#the cakekitchen

[visualtones]

The Cakekitchen - World of Sand

1991

[spilladabalia]

The Cakekitchen - Bald Old Bear (NZ, 1996)

[bandcampsnoop]

4/9/23.

I found out about Mali Mali because I follow KiwiMusic on Bandcamp. I'm not really sure who KiwiMusic is, but they currently have a picture of The Bats as their user picture. I've been introduced to a lot of new or unheard New Zealand music through their purchases.

Mali Mali are an Auckland, New Zealand based band (really, this is mostly the work of Ben Tolich) that truly have a unique sound that has an unmistakable Kiwi sound (The Cakekitchen/Graeme Jefferies sound). But this also can sound like The Ocean Party or the vocals of Chloe Escott (The Native Cats). And finally, there is a Ray Davies/The Kinks vibe at work here too.

I'm tempted to go for the 4 LP bundle...it's a steal, and I'm truly enjoying all of this music.

[bandcampsnoop]

1/12/21.

First, I’ve noticed that the 2021 releases are coming fast and furious and great.  I’ve bought more music in the last 4 days than I did in the previous 2 months.  Almost everything being posted is also being bought.

Ally Records (Raleigh, North Carolina) somehow has a direct connection with Graeme Jefferies - they’ve issued what appears to be a new Cakekitchen album, and are reissuing Jefferies “Messages for the Cakekitchen” (originally released in 1987 on Flying Nun).

Graeme and his brother Peter were members of Nocturnal Projections (recent reissue by Dais Records) and This Kind of Punishment (reissued recently by Superior Viaduct).  

To me it’s very hard to pinpoint either Jefferies.  Their voices and instrumentation are so unique.  Of all the Flying Nun bands, I would say Jean-Paul Sarte Experience is the most accurate comparison.  The entire album for “Messages for the Cakekitchen” is available here.

[bandcampsnooper]

1/12/21.

First, I’ve noticed that the 2021 releases are coming fast and furious and great.  I’ve bought more music in the last 4 days than I did in the previous 2 months.  Almost everything being posted is also being bought.

Ally Records (Raleigh, North Carolina) somehow has a direct connection with Graeme Jefferies - they’ve issued what appears to be a new Cakekitchen album, and are reissuing Jefferies “Messages for the Cakekitchen” (originally released in 1987 on Flying Nun).

Graeme and his brother Peter were members of Nocturnal Projections (recent reissue by Dais Records) and This Kind of Punishment (reissued recently by Superior Viaduct). 

To me it’s very hard to pinpoint either Jefferies.  Their voices and instrumentation are so unique.  Of all the Flying Nun bands, I would say Jean-Paul Sarte Experience is the most accurate comparison.

[bandcampsnoop]

6/12/20.

I saw the title of the album and wondered if it was a play on one of my fave Bats tunes, Trouble in This Town. Nevertheless, great to welcome another Cakekitchen album, the first since 2016′s Winter of Discontent.This is the debut release of Ally Records of Raleigh, North Carolina. Graeme Jefferies plays all the instruments on the release (guitar, piano, viola, cello, drums, bass) and recorded all the songs over a period of years in various houses and hallways in New Zealand, Germany and Australia. The new songs with their playful and experimental recording flourishes recall his New Zealand roots with brother Peter in This Kind of Punishment and his 1990 Flying Nun EP.

[bandcampsnoop]

3/6/20.

Jonathan Personne is a 2019 release by Jonathan Robert, a member of Corridor (Montreal). There's a subtle variety of arrangements that makes this an intriguing listen. All songs are in French, but there are also several instrumentals that set off nicely the moments of ethereal vocals and melodies. Brings to mind The Cakekitchen, but also a spacier 60s feel like The Byrds or more contemporary The Young Sinclairs.

This is out on Requiem Pour Un Twister. So many interesting album covers!

[bandcampsnoop]

5/2/18.

Peter and Graeme Jefferies are lesser known stalwarts of the early New Zealand scene.  They’re best known (to me at least) for their solo work (Peter Jefferies) and The Cakekitchen (Graeme Jefferies).  However, lately, I’m being exposed to their earlier music. First, Superior Viaduct reissued a single and later LPs from This Kind of Punishment.

Now Dais Records is issuing two Nocturnal Projections (pre-TKOP).  “Complete Studio Recordings” is exactly what it states and “Inmates in Images” looks like it’s an odds n’ sods mix of live and unreleased material.

This is hard, edgy, dark music.  The Fall, The Chameleons UK, early Wedding Present and anything of the Killed By Deathrock compilations from Sacred Bones are all good comparisons.