19 May 2023 // A review by Kev Rowland
Some years back I was asked by AAA Records if I would write the press release for the debut album by a young Auckland-based prog band to which of course I agreed and in due course I was speaking to singer Michael Brown of Outside In about their incredible release, Karmatrain. I have been fortunate enough to see them play a few times since then, while Michael has also been guesting with other people plus also putting videos up on Facebook of him singing covers. He has now decided to release solo material under the name of Mikey Videotape, and this is his first release in that guise.

Those expecting a single in the progressive vein may be somewhat disappointed, as instead what we have is a song which in many ways looks back to the Eighties and the music of Yazoo and a lighter version of Depeche Mode with layered synths and programmed drums. At the heart of this are Mikey’s wonderfully clear vocals, and the accompaniment is designed to lift them and provide the contrast between the programmed and the real, while the use of an acoustic guitar as the outro is a great way of showing variety.

The Strangest Dream is a commercial song, of that there is no doubt, and it would not surprise me to hear this on the radio as it is clean and modern while also dropping back nearly 40 years, the result being something which is immediate and full of hooks. Mikey is one of our finest clean singers, which is why he has been asked to perform with others, and this single demonstrates that well.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ ( 4 / 5 )

When Mikey decided to go solo with his musical works, he underwent a creative renaissance of sorts. Untethered from the limitations of working in a band setting (Mikey is the vocalist for prog band Outside In), Mikey quickly wrote more songs than he had written in the previous two years in a huge outpouring of creativity over a month. Mikey Videotape had arrived.

Some songs are fully electronic production, while others built on more traditional arrangements, all the while flavouring it with his particular progressive style. Mikey Videotape delivers memorable hooks with surprising time signatures and cinematic moving synths. Mikey Videotape’s first single, The Strangest Dream, is out May 20 on Lost Records.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Mikey Videotape

There are no releases to display for Mikey Videotape.

View All Articles By Kev Rowland

• 1
  Anxiety Club
• 2
  Devilskin
• 3
  Coridian
• 4
  Skinny Hobos
• 5
  Take Hold
• 6
  Shihad
• 7
  Head Like A Hole
• 8
  L.A.B.
• 9
  Villainy
• 10
  Katchafire

• 
  Muroki @ Galatos, Auckland - 19/04/2024
• 
  Dougfest Junior @ Big Fan, Auckland - 20/04/2024
• 
  When The Cats Away @ Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington - 21/04/2024
• 
  Luke Buda @ Whammy Bar, Auckland - 20/04/2024

• 1
  FORTNIGHT
  Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone
• 2
  TOO SWEET
  Hozier
• 3
  DOWN BAD
  Taylor Swift
• 4
  THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT
  Taylor Swift
• 5
  SO LONG, LONDON
  Taylor Swift
• 6
  I CAN DO IT WITH A BROKEN HEART
  Taylor Swift
• 7
  MY BOY ONLY BREAKS HIS FAVORITE TOYS
  Taylor Swift
• 8
  BUT DADDY I LOVE HIM
  Taylor Swift
• 9
  FLORIDA!!!
  Taylor Swift feat. Florence And The Machine
• 10
  WHO'S AFRAID OF LITTLE OLD ME?
  Taylor Swift

View the Full NZ Top 40...

100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem

• Privacy Policy
• Disclaimer
• Copyright Statement

• Contact
• Advertising
• About Us