Release Roundup: LEAO, HANISI GARUE, TGM, Pining Radiata + More

No snappy quips, just sonic tips this Friday afternoon. Revisit this week's coverage of Adam Hattaway feat. Erny Belle, Eli Superflyy, Soft Bait, Joe Kaptein, Black Comet, The Situations, Menzies, Psycho Gab and the Punks For Palestine fundraiser compilation, then explore more new / recent Aotearoa release highlights by LEAO, HANISI GARUE (Navākatoa Tekela-Pule and David Feauai-Afaese), TGM, Barren Hellscape, IA, and Pining Radiata.

Crafting an incredibly resonant fresh vision of Pasifika post-punk with 2019's classic Ghost Roads, LEAO — the project helmed by David Feauai-Afaese — reemerges to welcome listeners into their niu wave universe. Out today via the crucial Noa Records imprint, LEAO's two track 'TAEAO / MEA UMA' is "a sonic va’a formed from the heart of David Feauai-Afaese, these select compositions carry new explorations joined with bassist Navākatoa Tekela-Pule, Hawaiian steel guitarist Levi Gemmell and drums / percussionist Larsen Tito-Taylor. Weaved within a larger constellation of work that is to set reveal in it’s moon’s return, both songs carry messages of hope, reflection and hauntological reminisce. Conceptually paying homage to the Samoan choral reference and alaga’upu — whakatauki/proverbs, whilst presenting a ‘niu wave’ of ideas and dialogical styles." Read more HERE and open your ears.

Also new from Noa Records following a two year pause in releases is STILL HERE SEASON 2 by HANISI GARUE — a sonically generous 28 track offering "of Moana-Fi (Mo-Fi) recordings" from Navākatoa Tekela-Pule (bassist on the above release, also host of our new LIVE MUSIC BAR show) and LEAO's David Feauai-Afaese. "Recorded in the front room of Navākatoa's family home in Grey Lynn, warmly named 'Hanisi Garue’ (loving care & work ), the recording duo and space behind the creation of the music provide potent and lived connections to the narratives they support on-screen through STILL HERE, speaking to the legacies of Pasifika families still situated within Central Auckland's suburbs." You can watch the STILL HERE SEASON 2 series HERE, read more about the project HERE and experience the aural magnificence below.

Tāmaki solo electronic practitioner TGM aka The Grinning Moron (also of Vigil, Ave Teth, Trepanation) shared the aurally discomforting, darkly atmospheric industrial / techno textures of their debut Mechanisms EP — out today via heroes of Aotearoa's noisy underground Wrought Material. Order the limited edition cassette via the Bandcamp link and experience the eye-infecting visuals for 'Salvation' — a video collaboration by F.A.R Company and Short Sharp Shock.

Also champions of Aotearoa's ear-shredding underbelly, Pōneke's Razored Raw imprint gift listeners Barren Hellscape's brutal new four track Anti​-​Genocide (Demo) collection. "90's-style noise crust. FFO Japan and Sweden... Will be donating proceeds from this one, if you choose to pick up a tape." Get the limited coloured cassette edition via the Bandcamp link.

Composing their waiata using taonga pūoro and electronic looping wizardry, Tāmaki Makaurau duo Reti Hedley and Moetu Smith aka IA's new single 'Kura Huna' explores notions of intergenerational sacred knowledge. "Knowledge is powerful but not as powerful as how you use it, which is when knowledge turns into wisdom".

Winners of our just invented no-prize for best band name of the week are Pining Radiata. Based between Whanganui, Pōneke and Te Papaioea, the four-piece of Maeve Egan, Tommy Signal, Michael McKeagg and Josh Finegan are playing with Unsanitary Napkin and Carb On Carb at Whanganui's Porridge Watson on 27th July. Hit play on their resplendent debut single 'Forget' and nab tickets HERE.