Release Roundup: Juno Is, Ladi6, Arthur Ahbez, Fat Freddy's Drop, Skymning, Transistors + More

This sure has been a *cough* memorable week in politics, certain to reverberate in our musical world and of course everywhere else for years to come. Rewind to this week's coverage of Adam Hattaway, Tali, Fool's Lagoon, Big Sur and The Veils, read our interview with Pittsburgh post-metal / doomgaze noiseniks Spotlights (Ipecac Recordings) ahead of their spring tour, and get stuck into new local highlights from Juno Is, Ladi6, Arthur Ahbez, Fat Freddy's Drop, skymning, Transistors, Midwave Breaks, We Will Ride Fast, and Tom Irvine.

Crafted over two years and out today digitally, Where To Begin is the debut long player from Juno Is aka indie-rock / dream-pop songwriter Mackenzie Hollebon, who is now based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Laid down with producer De Stevens and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Isbister, Where To Begin boasts recent SRN faves 'The Highway Song', 'Another Deal', 'Your Character Will Soon Unfold' and 'Florist' with five future classics — look forward to the vinyl LP edition out on 24th January via Leather Jacket Records...

Aotearoa hip-hop / soul royalty Ladi6 reemerged with a "new song for your listening pleasure" — the immaculately crafted, kaleidoscopic groove-scapes of 'Alofa'.

Tirau-based songwriter and guitar wiz Arthur Ahbez unfurls a psych-gazing, sun-fried sonic manifesto with Arthur Ahbez & The Flaming Ahbez, his first new studio album in seven years, out today via SHAM Records. As the title states, Ahbez's third long player was laid down with The Flaming Ahbez compatriots Hamish Scott, Joe Ghatt, Chay Douglas and Ryan Ballinger. Lucky Aucklanders of all-ages can catch him playing at Flying Out for free this Saturday from 2pm — perhaps I'll see you there? "I had booked a one-way ticket to Europe for a lifestyle change, and suddenly realized, I have this kick-ass band I’ve been playing with for 3 years, and I haven’t recorded an album with them. What the hell is wrong with me?"

Kings of Aotearoa's festival season, Pōneke's legendary, hugely influential Fat Freddy's Drop today unleashed digitally their new album SLO MO, already out physically and destined to be a summer classic — "afro rhythmic soul music, an exploration of Black music from Polynesia".

Boss of Aotearoa's premier underground electronic imprint Bankrupt Records, skymning foisted problematic frequency buildup upon the world, a head-spinning trio of grime instrumentals — helping stave off post-election mood cratering, the well-timed generosity is unmatched.

Ōtautahi's Transistors sound snappy and fiery on new garage-punk-pop gem 'Seagull', mixed and mastered by Melted Ice Cream impresario Brian Feary — keep ears peeled for their third ("and final") long player Everything Will Never Happen Again out in early 2025.

Tauranga duo Midwave Breaks evoke this week's all-encompassing theme of division, uncertainty and dread with their impassioned new rock ballad 'Better Days', the title track to a new EP also including a remix of the aforementioned song and soaring closer 'If I Was...'. "The title track revisits and expands on evocative lyrics from a 2004 song called 'Fall Apart', originally penned by singer Bruce Conlon during his early days alongside drummer Paul Russell in their first band Eight".

Also hailing from Tauranga, recent SRN chart-topper We Will Ride Fast aka Kyle Sattler continues his post-punk ontological investigations with new anthem 'The Logically Impossible'. "I think I have unconsciously been building up to the release of this tune all year deliberately pushing it out to be the last in the 2024 release sequence. The Logically Impossible is a positive affirmation in an impossible and somewhat illogical world. Suggesting that, in spite of the apparent ridiculous nature of human existence, it is important to make the most of being, and just have fun, proclaiming, "if nothing exists then what are we doing? There is no fun but what we make"".

Under the Wharf is the seven tune creation of Tāmaki Makaurau-based country-blues-rock songwriter Tom Irvine, celebrating his new album with band this evening at Pt Chevalier's Cupid Bar. Nab tickets HERE and raise a glass to the end of a wild week, with special guests Decoy Cities and DJ Geeza Guy.