Release Roundup: Vera Ellen, Swallow The Rat, Bunchy's Big Score, Aridni Orca, Brainwave, Void Waves

Revisit his week's coverage of Womb, Tom Lark, MĀ, Mousey, Memory Foam and Salt Water Criminals, then delve downwards for more new / recent Aotearoa release highlights from Vera Ellen, Swallow The Rat, Bunchy's Big Score, aridni orca, Brainwave, and Void Waves.

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Winner of the Taite Music Prize for her 2023 album Ideal Home Noise and recent special guest support for kiwi rock royalty Crowded House, Vera Ellen follow ups last year's heartbreak for jetlag EP with the official release of ‘sangria (demo)’ via Flying Nun Records. Joining visiting US songwriting star MJ Lenderman at Pōneke's Meow Nui on 31st March, the accompanying video shot by Lara Marie recaps Ellen's recent touring adventures with band.

Tāmaki Makaurau post-punk noiseniks Swallow The Rat revealed 'Face Unpopular', a crunchy lead track from their forthcoming EP of the same name — out on 23rd May, including a remix of yet to be released 'MMA Math' by USA amp-fryers A Place To Bury Strangers. There'll also be a vinyl 7" version via Leather Jacket Records, featuring the new single and 'MMA Math'.

Ōtepoti's Bunchy's Big Score salute one of the gods of the US lo-fi underground with their new album Happy Birthday, Daniel Johnston!!! Don't Be Afraid...<3. Possibly bearing more relation to the avant-rock / freewheeling folk-adjacent / noise-embracing storytelling tangle of such figures as Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 or even Sun City Girls, Bunchy's Big Score's long player refuses pindownability and admirably so. Head along and support the team's album release gig this Saturday at Yours, joined by U-No Juno and Eris — nab tickets HERE.

aridni orca is the new age / medieval-tinted / organic / electronica project of the artist formerly know as Indi (Doprah), combining powers with digital artist Ella Chau (Ellasuper), who conjures fantastical digital visuals for recent single 'Crushed'. The amorphous audio-visual release is a taster for the Aotearoa producer / harpist's forthcoming album The Bell, the Swan & the Golden Thread — out later this year via Sonorous Circle.

Playing with Santa Cruz hardcore punk / crossover thrashers DRAIN tonight in the capital, Brainwave bust out two super aggro clenched teeth rippers on their new two-pack 'Another Foe / The Truth'.

Laid down between December and January during Tāmaki Makaurau's balmy summer months, Void Waves aka Aaron Wood coaxed compelling cold / new wave / synth-punk pulses from within the artist's basement studio dungeon lair, expressed on the atmospheric and intriguingly danceable new The Other Side EP.