogue of work that stretches back to 2016.The Book of Angels is an eight-track album including two versions of the final song The Lord Taketh Away that projects the voice of an experienced, mature and considered singer-songwriter.
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Emily Rice - Single Review: Over Time
10 Dec 2020 // review by Trevor Faville
Emily Rice is an experienced singer/songwriter with considerable international experience and perspective. Working with We Stole The Sun, New Jungle Order and Aro among others, her prior work has garnered the stamp of approval from artists of the calibre of Kimbra-no-mean-feat.
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Imperial April - Single Review: Tonic For Your Boredom
21 Aug 2020 // review by Trevor Faville
This is the second release from Christchurch combo Imperial April, that has evolved in a new direction from their origins as The Response, with Victoria Ropp taking an upfront role on vocals. As such, Tonic for Your Boredom is a further refinement - and step up from- previous release Peachy.
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Venice Qin - EP Review: Dreamboy
29 May 2020 // review by Trevor Faville
Venice Qin is an Auckland based singer and Songwriter. Dreamboy is a four-song collection and is her first release.
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isunray - EP Review: Balancing Act
09 Mar 2020 // review by Trevor Faville
isunray essentially consists of multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Hay, who has quite an extensive history of songwriting, arranging and producing. For this release, he is joined by vocalist Jade Eru, who makes a powerful and significant contribution.
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Al Fraser - Al Fraser, Sam Leamy and Neil Johnstone - Album Review: Panthalassa
17 Sep 2019 // review by Trevor Faville
This trio of highly experienced creators (aided by an impressive cast of guest contributors) have created a suite of sonic explorations with quite clear ‘‘abstract and impressionist” intent. The attendant press notes explain in detail the scope, intent and process of this work.
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Tablefox - Single Review: Always Always
05 Sep 2019 // review by Trevor Faville
Tablefox have been on a career climb since 2013, steadily building momentum with some notable live gigs and recorded work. Along the way the group has grown from three to five and their sound has evolved in scope and focus as a result.
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Albi & The Wolves - Gig Review: Albi and the Wolves @ Nivara Lounge, Hamilton - 23/08/2019
30 Aug 2019 // review by Trevor Faville
There is a group of New Zealand musicians who are really putting in some time around the touring circuit at the moment. It's cliche to describe them as ‘hard working’ - that's glib and a redundancy - but certainly, the work is getting done and it is showing in terms of their successes.
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Blue River Baby - Single Review: Blue River Baby
06 Jun 2019 // review by Trevor Faville
The hard working Wellington based 'electric psychedelic soul and funk rock' ensemble Blue River Baby have released their self-titled and third single as a video. Blue River Baby clearly has the same evolution as Walk of Shame and Black Yard Town.
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New Telepathics - Single Review: Life On Other Planets
27 Mar 2019 // review by Trevor Faville
The New Telepathics are an Auckland based ensemble with quite an extensive recording and performing history-and a history that deserves a thorough exploration. This is a refreshingly independently minded ensemble.
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Blue River Baby - Single Review: Black Yard Town
19 Feb 2019 // review by Trevor Faville
The Blue River Baby band have been working and evolving in Wellington for the last two years or so, and this tune is a clear representation of the style and sound that they have developed. Black Yard Town moves through a range of tempo and dynamic changes in a funk/ soul context, with an arrangement that is in one way tight and at the same time fluid.
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Album Review: Waiuku College - Our Sound
09 Jan 2019 // review by Trevor Faville
Changes in secondary education point towards project based and /or big picture learning approaches which attempts, among other things, to replicate ‘real world situations and experiences. The idea being that learning would involve many curriculum linking into a project or experience.
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Gig Review: Panic! At The Disco @ Spark Arena, Auckland - 16/10/2018
18 Oct 2018 // review by Trevor Faville
The backstory of Panic! At the Disco makes for some interesting questions when going to this show.
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Holly Arrowsmith - Album Review: A Dawn I Remember
10 Jul 2018 // review by Trevor Faville
Sometimes it’s good to approach writing a review for a new collection of music by listening to the music first, before reading any of the attendant press, and reviewer info. That way you listen to what you are hearing as opposed to what you are expecting.
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Simon Hirst - Album Review: Feet of God
02 Apr 2018 // review by Trevor Faville
This is not quite the first release from Hamilton based artist Simon Hirst. Preceding Feet of God have been two EP’s, Shining in Silver from 2017, and the online-only The Cats Out of the Bag which as well as containing alternative versions of some of the Feet of God tracks, functions as quite an important companion piece.
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Streakers - Single Review: BDSM
05 Mar 2018 // review by Trevor Faville
BDSM is a solid first release from New Brighton based three-piece Streakers. For a debut recorded effort, this tune has the focus, clarity, and impact that plainly reflects a fair amount of ‘quality time’, the kind of time spent playing live and allowing a sound to develop.
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Album Review: Waiuku College Music Presents - Our Sound Volume 1
01 Dec 2017 // review by Trevor Faville
This collection of songs from students at Waiuku College is an example of a new sensibility in music education, motivated by perceptions of industry realities and recognising the strengths and influences of the students themselves. At its best, this makes for an exciting situation where fresh musical energy and ideas grab hold of traditional knowledge benefiting both.
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Mo Etc. - Album Review: Platonic/Romantic (Live At Bats)
05 Jan 2017 // review by Trevor Faville
This is the first full outing from the Wellington ‘electronic R’n’B’ combo of Moana Ete, Slade Butler and Marcus Gurtner. Those familiar with the latest Fly My Pretties excursion will recognise the distinctive voice that sings Mud & Stardust, a version of which is presented here in quite a different frame.
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Fly My Pretties - Album Review: String Theory
20 Nov 2016 // review by Trevor Faville
Welcome to the 6th recorded excursion from Barnaby Weir's occasional collective who have certainly become something of a fixture for New Zealand music since 2004. Fly My Pretties is an idea that has proved to have real legs, and not one that is showing any signs of losing momentum.
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Avalanche City - Our New Life Above Ground Album Review
07 May 2011 // review by Trevor Faville
Avalanche City - Our New Life Above The Ground It’s a great story this… musician Dave Baxter, just like another famous Dave (Grohl), records an entire album by himself, said album goes viral, gets picked up by a Big Record Company, gets top ten hit. That Hit, 'Love Love Love' kicks off the album, and is a clear statement of intent, really, a mid tempo sort-of-acoustic number with a big, catchy, feel-good chorus.
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Ruby Fusion - Disciplinary Hearings Album Review
13 Feb 2011 // review by Trevor Faville
Ruby FusionDisciplinary Hearings Debut full length CD from a Christchurch 4 piece who claim they are “old enough to know better”. It's hard to find much background on this group – A bit of internet digging does reveal links with the Equus record label which appears to be a collective enterprise that has some interesting ideas and which provides a neat phrase describing the sound of the band -“folky-punky blues”.
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Dear Time's Waste - Spells Album Review
25 Oct 2010 // review by Trevor Faville
Dear Time's Waste operates as a flexible lineup with its focus through singer and main writer Claire Duncan. The sound has been evolving over the last two or so years, and this is and this is their first full length album after the 5 song EP 'Room for Rent'.
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Concord Dawn - The Enemy Within album review
29 Sep 2010 // review by Trevor Faville
Concord Dawn - The Enemy Within For those unfamiliar, lets talk a bit about drum n bass: heavy on repetition, groove, and timbre, melodic lines tend to be short and rhythmically derived, and harmonic progression tends to be limited. Dynamics are achieved through the process of breaking down a piece by removing of instrument lines, and then adding them back in again, either gradually or at once.
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Glass Owls - Dead Love EP review
16 Jul 2010 // review by Trevor Faville
This six song debut CD represents an important stage in the three-year existence of the Glass Owls, as a first chance to commit to record some songs that have been well tried and tested in this Howick-based groups extensive gigging history. The opening song 'Griffin Boy' wears is influences too clearly on its sleeve with heavy nods towards Julian Casablanca’s vocal style and the instrumentation and feel of Franz Ferdinand.
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Her Make Believe Band - 'A.M. Radio' album review
03 Apr 2010 // review by Trevor Faville
Her Make Believe band can quote some pretty heavy press about their debut release, especially from their sort-of home base of England. Much is made of singer Cy Winstanley’s similarity to Paul Simon, and there are times when this is true-either in a beguiling and unaffected fashion (“Stay”), or in a perhaps more stylised, knowing way (Drummer Tom Greenhalgh’s Steve Gadd-esque intro to “Welcome Home”- 50 ways to drop a in a musical reference, perhaps?
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Devils Elbow - 'KO' EP review
10 Mar 2010 // review by Trevor Faville
KO (EP)The name Devil’s Elbow might not ring many recognition bells-yet- but this two-piece have some solid pro history and have brought some big guns to assist on this their first release, a three track EP.Looking for descriptions of their sound on the web is fun, the best being Facebooks ‘Shitkicker/ Country / Punk / Rock’ line.
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The Dylan Storey Band - Out Of The Soup album review
17 Oct 2009 // review by Trevor Faville
Dylan Storey Out Of The Soup This is the third CD Mr Storey has released since 2005, and reveals a man on a fascinating journey-in that he is a capable instrumentalist (with a players’ need to play) and someone who invests time and thought into his lyrical content. Add to that a somewhat idiosyncratic vocal style, and you have a very interesting “sum of the parts” indeed.
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Isaac Aesili - Isaac Aesili - Eye See album review
13 Sep 2009 // review by Trevor Faville
Isaac Aesili Eye See This is the debut album from an experienced and educated musician with an impressive CV already, having appeared as a trumpet player and co-writer on a number of significant local releases over the last few years. His stated intent with this CD is “to offer today’s youth a counter voice to the glorification and idealisation of gangster culture, so often promoted by commercial R’n’B” It’s a CD big on intent, then, and (at sixteen tracks long), big on scope too.
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The Checks - 'Alice By The Moon' album review
11 Jun 2009 // review by Trevor Faville
The Checks Alice By The Moon. The Checks have traversed a ridiculously parabolic success curve, finding their stride musically when still at school and moving from strength to strength.
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The Pleasures Of June - Perfect Strangers review
05 May 2009 // review by Trevor Faville
The Pleasures Of June Perfect Strangers The Pleasures of June present a somewhat enigmatic front, with very little that a casual (or even less casual) Google reveals, and no press release to accompany this release. Perhaps this duo of multi-instrumentalists would just rather we “ judge on the music”.
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DateMonthYear - 7Ghosts review from Nexus
29 Mar 2009 // review by Trevor Faville
by JoeCitizen on Sunday 21 May 2006 It took me a while for this album to grow on me, sminly because on first listening it sounded similar to their 'Sampler' album - so much so that I had to go back to 'Sampler' to check. Its quite a lot different, if only because the production values are higher - although there are still some places in '7Ghosts' that seem quite familiar.
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Clap Clap Riot - TV Knows Better Review
16 Mar 2009 // review by Trevor Faville
Clap Clap Riot TV Knows Better A quick Google makes for a very positive first impression of this four piece from Christchurch, who has obviously made some big inroads over the last ytear or so. This 5 Song CD is their debut recording, and as such is a powerful statement of intent.
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Paul McLaney - Diamond Side
13 Mar 2008 // review by Trevor Faville
Paul McLaney has had a varied and interesting career to date – being a key contributor to Gramsci, SJD and Concord Dawn, among others. According to McLaney himself, his previous solo effort Edin was somewhat of a watershed for him as a solo performer and when commenting on this collection he reveals the intent of writing songs with just voice and guitar as “the entire framework outside of the lyric” as he puts it.
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Strangers - Weight reveiw
04 Nov 2007 // review by Trevor Faville
“Weight” By Strangers Review by trevf Track List 1.Expositions 2.
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Strangers - 'Holding' Review
07 Feb 2007 // review by Trevor Faville
'Holding' By Strangers Review by trevf Track List 1. Meursalt Blues 2.
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The New Caledonia - Live Review 13-01-07
17 Jan 2007 // review by Trevor Faville
Live review By Trevf The new Caledonia @ Sohl Bar, Hamilton on 13-01-07 Set list - Pseudo Zoot Suit? - Disco In Outer Space City?
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DateMonthYear - Sampler review from Absorbed!
03 Oct 2005 // review by Trevor Faville
Go there now! [url]http://www.
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NZ Top 10 Singles

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  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
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  • TIMELESS
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  • ESPRESSO
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  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
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  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • TOO SWEET
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  • BEAUTIFUL THINGS
    Benson Boone
View the Full NZ Top 40...
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