Release Roundup: Nadia Reid, Tami Neilson, Joe Sampson, Albert River, Kerretta, Snivelling Swineheards + More

A tight and snappy roundup this week, as my spring head cold starts to take hold. Revisit this week's new release coverage of Dateline, Wet Denim, Delaney Davidson & Barry Saunders, Blake and Goodwill, watch our new episode of LIVE MUSIC BAR starring Roy Irwin, read our interview with Louisa Nicklin, then explore more new / recent Aotearoa highlights below from Nadia Reid, Tami Neilson, Goodnight My Darling, Joe Sampson, Albert River, Kerretta, Snivelling Swineheards, The Nomad, and local music podcast The Cream Zone.

Now based in the UK, Port Chalmers songwriting icon Nadia Reid reemerged with her first official new music in four years, single and video 'Changed Unchained' — out now in Aotearoa via Reid's own imprint Slow Time Records and her debut release from international label Chrysalis Records. "'Changed Unchained' is a great example of me bringing lyrics and a melody into the studio, then Tom (Healy, producer) and the band letting the mojo / muse / spirit do its thing in the room. That was a really freeing feeling for me. The song begun in this delicate introspective way and formed into something quite powerful".

2023 APRA Best Country Music Song Award winner Tami Neilson released her nine track homage to the works of US country great Willie Nelson, Neilson Sings Nelson, recorded at Pedernales Studio, Texas.

Goodnight My Darling shared a Busby Berkeley-like synchronised stunner video for recent single 'Ruby', directed and edited by Belle Gwilliam.

Core member of Ōtautahi's Best Bests, southern DIY king Joe Sampson's new solo album It Must Be Hard Seeing Me Like This is a treasure trove of tunes to dig into, sixteen to be precise! "Written, performed and recorded by Joe Sampson in various spots in Christchurch between 2018 and 2024. Rhythm tracks courtesy of the Zoom RT-123 drum machine" — immediately added to my daily TradeMe search trawls.

Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai / Lower Hutt avant-folk songwriter and brother of Vera Ellen, Albert River shared new album bank woe following a haunting pair of earlier singles. Order the vinyl edition via the Bandcamp link and head along to the release event with Martin Sagadin at Vogelmorn Upstairs on 21st September (tickets HERE). "I've been tinkering these many years with bank woe. Its been a good ally and I hope it helps you like it helped me".

Aotearoa post-rock / metal powerhouses Kerretta unleashed majestic new audio / visual work 'Oceania'. They together Niuean percussion, atomospheric wind instrumentation, thunderous bass and molten riffs on the second single from their forthcoming album Angelm — out digitally, on gatefold vinyl LP and CD on 18th October via Dunk Records (Europe) and A Thousand Arms (North America).

A vital new force in Aotearoa's porcine punk scene, Tāmaki Makaurau's Snivelling Swineheards ponder such featherlite notions as "existential ennui and the cheerful, nihilistic time-fillers with which humans affix meaning and enjoyment in an attempt to alleviate the crushing notion of our own impermanence" on grunty debut single 'Deathbubble Aneurysm' — from their forthcoming On Cloud Swine EP.

A trailblazing figure in Aotearoa electronic dance music since year dot, The Nomad aka Daimon Schwalger shared his first single in ten years 'Momentum' featuring Michèle Ducray — heralding new double vinyl release Infinite Part III out in October, also to be featured on a forthcoming album of the same name launching in 2025.

Are podcasts the new rock & roll? The Cream Zone is the new conversational podcast from Ōtepoti's Frog Power, who chatted about some pretty heavy topics with fellow icon of Aotearoa DIY pop Lori Watt in the debut episode — also a cross-post collaboration with Watt's own life coaching venture Lifesuccessnz.