Nadia Reid - 'Fade into You'

Nadia Reid was about to embark on a tour of Australia and New Zealand when she stopped by the RNZ studio for a session.
However, this time she decided on a cover.... an untouchable cover.

Most of you will know Mazzy Star's "Fade into You" and I'm sure you all agree with me that it is one of the greatest songs of all time.
Dark and haunting with so much beauty.

Even from an artist of Nadia Reid's calibre, this was a big call. It's a song that is so perfect it is, as I said earlier, untouchable. But Nadia said she just wanted to learn and play a song that she loved. So fair enough.

Anyway, it all ended well. It is a great version and quite haunting in a different way.... Anita Clark's violin is a big part of that.

Enjoy this one.






Mazzy Star - "Fade into You"

Perfect Radio Songs (Part 2) Dan Auerbach - "King Of A One Horse Town"

A perfect radio song is very subjective. In my opinion there wouldn't be many in that category from commercial radio and some people would say the same about the more alternative stations like Bitter FM. However, there would have to be times when a song comfortably fits in both camps.
I'm not sure if these songs were played on commercial radio but I expect they were. Anyway, they certainly found their way onto a lot of Bitter FM playlists and are worth celebrating for being the great radio songs they are.

Part 2,Dan Auerbach - "King Of A One Horse Town"

When Dan Auerbach released his 2017 solo album 'Waiting on a Song' we expected yet another album not unlike his hugely successful band The Black Keys. But this one was quite different altogether. The Blues was replaced with acoustic guitar and a laid back country rock/soul sound.

"King Of A One Horse Town" is such a perfect example of what a radio hit sounded like in the 70's when radio was AM - or what a hit should've sounded like. The strings instantly bring back that era.

Most people are, at least a little bit, afraid of stepping out of their own zone in life - through fear of failure, regardless of vocation or lifestyle... and that's exactly what "King Of A One Horse Town" is about.

Perfect song in any decade.

Maarja Nuut and Ruum - 'The Lost Geese'

This a real gem - from a Live Session for RNZ recently. Maarja Nuut and Ruum are a duo from Estonia and "The Lost Geese" (Haned Kadunud) is from their album 'Muunduja'.
They mix traditional, classical, experimental and dance music with sensational results. Here we have Maarja Nuut on vocals and even a breathing loop to add a layer of hushed percussion - while Ruum builds the atmosphere slowly with his beats. Then when Maarja adds some live violin loops it gets to an unexpected peak.... mesmerising!

Aotearoa

15/03/2019

Aotearoa.
It's so hard to believe.

You're so beautiful.
Aotearoa.

Perfect Radio Songs (Part 1) Middle Kids - Edge Of Town

A perfect radio song is very subjective. In my opinion there wouldn't be many in that category from commercial radio and some people would say the same about the more alternative stations like Bitter FM. However, there would have to be times when a song comfortably fits in both camps.
I'm not sure if these songs were played on commercial radio but I expect they were. Anyway, they certainly found their way onto a lot of Bitter FM playlists and are worth celebrating for being the great radio songs they are.

Part 1, Middle Kids - Edge Of Town

This song "Edge Of Town" by Aussie band Middle Kids could possibly be the (quintessential) perfect pop radio song. It is a 'stop what you are doing and enjoy every second of it' song when it's heard on the radio. Hannah Joy's vocals are sensational and she takes it to a dazzling climax....... check it out and enjoy.

Dead Stars - "Crawl" (Live)

Dead Stars are a band from New York with a 90's alt rock sound. "Crawl" comes from their 2014 album 'Slumber'.
"Crawl" starts off with a Sonic Youth fuzzy intro and quickly turns into Nirvana heaven or Nirvana nirvana.
You could call them a 90's alt rock tribute band but that wouldn't do them justice.
Just good old rock n' roll with a 90's influence.

Alela Diane - "Ether & Wood"

Alela Diane released her fifth album 'Cusp' earlier this year and it quickly became a favourite. I still play it constantly. It is undoubtedly my album of the year, so far.

A broken thumb nail apparently moved her away from the guitar and to the piano for most of the songs on Cusp. A move that was inspiring and at the same time it changed the way she approached her songwriting... maybe in a similar way to what Conor Oberst did with his 'Ruminations' album.

She came close to dying during the birth of her second child and the album title comes from that experience, "Life and death meet in a cusp" as she commented.
She even admits that writing songs about motherhood is a musical taboo, however, she doesn't apologise here. And she has no reason to apologise. The emotions are deep, but assured, and there are no hints of saccharine slipping in. Nothing short of stunning from start to finish.

"Ether & Wood", which was released as a single prior to the album coming out, is about the different lives that are lived within a lifetime.

Treat yourself and check out 'Cusp' now.