CD Releases: August 2004 updated:10/08/2004
WORDPERFECT
spellcheck
WORDPERFECT the MC for MCs.MC Battle exponent and founding father, cultural supporter, freestyle phenomenon, B-boy, artist and party rocker-everything you can fit under the Hip hop banner is embodied in this artist. Hailing from Christchurch and now residing in Auckland city Wordperfect is ready to explode on the national scene with his album Spellcheck.
From his early days rocking Christchurch airwaves with the Beats n Pieces crew (Antsman from Rhombus, Hame from Breaks Co-op and DJ Pause-1 from What Now fame) this MC has battled to national finals, founded the Trans Tasman and soon Commonwealth MC battle scene, and placed third in New Yorks biggest MC battle The Rock steady Crew Anniversary – MC battle in 2002.
He is part of King Kapisi’s Overstayer crew and was part of the Australasian tour of the Big Day Out with the king to huge support.
In this day and age no, solo album is complete without some collaborators and Wordperfect is no exception. Calling on Nat Rose, Tyna Keelan, Hame and Reotakiwa to contribute vocals, DJ CXL to lay down some scratches and a smorgesborad of producers including, DJ Logikal, Peter Mac, Weapon X, Rob Lundon, Finsta, Hamish Clark and Chris Macro, Mace and with the ever reliable Luke Tomes on recording, mastering and mixing duties.
Keep an eye out for the first video/single Why boys cry featuring Reotakiwa and media action from all corners.
Now it is time for this artist to create a new sound for New Zealand Hip-hop. A Caucasian view of his environment, with a deep foundation in the elements of Hip-hop culture and black music. Whilst the party will be apparent the message will be loud and clear of what Wordperfect stands for. Love, skills and depth.
Wordperfect – Album Release parties
(more shows being added)
If you want to attend any of the gigs or a sample of the album, call us and ask. Don’t be shy we won’t bite.
- Auckland Thurs Aug 12 4:20,
w King Kapisi, DJ CXL, DJ Bounce, Emcee Lucia, Peter Mac, Nat Rose, DJ Junior- Queenstown Friday Aug 13 Tardis
- Queenstown Saturday Aug 14 Subculture
- Dunedin Thursday Aug 19 Re:Fuel
- Christchurch Friday Aug 20 Jetset lounge
ALISTAIR GALBRAITH & DINO KARLIS Radiant CD
(Emperor Jones)
File Under: NZ Music
EJ57CD
A monstrous collaboration between two of New Zealand's most vital underground musicians Alastair Galbraith and Constantine ‘Dino’ Karlis (High Dependency Unit), and another chapter in Galbraith's quest for pure beauty. This two track album includes the 35-minute title track--a blend of Galbraith's trance-state guitar loops and violin with Karlis' metronymic drum bursts and is backed with the cut Four Orbits a haunting collage of varying moods and intensity. Stunning.
ARCHIE Twin Peaks 2CD
(Wasabi/Venom Records)
File Under: trance / breaks
VENCD04
Is it possible to be a DJ totally fluent in two styles? DJ Archie says yes. This two disc set covers two styles - the first CD is trance and the second is breaks. The trance disc starts off well, Archie mixes it up, scratches some stuff up and enjoys it like in the remix of Peran We want to be free where the beat is alternated with some weird scratching not heard too often in a trance mix. Outrageous beats, smooth progression gets the mix thumping through to the end. The second disc is a showstopper. The disc kicks off with a remix of Endorphin’s Passion, throwing in some ambient Spanish acoustics and a mellow bassline under the beat this flows through to the next track where the guitars a replaced with a blippy beat and vocals are used with perfect timing. The second disc features a whole bunch of remixes from the likes of Friendly, Hyper, B-Arch and Boris & Michi. Fluid mixing and brilliant track selection makes the second disc stand out as the better disc. Slow, blippy at times and fluid beats really describes this disc perfectly. This is a breaks disc and deserves the respect that goes with all great breaks releases. It follows suit, bringing in some bassey, distorted guitars in later tracks like Hyper’s remix of Mogaui Get On but stays true with the deep break beat and mild scratching in some places. Archie shows off not only his scratching but his innovative mind in bringing scratched up tracks to trance and keeping the beat thumping in the meantime.
MACHINE TRANSLATIONS Venus Traps Fly CD
(Spunk!)
File Under: pop / rock / indie
URA124
Self made man J Walker aka Machine Translations is becoming one of Australia’s indie success stories. It’s nothing if not deserved. Beginning with 1997’s home recorded gem Abstract Poverty to 2002’s acclaimed-and-still-home-recorded Happy, the music of Machine Translations has evolved in many ways, yet it has always remained true to it’s original form: skewed and engaging pop music, filled with twists and turns, new and old sounds cleverly arranged and disguised. Venus Traps Fly is packed with unforgettable tracks as a matter of fact and overall this album has an earthier feel than the previous releases, and there's rather a lot of guitar playing, and indeed, even a fair sprinkling of piano playing. Fear not however, there is still much of the weird and curious about this record - unhinged Chinese violins and gongs, tortured dulcimers and ethereal voices and even flutes are much in evidence. Machine Translations again prove that if you have a bucket load of great tunes, a head full of ideas and a better knowledge of home recording than most, then brilliance can be found at the push of a button.
PURPLENE Purplene CD
(Big Dipper / Spunk)
File Under: indie rock
DIP002
Purplene have attitude. Well, maybe not to the extremities of say Kathleen Hanna, Sleater-Kinney or Fugazi. Each of their eight songs are abstract, clever and insightful snapshots peering into the frailty of the human condition, yet Purplene don't give too much away. These issues aside, Steve Albini has not only a similar uncompromising ethic as the Purplene boys... (an issue of 'Maximum Rock & Roll' quoted him as saying "Signing to a major label is like putting a gun to your head.") ..but he's also one of the most uncompromising musicians in the world. As an engineer... (don't call him a 'producer' - leave that title for lame Hollywood films) ..his CV is impeccable. The media likes to talk about his work with all the well-known artists like Nirvana, Page & Plant and The Breeders, but his work with bands like Labradford, Smog, Will Oldham, Scout Niblett, Low, and Mogwai were the main reasons Purplene wanted to work with him. Take any well-known producer or engineer aside though, and a record still doesn¹t stand up if it doesn't have the songs. And this record really does have the songs. Swords Down is as close to a perfect Purplene three-minute pop song as you can get. Second Shift is angular in its guitar work and beautifully epic in its mood. Tracks like The Battler and Watch The Watch are also standouts - leaping into unchartered waters that are so calm, dreamy and reflective.
in music releases are available at all good record stores nation-wide
