Spiderhands Productions Limited!

Our awesome music blog! Maintained, monitored and typed up by the Company Director and Owner Logan Ellis.

[spiderhandsnz]

Mt Eden - A Review (Various tracks since 2009)

Written by Logan Ellis.

Members: - Harley Rayner - Jesse Cooper

Mt Eden (previously known as Mt Eden Dubstep) are on form, and on point. In terms of being representatives of NZ’s EDM-production potential, they’re up there and doing us proud on an international stage. Since 2009, they’ve been releasing solid material that, whilst I admit I haven’t been privy to all of it, has gained them the respect that they deserve on a global level. 

They’re currently signed with Ultra Music for a multi-album deal; but before we get into their more recent tunes with said label, let’s have a look at one of their signature tunes, “Sierra Leone”. 

“Sierra Leone” begins with vocal samples, piano samples, all sorts of samples. the drums come in soon after, and then the dubstep wubs break through the centre of the mix and pan out... and the there’s a build... and then BOOM. Iconic dubstep track from 2009 - arguably the track that started it all for them, when Dubstep was a genre that was still in its infancy.

“Still Alive” is more my jam, to be honest. I’m an avid fan of EDM so the way that the tracks enters at the pace that it does, coupled with the atmos and all that is proper sick. Pianos and synths join a icy kind of beginning, emanating a musical theme that is pretty badass if I do say so myself. Female vocals accompany the sub frequencies and the killer drum rhythms, and it amounts to a solid A-B-A-B styled composition. It also has a phenomenal 47 million YouTube views - a pretty amazing accomplishment, even in this day and age.

 Since 2009, Mt Eden have also played around with other genres, such as trap. 7 months ago, they released “Stronger”, which sounds more polished and closer in tone to modern EDM (as opposed to old-school dubstep). “Stronger” is a heavily layered track with solid drops, signature elements of its core genre and a welcome amount of dynamic and composition-related variety. It sticks to its core theme well and, whilst both short and radio friendly at around 3 and a half minutes, managed to keep my attention for most of that. 

EDM, though, is such a subjective taste. If you’ve ever looked at any comment section regarding this set of modern genres, you’ll find a variety of opinions. Some are valid, some are clever - many are also really shitty. Overall though, I feel like it’s up to you to decide on Mt Eden. 

Oh, and congrats to Jesse for the whole wedding thing! Hope it’s a wonderful day.

Please remember to support NZ music, especially your local artists. ~S.

Links for Mt Eden: - https://www.youtube.com/user/MtEdenDnB08 - https://www.facebook.com/MtEdenOfficial/ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt_Eden_(band) - https://soundcloud.com/mtedenofficial

[spiderhandsnz]

SOL3 MIO - A review (Various tracks from the last few years)

Written by Logan Ellis.

Members: - Pene Pati - Amitai Pati - Moses Mackay

Ahh, beautiful, masculine SOL3 MIO. Signed to Universal and currently residing within the hearts of many middle-aged woman in Aotearoa, these three wondrous vocalists are truly a delight. With skill, talent, and good looks, they are making their way through Australiasia and presenting a fusion of Italian Operatic skill and Kiwiana vibes throughout.

After a short break, they’re now back into the full swing of things, with one of their first shows set to be in Hawaii, of all places (probably quite nice this time of year). I would say with some certainty that they will be performing one of their latest tunes, titled “Stella” which showcases their finesse to a tee. Their gorgeous vocal harmonies combine and meld flawlessly with the orchestral backing. I’d say that Stella would be feeling rather flattered after hearing this tune. 

They also covered an original by Ed Sheeran, titled “I See Fire”; additionally, they do it justice. I admit, the beginning is a little unusual, with the insert of the NZ national anthem and the haka-esque ... actually, I’m not entirely sure if this track is done as well as it could have been. I’m wondering if they’ve tried to force a sort of cultural shift that just isn’t necessary... and I’m also thinking that perhaps the vocal style doesn’t quite match that of an original, in a way that really works. That said, this is Ed Sheeran that we’re talking about here. It’s hard to top a track by him.

“O Sole Mio”, one of their efforts from their debut album in 2013, is more in their spectrum. It’s more in their zone. It’s a wondrous blend of delicate fingerstyle guitar and soaring, defined singing. It’s nice to hear the individual vocalists and their own unique tones. Would I listen to it endlessly on repeat? No, but I would treat it like a fine wine; once in a while, just to be pleasantly reminded that it exists. 

SOL3 MIO have made it. They’ve managed to break out of NZ and get out onto the international stage, and every NZer has the obligation to at least respect them for that, because, as many NZ musicians will know, that’s really difficult. It does help that they got signed by Universal, for sure - but, nonetheless, they earned it. They earned their success. And good for them.

Please remember to suppot NZ music, especially your local artists.

~S.

Links for SOL3 MIO: - http://www.sol3mio.com/ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sole_Mio - https://www.facebook.com/SOL3MIO/ - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj_GIsBZmXhP6SPgjtRD2kQ

[spiderhandsnz]

Jason Kerrison- JKEP2 (EP, 2016)

Written by Logan Ellis.

Members: - Jason Kerrison (Solo Producer)

It is becoming more and more apparent that Jason Kerrison does indeed have staying power within the NZ music scene. After his success with Opshop and his previous solo release, JKEP1, he has decided to go a slightly different route to what we’re used to - as his description states it, “ A singer/songwriter EP based on the Sacred Geometry of the Phi Ratio and recorded at 432 Hz.“

The Phi Ratio, you may ask? I personally am not familiar with it, but it’s certainly a little bit intriguing, so I think that I’ll start this off with the intro track, “Blood”... and to be honest, it’s not as “out-there” as I was expecting. At 30 seconds long, it’s incredibly succinct, so I’m gathering that the ratio has something to do with the length of each track, perhaps? But airy atmos production value, pretty guitar and pads, and Kerrison’s trademark pipes mark a happy little segue into what appears to be a pretty relaxing journey.

“Down No More”, #2, is a much brighter, and boppier sort of ditty. It’s got a really jazzy sort of chord progression, and he showcases his command of his wide tonal range through his soaring highs in the background overdubs.Again, it’s short - how short, I’m not sure (there’s no indication of length for the tracks that aren’t the first or last, which incidentally is apparently 9 minutes long) but it’s short enough to enjoy it and continue to wish for more.

Finally, “Might Be All We Need” reminds me a little more of the traditional Opshop tone. it’s in a major key, with some major chords and some major slide guitar. It’s really relaxing, akin to the two former pieces that I’ve mentioned, and I’m pleasantly surprised with how well these short-form tracks are performed and composed. I think I’ll leave it there though with these three songs - you can have a listen to the whole of this 7-track EP in your leisure.

Kerrison has been kind enough to allow people to pay a minimum of 50 cents for his effort. I personally feel like it’s worth more than that. How much more? That’s thoroughly subjective, of course; but it’s a sweet little excursion that simultaneously manages to avoid the inclusion of avant-garde elements that may dissuade his loyal followers, and still keeps it real and unique.

Please remember to support NZ Music, especially your local artists.

~S.

Links for Jason Kerrison: - https://www.musicglue.com/jason-kerrison/ - https://www.facebook.com/jasonkerrisonmusic/ - https://twitter.com/JasonKerrison - https://www.reverbnation.com/jasonkerrison

[spiderhandsnz]

Lorde - A review (Various tracks from the last few years)

Written by Logan Ellis.

Members: - Lorde - Ghostwriters and Producers

Ahh, Lorde. She’s somewhat of an enigma, isn’t she? A NZ-born Grammy winner. On the cover of the Rolling Stone magazine, MTV-visible, and social media savvy - truly a savant of music (at least from our side of the globe) that’s most likely going to remain current for years to come.

I, however, have come to have a giz at her tracks. These tracks, being the most recent ones on her Soundcloud page, where she has a truly astounding 6.32 million followers. And why is that number so large?

Well, let’s ignore the obvious magnate that was “Royals”. That track basically put her on the international map. Let’s have a look at perhaps what are regarded as some of her lesser known songs - such as the first one I’ve found, titled “Swingin’ Party’”

I mean, it’s different. Her voice is distinctive and certainly an asset in the mix, and it’s clear by the quality of the production that this was done in a very well-stocked studio. There’s a sort of incontinence to the organ and the percussion in the background, which choose to take a backseat to the main attraction, the vocal melody. It’s melancholic at best in terms of lyrical content, where Lorde talks about leaving school and finding a life outside of the institution. It’s certainly intriguing.

“Tennis Court” is a track that I’m far more familiar with. It’s similar in some ways to “Royals”, in terms of the way that the backing vocals are placed, the way the percussion is written and... well. It just has a similar feel. It’s like the team working on this track knew not to break something that worked. It’s wonderful. But I’m starting to get the feeling that, even with the amount of the exposure that Lorde receives through her channels, she’s just not going to be as big as she was.

It sounds bitchy as hell to write like that, but this artist of ours, this now-20-something (?) artist is a major representative of our country. So the world is shown NZ to be an advocate of this sort of music and work ethic. Has Lorde done enough to be a legendary part of NZ’s musicological quilt? I would say so. But I sincerely hope that she continues to work (at some point in the next few years) on pushing her material forward and improving on her craft - after all, her money is bound to run out at some point.

Please remember to support NZ Music, especially your local artists.

~S.

Links for Lorde: - http://lorde.co.nz/ - https://www.facebook.com/lordemusic - https://twitter.com/lorde - http://lordemusic.tumblr.com/ - https://soundcloud.com/lordemusic

[spiderhandsnz]

Fat Freddy’s Drop - Bays (Album, 2015)

Written by Logan Ellis.

Members: Dallas Tamaira aka Joe Dukie: vocals Chris Faiumu aka DJ Fitchie: mpc , samplers & effects Tehimana Kerr aka Jetlag Johnson: guitar Iain Gordon aka Dobie Blaze: keyboards Toby Laing aka Tony Chang: trumpet Joe Lindsay aka Hopepa: trombone Scott Towers aka Chopper Reedz: saxophone

Fat Freddy’s Drop, a Wellington-based 7-piece act of many different genres amalgamated into “Dance” as labelled on their Facebook page, are truly an independent group to behold. Since 1999, they have grown in both their musicality and their fanbase, and have released multiple albums of genuine quality; and the subject of today’s review, Bays, is no exception.

It all begins with “Wairunga Blues”, a truly chilled-out funky track with off-beat guitar rhythms, respectful percussion and a gorgeous relationship between the bass and vocals. The samplers and keyboards created a great atmosphere which adds an extra sparkle to the overall sonic field and to me, this seems like a great track to start off another “Hump Day” with.

“Slings and Arrows” is a bit slower, includes some of those trademark horn harmonies and really... really impresses me. I love how far this band has come in terms of the professionalism and maturity of their sound. The samples of the gunshots and reloading of the pistols really adds to a song that is perhaps a little bit more serious than it initially lets on. I also had a genuine appreciation, again, for the use of samples. It’s a given that Fat Freddy’s Drop are a skilled and talented group, but the way that they include electronic elements without these new entrants detracting from the acoustic mix is stunning.

“10 Feet Tall” is a bit more positive than the latter, and the chord progression is a bit more upbeat, despite the airiness of the mix that comes thanks to the bass playing and the electronic percussive samples. The backing vocals work well with the harmonies in the background and the vocalist takes center stage to lead the listener on what basically amounts to a tale of truth.

Bu I don’t want to spoil too much of this record for you. It’s something that really does need to be fully explored by the listener. Whilst I have committed personally to reviewing smaller acts during these morning reviews, I find myself coming back to these bigger acts, as they have surely inspired future generations to put their best foot forward in the NZ Music Industry and beyond. Thank you to FFD for putting out yet another top effort.

Please remember to support NZ Music, especially your local artists.

~S.

Links for Fat Freddy’s Drop: http://www.fatfreddysdrop.com/ https://www.facebook.com/fatfreddysdropnz/ https://soundcloud.com/fat-freddys-drop https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Freddy%27s_Drop https://twitter.com/fatfreddysdrop1 https://www.youtube.com/user/fatfreddysdroptv

[spiderhandsnz]

DIE! DIE! DIE! - What Did You Expect (EP, 2015)

Written by Logan Ellis.

Members: - Andrew Wilson: Guitar and Vocals - Michael Prain: Drums - Rory Attwell: Bass and Vocals 

Let’s cut to the chase - this Dunedin-based three-piece is LOUD. This music, whether it be Noise-Pop or simply Punk, is intense and almost erotic in its dominant approach to one’s eardrums. I kind of wish that I was writing this review earlier in the morning, as it sure as hell would have woken me the hell up.

Indeed, it is boisterous - but it’s also lovable. For an act that has been all around the world and been produced by the likes of producers such as Steve Albini, it’s no understatement to state that these three men are absolutely 100% professionals at what they do - and in this most recent release, What Did You Expect, they show a modicum of prowess in their craft through each of the tracks on it.

“I Love Space Travel” is full of furiously-strummed guitar rhythms, ferocious percussion and bass and vocals that assist in viscerally perpetrating a crime on head-room dB levels everywhere. That said, there’s definitely a structure to it, a method to the madness, and it’s almost addictive. 

“Dark Arrow” is short and sweet. 1 minute and 20 seconds of major-keyed triumph and admiration, by the sounds of it (ehuehuehue) and holy crap, the distorted effects on things other than the guitars is simply fascinating. The lyrics are simple, and that’s okay. This piece appears to be all about the atmos, and that’s okay.

“”(I Love How You) Listen To The Radio” is a bit more calm than the rest. It’s laid back, for this trio at least. I’m starting to notice a common occurrence in the form of the high hat sound - it’s kind of irritating to me - but that could be because I’m listening to this release through Bandcamp. Hell, maybe it’s meant to be like that. Maybe I’m just being a snob. I feel like it could be the latter - doesn’t mean that I like the overall mix any less.

I’m not experienced with Noise-Rock or Noise-Pop, but what I can grasp from the name of these genres, this EP has supplied. All in all, I’m actually really into this group after taking the time to actually listen to them. In an age where the focus is often on making a mix so precise that the slightest error is punished vehemently, good ol’ 3xDie make the opposite work for them. I appreciate it.

Please remember to support NZ Music, especially your local artists.

~S.

Links for DIE! DIE! DIE!: - http://www.diediedie.co.nz/ - https://www.facebook.com/diediedieband/ - https://diediedie.bandcamp.com/ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die!_Die!_Die! - https://twitter.com/diediedieband

[spiderhandsnz]

Doprah - Doprah (Self-Titled EP, 2014)

Written by Logan Ellis.

Members: - Steven John Marr  - Indira Force - Symon Palmer  - Hunter Jackson  - Ryan Chin - Matthew Gunn  - Sagan Gunnforcemarrcraw

Ahhh, Friday, and it’s time to once again delve into some more quality NZ musical tunage. What better to start the early weekend with than this Christchurch act?

Doprah have been doing their thing for a couple of years now. They’re set to release a new album very soon, but for now, they’ve got this EP to show the world their talents. I’m not particularly experienced with the act, but I’ve heard a lot of positive press about them, and from what I’ve heard from this release so far, they fit the bill.

The first track, “Stranger People” is very out there. The production value is top notch, mixed and mastered to a tee; and it’s incredibly affluent, atmospheric music. Atmos-Pop? Synthy and electronic. Ambient. Lots of effects, and the percussion is laid black and very different. They’ve got a different sound altogether from a lot of the mainstream Pop on the radio nowadays. It’s quaint. In fact it’s probably closer to Trip-Hop than anything else.

“”San Pedro” is dense. Finally, on a positive note, I’ve heard those weird kits that are usually supplied with stock drum-machine plugins put to good use. I’m also in love with the vocalist’s tone and technique. Stunning. Soft and alluring without being overly cheesy or unbelievable. The panning of the instruments in the mix and the subtle use of bass and guitar all adds a lot to the composition in general. Particularly enjoyable.

I’m hearing some clicking in the mix - not sure if that’s on purpose or not, but it’s a little bit irritating, and indicative that mayhaps, a little more headroom in the final master would have been good. Maybe that’s what Doprah wanted though? Who knows. 

“Whatever You Want” is very similar to the previous two songs mentioned, but with added clean guitar melodies and different kinds of synths. It’s iight. I mean, I wouldn’t listen to it on a daily basis but I can roll with it - I can see what the group are trying to do with it. 

The only problem for me is that I haven’t really been able to listen to any of these songs the whole way through - but that’s mostly because it’s 8am in the morning, and I generally prefer something a little more rambunctious to keep me interested at this time of day. This music is so chill, though. In most other situations, it’s thoroughly usable.

A good effort from this signed act - looking forward to seeing what comes from their future release. Best of luck to them in future.

Please remember to support NZ Music, especially your local artists.

~S. 

Links for Doprah: - https://www.facebook.com/doprahwinfrey69/ - https://soundcloud.com/doprah - https://doprah.bandcamp.com/

[spiderhandsnz]

Males - Go (Single Release, 2015)

Written by Logan Ellis.

Members: - Richard - Sam - Pipsy 

Welcome to a new day, a new dawn of a beautiful Wednesday - where I have the ability to truly appreciate a Dunedin Pop act named Males. Let’s begin!

Their latest single, “Go!”, off of their latest release of the same name is absolutely frigging cute. It’s upbeat as hell and absolutely what I need at the start of a new Hump Day.

“Go!”, the first track of two, features jingly clean guitars, high-pitched-yet-charming vocals and some really cool bass and drum efforts. All-round, it’s a solid track. The structure is that of a traditional Pop song, with a focus on repeating lines to really get their messages across. The bridges and choruses are kinda more melodic in terms of singing anyways (what is he saying?) but I guess it’s something a crowd can sing along to easily enough, and I can appreciate that.

What I especially enjoyed about this track though was the instrumental bit towards the end. I’ve personally never been much for Surf-Pop, but hearing this section near the end got my attention. A kick-ass solo off of a rolling bass line and really nifty drum patterns finishes it off well. The production value across it all is stellar as well. Well impressed.

“Heavy Going”, the second half of this single release, is a bit more somber in the tone - but only a tad overall. It’s still energetic as hell, and it’s a positive addition to anyone’s playlist, especially if they’re on some sort of road-trip. Seriously, I’d recommend trying it.

Is this song much more different than the last? Not really. Is that a bad thing? Nah. I am hoping that their future EP/Album releases are a little bit more diversified - but maybe this is what their fans want. And what they (the band’s members) want. Heck, I’m probably just selfish; but it’d be nice to hear them experiment with different tempos and arrangements. Maybe even incorporate some different generic influences in there as well.

I also couldn’t really understand what the lyrics were about as well. I get that the messages were repeated over and over, like, each verse line is repeated two or three times in a row before having a break and then the sequence continue... but aside from that being the most awkward sentence I’ve ever typed, I also need to state that this, again, is their style. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that they’ll experiment over time.

Overall, I did enjoy Go. Would I listen to it outside of this review, over and over like a crazed fan? Nope. But can I appreciate the level of work and passion that they’ve put into this Single Release?

Absolutely.

Please remember to support NZ Music, especially your local artists.

~S.

Links for Males: - https://malesmalesmales.bandcamp.com/ - https://www.facebook.com/malesmalesmales/ - http://malesmalesmales.tumblr.com/ - https://www.instagram.com/malesmales/ 

[spiderhandsnz]

Six60 - SIX60 (Self-Titled Album, 2015)

Written by Logan Ellis.

Members: - Eli Paewai (Drums) - Chris Mac (Bass) - Ji Fraser (Lead Guitar) - Marlon Gerbes (Keyboards, Guitar, Samples) - Matiu Walters (Vocals, Guitar)

You know what? I’ve never really heard a lot from this band. They’re New Zealanders that are currently residing in a special place with the Kiwi Music Scene - selling out shows here and receiving a fair amount of praise for their previous releases in 2009 and 2011, but I think that it’s time that I give them a fair go.

The focus of this early-morning review of mine is their most recent output, and it’s pretty on point, to say the least. This act blends soul with funk, pop, rock and electronic influences, and it’s pretty cool! 

From the very beginning, “Ftw (Intro)” brings the listener into that familiar aural space pretty quickly and it establishes a fluent continuity with their previous happy-go-lucky compositions. The mix is professional as hell - which isn’t surprising, seeing how they’re signed, touring internationally and seem pretty savvy with their production techniques with or without the help of bigger studios - and so I’m feeling good about it so far.

“Stay Together” is a nice track to listen to at 7:30 in the morning. It’s more of a single than anything; it starts with a piano line that establishes a clear musical theme that the rest of the song follows successfully. The vocals and guitar lines mesh well, and once the bass and drums come in, it’s tight as anything. Six60 are by no means breaking any barriers with the music they’re making here; there’s nothing genre-defying  but the tunes seem solid enough to be enjoyed as part of a Kiwi Summer, and in a live set, I feel music like this would thrive.

“White Lines” is a bit more energetic, and I like this one especially. The vocal melody with the harmonic progression in the verse is something that I dig, because the final chord of the sequence is just that little bit different from a generic poppy fad that I hear so often and continuously and forcibly neglect to truly appreciate. This song is actually the single off of the album, I think (at least I think I’ve heard it as a radio release?) and it makes sense. It’s good.

The final track I think that I’ll mentioned is “Mothers Eyes”. It’s a stark contrast to the previous entries in the way that it’s heavily atmospheric. Both the singer and the piano lines are beautiful in syncopation... and then the backing vocals come in, layered, and it’s gorgeous. Probably my favourite of the four that I’ve written about in this review.

So yeah - I approve of it. I won’t be doing ratings for any of these write-ups - that’s for you to decide as a listener, not me, as musical appreciation is truly subjective - but hey, give it a good-ol’ college try and see if it’s your thing.

Please remember to support NZ music, especially your local artists.

~S.

Links for Six60: - https://www.six60.co.nz/ - https://www.facebook.com/Six60/ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six60 - https://twitter.com/six60 - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6yoFGoq2K9B_0MEbGM4JoQ

[spiderhandsnz]

Always great to hear that another of our clients is happy with the work that we've done for them. #spiderhandspnz #fiverr #guitarriffs #songwriting #composition #jingle #music

[spiderhandsnz]

Doing some mastering of a live performance by a local Chch band - sounds fantastic! Pleasure to work with mixes like these. #spiderhandspnz #mastering #christchurch #postrock #music

[spiderhandsnz]

Album session work - never a bad time. #comingsoon #popalbum #spiderhandspnz

[spiderhandsnz]

Don't let your guitar gather dust these holidays! Come and make some gains with our intensive hour-long guitar tuition sessions, AKA our "Summer School of Shred!" Classes are: - Open to all beginner and intermediate level students, - Start in Christchurch on January the 8th, - and will be held in Sydenham at Logan's guitar & drum studio. Book now and receive a special discount - 6 x weekly hour-long private lessons for just $180. For more information, - call/txt Logan on 022 626 5215 - email [email protected] - or message us via our facebook page. We look forward to jamming with you soon! #guitar #lessons #christchurch #spiderhandspnz

[spiderhandsnz]

Don't let your guitar gather dust these holidays! Come and make some gains with our intensive hour-long guitar tuition sessions, AKA our "Summer School of Shred!" Classes are: - Open to all beginner and intermediate level students, - Start in Christchurch on January the 8th, - and will be held in Sydenham at Logan's guitar & drum studio. Book now and receive a special discount - 6 x weekly hour-long private lessons for just $180. For more information. - call/txt Logan on 022 626 5215 - email [email protected] - or message us via our facebook page. We look forward to jamming with you soon! #guitar #lessons #christchurch #spiderhandspnz

[spiderhandsnz]

Working on our new website with Jack S - looking slick asf! #comingsoon #spiderhandspnz

[spiderhandsnz]

Excellent! We're pleased to announce that we will soon be offering production/studio services in both Dunedin and Christchurch. More to come soon.

[spiderhandsnz]

It's always lovely when students enjoy their lessons!... And the chocolates aren't bad either. #spiderhandspnz