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EARWIG CD RELEASES

P.O.BOX 34705 BIRKENHEAD AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND

PHONE 0064 9 480 2219 FAX 0064 9 480 2234 or (025) 278 1660

LP

Dark but enchanting guitar clang and chime as underground buzzmeisters dazzle with power and studio wizardry. The first of many fine releases.

"The darkest romantic moments of The Cake Kitchen, The Gordons and The Clean are recalled".

PAVEMENT, October 1997.

- "A strong sense of melody and an untamed energy which forms an intense union".

LAVA, October 1997.

LP

This posthumous release of legendary free metal pioneers Figure 60 takes nine unreleased tracks from the now vindicated "lost weekend" of 1995. To complete the epitaph are an assortment of songs from their Crawlspace Records 7", cassette only releases, and Geraldine vinyl outings.

A mixed bag of melody, inventive noise, and irresistable grooves for your listening pleasure. Please do not play too loud as contents may well offend.

- "Figure 60 left a legacy behind on vinyl, cassette and now this 'retrospective' album. Land Sharks contains the full spectrum of random and song periods. This is worth investigating".

RIP IT UP, September 1997.

LP

Here at last is a compilation of 13 bands recorded at Earwig Studios.

Pocket Watch / O / Readers Wives / Waste of time / A.K.Decay / The Landing / Honey Barbara / The Remote Controls / Abels Grave Band / Lure of Shoes / Mr Fuzz / Gaunt Pudding / Fitch / Figure 60

A common thread of songsmanship and innovation hold the mix together as we ride the sonic rollercoaster to obscurity. Rave reviews, low rotates, and minimal sales are eagerly awaited by all involved.

- "A well rounded sampler of local delights"

RIP IT UP, September 1997.

- "Best of the bunch include the melancholy folk shades of Readers Wives, the grunged-up blues rock of A.K Decay and the gothic drama of Honey Barbara".

NZ Herald, May 1998

"13 very unusual and talented bands "

Canta, May 1998

LP

Anthemic Rock that 'Wall of Thunders' with just a hint of sharp acid punk. A twin guitar attack that twists and growl with the heavy menace of a bad dream. Stuttergun pace that sometimes stumbles to a lizard's crawl.....

AGE OF DOG

LP

Down the stairs and into the archives. Recordings from Dunedin as well as Live Auckland tracks '92 - '93 complete with fold out press clippings and fond memorabilia.

- 'With a noisy dense and hard sound Age of Dog scared stoner audiences in Dunedin, and toured New Zealand twice before splitting in 1994.'

' Piers Graham's drumming is, as always, excellent, as is Dale Cotton's on the tracks recorded later. The vocals of Billot and Griffin are chillingly good, gut wrenchingly emotional, cathartic in the extreme, especially on Between Two Poles.'

' A worthy document of a great band, and a scene that deserves to be documented. '

RIP IT UP,AUGUST 1998

EP album

Hero's abroad yet shunned in their own village. Alpha Plan present this four track EP. A "studio" album which is more sonic and groove orientated than their first label outing. A superb follow up which will leave all doubters speechless or witless.

EP Album

Primal 3 piece rock that'll hit you round the head and spit you out.

Theres songs in them hills and rhythym in dem bones.

Rock on mudda fu#*!as.

"Back into guitar territory, the delightfully named Lungbutter fire off the five songs of their self-titled EP in just over ten minutes. Funnily enough the main strength of their Fugazi fierce punk is their pace attack."

Russell Baillie - NZ Herald Oct 98

"Some more wigged-out homebakin has again expanded the Earwig lable catalogue, namely the first release from Auckland's Lungbutter. Obsessed with a groove,a grind and a grinning effects pedal array, the band power through five tracks of enthusiastic noise on their self-titled EP. Boys like to rock,okay?!"

Brent Cardy - Real Groove Dec 98

LP

A lively mix of ska & punk with some real sing along anthems thrown in. Alicia's expressive vocals are well complimented by others in the band,and Sean's gruff barks add a warm humour.

Theres a couple of classics amongst the Punk numbers, some effective horn stabs and some real menace too.

LP

With moods ranging from emotional melancholy to more upbeat reminiscing , even wry humour with a message, Gerard Gillespie sings about life both personal and anecdotal.

The acoustic instrumentation Guitars, Piano, Accordion, Hammond Organ, Percussion and Flute are all used as befitting the particular song.

LP

Instrumental soloist Marc Hogan introduces WEB with medieval church organ which quickly hurtle us into a technological stonehenge, a unique conglomeration of metal drum machine and synth, with subtle elements evoking imagery not usually associated with heavy metal fare.

Theres a Jazz element in Jazzbeen but otherwise its all darker stuff. The insane industrial collage of Loco Flamenco is totally synthetic - a red herring amongst the more guitar based compositions.

A 3 song CD-Single from Moonpopper. A solo collective featuring BFM top 10 hit - Free Ride. Guest vocalist Debbie Silvey gives an ethereal slant to the title track Underground, as does violinist Katrina Te Rito. Closing track Cash That Cheque is Pop-Punk with harmonic drive feedback.

CD SINGLE

LP

Slick - smooth production pop that melts in your mouth and leaves you breathless. There's a cool funk element as well. Relax as the lush instrumentation of Damon Ropata mixes with the silky vocals of Andrew Hutton. Theres a warm tapestry of sound and some classy guest guitarists.

CD Single

A 2 track sampler of forthcoming masterpiece "Sadhappy" this is a unique amalgamation of post pop/punk guitar and retrosugarpop production (Hammond Organ - soaring harmonies ) .Add some samples and you've got an insane blend that just couldn't possibly work.But it does! 

"In the manner of the Manic Street Preachers or latter day Mercury Rev , the Surrealistic sound features a very English pop production, highlighting their knack for hooks and harmonies. If Surrealistic's album is more of the same , a rosy future they can expect - yes! "

- Brent Cardy Real Groove magazine April 2001 issue

LP

The final chapter in the internationally acclaimed trilogy that is Alpha Plan.Never shy of a song this is nonetheless the most song orientated outing from our heroes abroad.The band performed live in london recording the drums directly to Sony mindisc.On returning to these shores the drums were mastered at Earwig Studios , and guitars and bass reintroduced via trusty 1 inch tape. A masterpiece. 

"The grey pop of High Street Faces provides a great opening,with a lovely finish.Magic Kingdom is lighter and more upbeat,before things get moodier with the middle section of the album,highlighted by the beautiful morbid pop of Looping The Detail and the comedown of Cryovac - Alpha Plan absolutely getting it rightSounding for all the world like the Dunedin they came from rather than the Auckland they went to,Alpha Plan bring to mind The Chills,Verlaines,Garageland,Headless Chooks,JPSE, and Psychedelic Furs.There are some particularly strong tracks on this album,the three piece really excelling on the more "serious" stuff." - Shaun Chait NZ Musician magazine april/may 2001 issue.

EP

Another impossibly good 3 piece guitar band who shrug aside the perceived limitations of the digitally souless.With a little help from their friends (Mr tape delay, Sir Strings and Ms Piano) they harmonically delight and reverberate as only metallic threads with wooden supports can.Though ill at ease in the club environment their light will shine for all who care .Will not appeal to sheep.

LP

Having spent most of his life playing music in the states Billy Squire is now exploring the groove of Aucklands diverse and rich music scene.There is sincerity in the delivery of the songs , expressive tunes that range from innovative blues to free form jazz fusion.The vocals are often melodic as pure pop , but the instrumental backdrops are never that obvious . Theres more organic depth and none of the plastic sheen the word pop can so often imply.
Its upright piano and all sorts of guitars that provide the main flavours with organ , saw , brass , rhodes , and flute filling in the holes.Theres a special guest appearance by Graham Brazier on Harmonica.

AA release

This double A side opens majestically with the orchestral ballad " Strange Psychology" , an emotive dialogue , driven by piano and viola. "Days in Retrograde" begins in a similar vein , but the ghostly reminiscence gives a subtle nod to guitar pop with its anthemic chorus and melodic guitar.

CD Single

A blistering fusion of grinding guitars , pumping beat , and driving rhythm delivered with an undeniably heavy groove.
Includes the tracks 'Heaven's Gate Hell's Flames" and " Johnny isn't Mad " the former , a solo extravaganza in true rock style, the latter a super heavy amalgam of freight train riffery.

LP

A dream that started off as high school boys in the late 70's is still alive . But the brothers who were there have passed away.Happier times were to come for long term drummer Reggie Harman and singer/guitarist Karuna Gopalan.
With a list of friends and musicians who helped along the way , a special amalgam of reggae - laced with pop and rock and a message of Peace Love and Hope .

LP

An infusion of rock , blues , funk and pop - JCM is essentially a collaboration of multi instrumentalist Malcolm Cole and silky smooth vocalist John Clancy.The main instruments are guitar , piano and organ.Beautifully stirring ballads showcase JC's exceptional vocal delivery while the more brazen numbers highligh "the Colemans" bag of guitar trickery.Like most of the Earwig stable , proof that the art of songwriting lives on .

LP

See WIG013 to hear what Brent Cardy had to say about Surrealistic's first single.The scary thing is - the newer numbers are even better!! This lovingly crafted pop music has beautiful arrangements and thoughtful production.E bow , strings , rhodes , piano, hammond and of course lots of guitars.If you like your music pro tooled till every drop of soul is squeezed out , or perhaps oonst is your cup of tea , then this CD would fit nicely up your arse.
You've got to check it out.

Albums like this don't come around very often.

ORDERING

To order make cheques payable to "EARWIG STUDIOS" and post to

P.O.BOX 34705

BIRKENHEAD

AUCKLAND

(please include your postal address)

For more Information-

Phone : 0064 09 480 2219 or 0800 EARWIG or  (025) 278 1660

FAX : 0064 09 480 2234

Email darren@earwig-studios.co.nz

Prices including postage are     NZ     /      Overseas

                                                            CD Single     $10  /       $13    NZ Dollars (US$7)

                                                                        EP   $16     /       $19     NZ Dollars (US$10)

                                                                       LP   $26     /       $29     NZ Dollars (US$15)