THE FREE DESIGN - ‘2002 - A HIT SONG' 

60's New York based vocal baroque pop group The Free Design may be unknown to many, but they had a significant impact on the likes of bands such as Stereolab, who were so inspired by the group's harmonies that they named an EP after them. Listen for yourself and you may hear some similarities. It is classic feel-good sunshine pop laden with complex rhythms and layers that set this group apart from the many others doing similar things at the time.  

You can find the album Heaven / Earth on the Flying Nun Record Shop here.

STEVE GUNN - ‘OTHER YOU’

Songwriter Steve Gunn just announced a tour of Aotearoa in October, which inspired me to go and have a listen to his sixth album, Other You. The title track is a stand outl bass and guitar playing cat and mouse, the piano twinkles perfectly placed and his rich baritone sweetly serenading.

You can find the album Other You on the Flying Nun Record Shop here.

VASHTI BUNYAN - ‘WISHWANDERER’ 

Vashti Bunyan's songs unfortunately went almost unnoticed and unappreciated at the time of their original release in the 60's. Her understated recordings and pure, quiet melodies were not considered commercial at the time and therefore she gave up on music altogether. However, years later, she had developed a cult following and her genius songwriting abilities were finally realised. She was able to embark on a new phase in her musical career, and we are lucky enough to have access to most of them. Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind is a collection of her demos and singles from this time and together, they tell a beautiful story. Every crackle, hum, and chair-scrape on the track 'Wishwander' paints such a vivid image that you can almost see her sitting next to you, singing her sweet tune. 

You can find the compilation Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind on the Flying Nun Record Shop here.

BRAD MEHLDAU - ‘MAKE IT ALL GO AWAY'

Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau's album Finding Gabriel was composed and produced over a period of 2 years, apparently heavily inspired by the Bible as "one long nightmare or a signpost leading to potential gnosis, depending on how you read it". 'Make It All Go Away' is a melancholic, synth-rich ballad (closer to the sounds of indie-pop duo Beach House). Immediately following the song's introduction (an inhale-exhale and pensive murmur of the title), we are levitated towards the clouds, as if all thought has escaped and we have been granted permission to simply waft amongst the sounds.

You can find the album Finding Gabriel on the Flying Nun Record Shop here.

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