Choice Kiwi Cuts 2018: Coco Solid - Just One Kiss

Coco Solid's 2018 album, COKES, was an eclectic hybrid of urban pop, soul, hip hop, and synthpop. The dreamy 'Just One Kiss' was a masterclass in the latter, and it ticked so many boxes for your blogger, any (initial) resistance to its teen-pop charm became utterly futile …

Choice Kiwi Cuts 2018: Marlon Williams - Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore

Make Way For Love was one of the year's best local albums. Marlon Williams won two NZ Music Awards, plus a highly coveted Silver Scroll for 'Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore', one of the album's stand-out tracks:

Choice Kiwi Cuts 2018: Armchair Insomniacs - Frequency

The self-titled debut album from Auckland's Armchair Insomniacs was a breath of fresh air, and a hybrid of so many different musical styles it was impossible to stick a label on it. My own favourite cut was the yacht-rock embracing ‘Frequency’ …

Choice Kiwi Cuts 2018: Yumi Zouma - In Camera

Globetrotting electro-pop band Yumi Zouma is another local outfit to gain a lot of traction overseas without really hitting the heights at home (yet). I loved the dreamy ‘In Camera’, lifted from September’s third instalment of their self-titled EP trilogy. Strictly pure pop.

Choice Kiwi Cuts 2018: Marlin's Dreaming - I'll Stick By You

Continuing the long tradition of fine young indie bands working out of Dunedin, Marlin’s Dreaming caught my attention in 2018 with ‘I’ll Stick By You’, the opening track from the band’s September-released EP, Talk On/Commic.

Choice Kiwi Cuts 2018: Stef Animal - Our Spanish Dream

Released back in February, Stef Animal's Top Gear album was something quite special. For reasons many and varied. But rather than go into too much detail about the concept behind the album (my review for NZ Musician is here if you want that detail), I thought I'd share with you my own favourite piece from the album: 'Our Spanish Dream (Roland U-110)', which closed proceedings in truly majestic fashion:

Choice Kiwi Cuts 2018: Jonathan Bree - You're So Cool

Ex-Brunettes dude Jonathan Bree is fairly prolific in pumping out slightly subversive indie pop earworms. Whether in his solo guise, or in partnership with another ex-Brunette, Princess Chelsea. ‘You're So Cool’ is a prime example, and it was the first single from his 2018 album, Sleepwalking.

Choice Kiwi Cuts 2018: The Beths - Little Death

Regular blog readers will know this one was coming. ‘Little Death’ was probably my pick of a very decent bunch of tunes on The Beths’ debut album, Future Me Hates Me. 2018 was a huge year for the band, not only with the phenomenal impact that album made, but with extensive touring – UK, Europe, Australia, and the USA – they also made their mark on a global scale. A terrific band with the world at its feet.  

Choice Kiwi Cuts 2018: Merk - Lucky Dilemma

Released as a single back in February, ‘Lucky Dilemma’ was something of a breakthrough solo release for ex-Fazerdaze guitarist Merk, aka Mark Perkins. Lifted off his Swordfish album, this hypnotic track has hooks in all the right places, and it earmarks Merk as a young pop talent well worth keeping a beady eye on. 

Choice Kiwi Cuts 2018: DEAF - Truancy

With the end of the year nigh, over the course of the next six weeks or so, I want to share with you ten of my favourite “Kiwi” tunes (or clips) of 2018. My pick of the local stuff. Tunes that made me sit up and take notice during the year … 

Starting with DEAF, a Wellington band that gained a lot of traction with the release of its debut EP (get it here). That five-track effort included this quirky yet relatively dark post-punk gem, 'Truancy'. I really loved this one.