Total Control - Flesh War

A Joy Division comparison here is apt - Total Control(Melburnians living a world away from the Manchester scene) bring us downbeat vocals, driving bass and just a bit of synth in this 4.41 min long player. A bit of a move away from their earlier post punk sound but all the better for it.

The Twerps - Heavy Hands

Heard of dolewave? It's Australian, underground, mainly Melbourne based, and the emphasis is on the lo-fi, the low cost and the real DIY pop ethic. A tongue in cheek term, it's gained some traction in recent times. The Twerps, linked with this newly minted genre, have just released 'Heavy Hands' off their Underlay EP so you can give it a listen and see what you think. To my mind it's a lively chirpy number, reminding me more of the 60s surf pop sound than anything else. 

Parkay Quarts - Uncast Shadow Of A Southern Myth

It's no spelling mistake - band members Andrew Savage and Austin Brown from 'Parquet Courts' have gone all duo - releasing a new album under the moniker 'Parkay Quarts'. A side project (while other Courts members commit elsewhere), the track 'Uncast Shadow Of A Southern Myth' stands out and is all pure alt country drawl, lazy laconic delivery and laid back strumming guitar. Think contemporary Johnny Cash and you'd be spot on. Nice.

Waxahatchee - Be Good

Waxahatchee is Katie Crutchfield gone solo. Previously fronting pop-punk band 'P.S. Eliot' with her twin sister Allison, her new direction takes her on more of a acoustic reverb road trip. Based in Northern Alabama there's certainly a real Americana twang here, her voice has a raw huskiness that sits nicely with the strummed guitar. There's nothing deep in this track - a simple narrative on life, relationships and the like, but to me, it's the simple unrefined honesty that makes it work. 'Be Good' was released in 2012 on the album 'American Weekend'. Well worth a listen, particularly if you enjoyed the early stuff from Liz Phair.

The Stones - Down and Around

To be fair it's a pretty raw recording, but look past the low production values and 'Down and Around' by the Stones has a real charm to it that still sounds lo-fi fresh today. Featuring on the now infamous 1982 Flying Nun Dunedin Double EP, the track rolls and chugs along, instruments mostly coming together, with the band producing a 'who gives a damn', post-punk vibe that is naive yet absolutely free sounding. The Stones went on to produce one more EP before disbanding shortly thereafter - a real shame.

DZ Deathrays - Gina Works At Hearts

Elements of thrash, metal and punk - all feature from this aussie duo but its the infectious melody running through the entire track that really makes it work. Get your mosh on.

The Clean - Slug Song

The Clean. Absolutely seminal and arguably one of the most influential bands NZ ever produced. Their lo-fi jangle sound and DIY punk ethos epitomized the 'Dunedin Sound' that was championed by independent music label Flying Nun and was to inspire countless bands both within NZ and overseas, including cult college rockers Pavement. Formed in Dunedin in 1978 you would be doing yourself a huge disservice by not listening to their entire anthology. I've gone with Slug Song below as my highlight track - it featured on the band's second EP (Great Sounds Great) released in 1982. 

The Shifting Sands - Worth our While

Another Dunedin band and a goodie, the Shifting Sands began as a solo project by Mike McLeod in 2012, following the demise of his earlier band The Alpha State. The resulting album 'Feel' turned out to be anything but solo, featuring new band members, as well as collaborators and production help from NZ indie heavyweights David Kilgour, Robert Scott (The Clean and The Bats) and Robbie Yeats (The Verlaines) amongst others. Lots of Dunedin Sound here (as would be expected) in this alt-pop, almost alt-country tinged track.  

Surf City - Crazy Rulers of the World

It's a wall-of-sound approach from New Zealand's Surf City - lots of busy guitars and reverb riding shotgun over a pretty pleasant riff in this 2010 release. Washed out vocals play second fiddle to the noise though and immediately invites comparison with both Sonic Youth and The Jesus and Mary Chain. To call it lo-fi, garage-fuzz or even shoegaze would be unfair though - there's a freshness and energy here that gives the track some real zing.  

Alvvays - Adult Diversion

Chvrches did it - now Canadian band 'Alvvays' (pronounced 'Always') has done it as well - substituting the letter 'v' for perfectly respectable vowels and consonants. Naming convention aside, 'Adult Diversion' is the first release from the band, and what a nice fuzzy, lo-fi, pop number it is. The five piece keep it good and tight but it's lead singer Molly Rankin who should receive the plaudits. Delivering melodic vocals that are swept along by the fuzz, she's the perfect foil to the driving guitars and layering synths. Also worth a mention, the band's second single 'Archie Marry Me', a poppy, reverb drenched love ballad that really shows Rankin's vocal strength. The band's debut album has just been released. It'll bring a happy, poppy smile to your face.

The Prophet Hens - All Over the World

Would you believe it? Yep, another Dunedin band sounding suspiciously like the Chills and the Bats. Surprising stuff hey. But it's a complimentary comparison with 'The Prophet Hens' bringing on loads of jangly guitar and a melody as beautiful as a singing stream on this fine, fine track. Vocals on this one sung by Penelope Esplin although many of their tracks also feature guitarist/vocalist Karl Bray. From the very likeabe 'Popular People do Popular People' album released in 2013. Dunedin - producing consistently great bands since the late 70s. 

The Walking Who - With Roses

Uplifting and harmonic with a hint of psychedelia, folk and even Jack White?? It may be hard to classify, but this one from Sydney's 'The Walking Who' is what you'd like to hear played at your local corner bar any night of the week. Proper head nodding stuff with just enough energy to get your feet toe-tapping along. Their new EP should be interesting - according to the band it reflects being 'systematically kicked out of 6 recording spaces'. Dark but not dark...

The Raveonettes - Hallucinations

A Danish duo,the Raveonettes have always been best known for their fuzzy, distorted, melodic, lo-fi sound (think a lighter style of 'The Jesus and Mary Chain'). Their fourth album 2008's 'Lust Lust Lust' is probably the pick of the bunch. Lots of great tracks but the surf style 'Hallucinations' stands out to me. 

Dorsal Fins - Monday Tuesday

Not overly clever but catchy as hell - this is fun indie pop as it's meant to be by Melbourne's 'Dorsal Fins'. Loads of 80s style influence here and maybe it's just me, but I'm getting a real Cyndi Lauper vibe/flashback thing happening.

White Hex - Paradise

Loads of 80s style synth plus melancholic vocals but this is a modern take on the New Wave genre. 'Paradise' by Australian duo White Hex does the modern-retro thing surprisingly well. Listen if you're a fan of swirling, uplifting tech sounds with an edge of goth/emo. The single is due out shortly. 

The Upskirts - Mind's a Burden

Sort of raw and psychedelic with just a hint of shoegaze about it? Yep, this one from Sydney band 'The Upskirts' fits the bill. Listen if you like a dash of reverb with your tuneage.

Violent Soho - Fur Eyes

Nirvana, Pavement, Smashing Pumpkins...Violent Soho have been listening to them all! Have a listen to this (you wouldn't believe it wasn't a 90s release). I prefer this track though - Fur Eyes - just a bit more rolling.  

Grant McLennan - Easy Come, Easy Go

You probably know him as co-founder of the Go-Betweens....but this one comes from Grant McLennan's later solo work. A 1991 release, 'Easy Come, Easy Go' demonstrates the artist's ability to craft simple yet elegantly formed pop tunes that have left a lasting legacy in the Australian music scene. Best heard on a balcony or veranda during a lazy weekend arvo I'd suggest.

The Bats - North by North

If you were a student during the late 1980s there's no way you could have missed seeing one of NZ's most iconic bands - The Bats. They were a regular at campus parties and at live music venues throughout the country. Their brooding, melancholic brand of sound always attracted a full crowd of moshing, black jersey clad scarfies. Although many of their tracks suffered from being a bit samey, 'North by North' can be considered a true kiwi classic. Displaying heaps of melody and a real driving surge of sound, it was released in 1987. Later, it was to become the title theme for the ABC political satire 'The Hollowmen' (well worth a watch in its own right!). 

Dick Diver - Flying Tea Towel Blues

Top name for a track and one that gets you nodding along in no time at all. Simple, engaging, unpretentious indie pop is what you get from these Melburnians. A 2011 release. Nice.  

Loves Ugly Children - Suck

Another kiwi band from the early 90s (originally from Christchurch), the 'Uglies' do the Pixies loud-quiet-loud thing particularly well here on Suck. Bonus band points for their ABBA cover of Honey Honey which I also include below.

Timo Maas - Pictures

More of an indie-dance crossover track this one - with Placebo's Brian Molko featuring on vocals and Timo Maas looking after production. Certainly a bit dark and ominous on the lyrical side of things, 'Pictures' was released in 2005.