Release Roundup - Tiny Ruins, Tom Lark, Race Banyon, TL Stamp + More

Another choppy week work-wise, this time punctuated by Anzac Day on Tuesday, yet the high quality local tunes flowed like rich wine. Let's gaze backwards through time at this week's news coverage of Karl Sölve Steven, Guardian Singles, Raw Collective, Terrible Sons and Bryony Matthews, then delve below for more choice Aotearoa releases from Tiny Ruins, Tom Lark, TL Stamp, Maxine Funke, Race Banyon, Lontalius, the Min B'eed ١ fundraiser compilation, and the forthcoming Proud: An Urban-Pacific Street Soul Compilation vinyl LP reissue from Flying Nun.

The four years in the making creation of Hollie Fullbrook and her Tiny Ruins bandmates Cass Basil (King Sweeties, Carnivorous Plant Society), Alex Freer (A.C. Freazy, BUB), and guitarist / producer Tom Healy, Ceremony lands today ahead of the group's eight date release tour — inviting listeners on a beautifully arranged "saga set on the shores of Tāmaki Makaurau's (aka Auckland’s) Manukau Harbour". You can order the vinyl LP and CD edition via the Bandcamp link.

The first various artists release from Hafleh – "A liminal space run by and for the SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) community and friends in Aotearoa" — all-killer compilation Min B'eed ١ includes cuts by MOKOTRON, M4URI M4STA, Dylan Biscuit and VERCETTI, who's playing at tonight's Dollhouse Vol. 3 party at Neck Of The Woods (tickets HERE). "100% percent of profits from this compilation will be sent directly to friends within Syria to support them after the devastating February 6th earthquakes."

Gifted with a voice as comforting as your favourite rug and a fresh cheese scone, Tāmaki Makaurau's Tom Lark aka Shannon Fowler (whose musical monikers include Shannon Matthew Vanya) has unveiled the rustically rousing 'Live Wires', the second single from his forthcoming album Brave Star.

Crafter of electronic gems when he's not award-winning host of RNZ's The Sampler, Tony Stamp aka TL Stamp's new groover 'Surgeon' hits like a glass of cool sparkling water on a hot summer day, and reportedly there's an entire album named Vendors on the way. "This one has quite a bit of my voice in it, and some percussion I nicked from a Fugazi song."

The benchmark when it comes to high quality Aotearoa songcraft, Maxine Funke today shared her new collection River Said via Disciples, closing with delicately immersive ten minute soundscape / ballad 'Oblivion'.

Maintaining a prolific streak, Eddie Johnston dropped two crisp beatscapes today 'Tell Me / AM' from his electronic project Race Banyon, plus heart-melting new Lontalius ballad earlier this week 'Tangerine'.

Named Independent Music New Zealand’s Classic Record in May 2022, indispensable document of South Auckland's early '90s hip hop / RnB movement Proud: An Urban-Pacific Street Soul Compilation is receiving a double vinyl LP reissue from Flying Nun out 26th May — featuring hands down iconic tracks by Sisters Underground (‘In The Neighbourhood'), Otara Millionaires Club (‘We R The OMC’) and more.