ERNY BELLE
Tāmaki Makaurau’s pacific-pop extraordinaire and double Taite Music Prize nominee Erny Belle has announced her sophomore album Not Your Cupid — out digitally, on gatefold red or black vinyl and on CD on Friday 10th November, 2023 via Flying Nun Records.
“Belle moves so impressively effortlessly through her songs; swaying melodies that threaten to sink into background noise but swim back into one’s consciousness in a sudden moment.” – Rolling Stone
Auckland-based Erny Belle is a sweet enigma adorned by dark dreams, wild wonder, and spellbinding song. The musical veil of Ngāpuhi singer-songwriter Aimee Renata emerged onto the scene with a billowing aura of mystery but swiftly enamoured audiences with her heartful and haunting abstractions of life weaved into gorgeous composition.
Her meteoric rise in 2022 followed the independent release of critically acclaimed debut record Venus is Home with singles ‘Burning Heaven’ and ‘Hellhole’ paving the way for its summer twilight unveiling.
Hailing from a background and family steeped in the film world, Renata is a visual artist through and through, a detail that shines through the heavenly synesthesia of her sonic offerings. An actor before transitioning into costume design for eight years, it is no coincidence that poise and picture is a focal point for the music.
The gothic double entendre that Renata lyrically dances between emanate pensive, almost prayerful, album experiences; a depth is held steadfast by stunning vocal harmonies, tremolo-washed strings, lilting steel guitar and sitar, and beautifully catchy melodic writing.
Not Your Cupid is out digitally, on gatefold red or black vinyl and on CD on Friday 10th November, 2023 via Flying Nun Records.
TRACKLIST
SIDE A
- Bowman
- Unchained
- Pitt Stop
- Crypto
SIDE B
- Midnight Madness
- Stay Golden
- Inertia
- C’est La Vie
- Not Your Cupid
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KEVIN MORBY
MORE PHOTOGRAPHS (A CONTINUUM) LP
LP
LTD LP
A1. This Is A Photograph II / A2. Triumph / A3. Bittersweet, Tennessee / A4. Going To Prom / A5. Lion Tamer / B1. A Song For Katie / B2. Five Easy Pieces Revisited / B3. Mickey Mantle’s Autograph / B4. Kingdom Of Broken Hearts
Label: DEAD OCEANS
Kevin Morby writes (and records, and imagines) at an almost incomparable clip, and his most recent album, This Is A Photograph, studies life, time and mortality through myriad lenses. It’s a dynamic, buoyant record on big, heavy themes, so it only makes sense that Morby found he wasn’t quite done with it on its completion. More Photographs (A Continuum) finds new nooks, corners and vantage points. “If This Is A Photograph is a house that you have been living inside of,” says Morby, “then More Photographs is, perhaps, the same home just experienced differently. As if you, its inhabitant, have taken a tab of something psychedelic and now, suddenly, you’ve replaced your eyeglasses with kaleidoscope.”
Here, Morby returns to his landmark album’s bottomless themes with new wisdom, new imagination, and the winking, looping callbacks that tie his full body of work together in uniquely special ways. “Everything you once thought was familiar,” he continues, “suddenly appears differently, shifting shapes, color and sonic landscapes.” “Five Easy Pieces Revisited” captures the same moment from Bobby’s point of view; “This Is A Photograph II” takes a similar tack, revisiting its predecessor from a different angle. “Triumph” explores more of the myths and deaths that surround Memphis, TN, this time inspired by Big Star’s Chris Bell. And “Kingdom Of Hearts” arrives as an origin story to both This Is A Photograph and its new companion.
With a luxurious nine tracks – three re-imaginings and six brand new songs – More Photographs (A Continuum) is a prequel, sequel and primer to an already rich and generous record from one of our most luminous modern songwriters.
Available on limited coke bottle clear vinyl.
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PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES
THE NEW ROMANCE (20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) VINYL
LP
A1. Something Bigger, Something Brighter / A2. The Grandmother Wolf / A3. Mr. Club / A4. All Medicated Geniuses / A5. Blue Light / A6. Chemical, Chemical / B1. The Teeth Collector / B2. Holy Names / B3. The New Romance / B4. This Is Our Emergency / B5. A Certain Cemetery
Label: MATADOR
