Joni\u2019s Jazz <\/a>which collects five decades-plus of Joni Mitchell\u2019s, yes, jazzier excursions from her song book and others\u2019. This was a version of Marvin Gaye\u2019s blaxploitation movie classic theme song, originally on the 1998 first solo album by double bassist and composer Kyle Eastwood \u2013 the son and lookalike of actor, director and jazz buff Clint Eastwood. Getting Mitchell to guest star on your first album? He must have felt like a lucky punk. \u2013 Russell Baillie<\/p>\nThe Dead Dance<\/p>\n
by Lady Gaga<\/p>\n
And here it is, the song of the video \u201cdirected by Tim Burton, starring Lady Gaga\u201d which was shot in mostly spooky monochrome at the Isla de las Mu\u00f1ecas, Mexico\u2019s Island of the Dolls, where dolls hang from the trees and are pinned to walls. The location suits Gaga\u2019s somewhat eerie and dramatic electro-pop thumper (the clip is hilarious without the sound) but the song itself (\u201cI\u2019m dancing until I\u2019m dead\u201d) is so unadventurous you can\u2019t see \u201cthe Dead Dance\u201d taking off. Gets by on the names, clip, and energy. \u2013 Graham Reid<\/p>\n
Patupaiarehe<\/p>\n
by Theia<\/p>\n
The mysterious fairy-folk of the title here are much sung about in M\u0101ori mythology, but never like this. Theia brings a seductive waltz-like cabaret setting for her whispered vocals to sit atop as she sings of these magical beings speaking of their land stolen and villages destroyed. The unearthly vocal and slightly disorientating music means as both a metaphor and an album track this really works. Another early sampling of her Girl, in a Savage World album (due November 7). \u2013 Graham Reid<\/p>\n
Face The Sun<\/p>\n
by Fly My Pretties<\/p>\n
With their most recent album Elemental released just four months ago Fly My Pretties now promise an expanded edition with extra material This reflective slice of Americana (\u201cThe night are getting colder, I just want to live my last days in the sun\u201d) written by Laughton Kora and with a convincingly weary vocal by the band\u2019s founder Barnaby Weir the first out of the gate. \u2013 Graham Reid<\/p>\n
Say\u014dnara<\/p>\n
by Kneecap<\/p>\n
More fist-tight bilingual (Irish, English) electro-buzz rap\u2019n\u2019techno-rock from Belfast\u2019s finest which throws back to Prodigy\u2019s energy and is a collaboration with Orbital\u2019s Paul Hartnoll. A celebration of drugs, dancing, and the fast life they now live. The video with Derry Girls\u2019 Jamie-Lee O\u2019Donnell packs in the politics, explosive escapism, bondage, clubbing and more. Play loud and often. \u2013 Graham Reid<\/p>\n
Lose It Again<\/p>\n
by Hatchie<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s Harriette Pilbeam (aka Hatchie) captures a bit of the zeitgeist in this anthemic serving of cinematic dreamy pop which has a phone-waving chorus Noel Gallagher would appreciate. In fact, you can almost hear Liam drawling his way through it up front of the Sundays in overdrive. Catchy advance notice of a new album Liquorice (November 7). Video features cows. \u2013 Graham Reid<\/p>\n
Shake For Me<\/p>\n
by Merv Pinny<\/p>\n
There was a time when Kerikeri-based Merv Pinny was a serious rock contender with his soul-filled bluesy attack. He\u2019s been a semi-finalist in Nashville\u2019s International Songwriting Competition five times (as recently as last year) and the gritty horn-driven barroom swagger on this confirms he\u2019s still to be counted on live. The day job running the farm and his own studio have doubtless meant just a drip-feed of songs over the years, but an album is promised by year\u2019s end. \u2013 Graham Reid<\/p>\n
Your Own Worst Enemy<\/p>\n
by The Avondale Spiders<\/p>\n
This song as been described elsewhere, possibly in its press release, as having the \u201cdark allure of The Sisters of Mercy and the punch of Mi-Sex\u201d which sounds like pretty awful, deeply uncool cocktail of 80s stadium goth and late 70s synth-rock. But it\u2019s actually an enjoyably fuzzy, big and bassy punk-pop tune. Think a gravellier voiced, heavily leathered Foo Fighters. The Auckland band, which is big on ghoulish, Ed Roth-like artwork, features Dee Dee Taylor of early 2000s all-women band Mary on rhythm guitar among three blokes including frontman Paul Edwards, formerly of Freak Power from about the same era. They\u2019ve been delivering a trickle of singles over past years, and this sounds like they\u2019ve got their big motor humming. Interesting fact: Avondale Spiders was also briefly the name of an Auckland pre-punk band featuring Bones Hillman, later of Suburban Reptiles, The Swingers, and Midnight Oil. \u2013 Russell Baillie<\/p>\n
Police & Thieves<\/p>\n
by Idles<\/p>\n
The gentle Junior Murvin 1976 reggae song has already had quite a life, possibly due to being covered on the Clash\u2019s first album and both versions winding up in all sorts of movies over the years, including the 1978 breakthrough Jamaican flick Rockers, Guy Ritchie\u2019s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Wes Anderson\u2019s The Royal Tennebaums. Now, care of Brit post-punk Idles\u2019 five-song contribution to Darren Aronofsky\u2019s new crime caper, Caught Stealing, it\u2019s got another, though the reggae has certainly been knocked out of it. If the Fall had taken the mickey out of the Clash\u2019s version, this might have been the result. \u2013 Russell Baillie<\/p>\n
Regular classical contributor Richard Betts is jet-setting around the world and sends his apologies, but as yet, no postcards. <\/p>\n
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