This week’s hot local tracks are brought to you by 95bFM’s Charlie Winn! You can listen to more of Charlie’s selections on ‘The two to Four with Adel & Charlie’ every Friday.
Ah as we move into Level 2, Charlie gently guides you back into the colours, sounds, and beats of well… a life beyond the four walls of your flat. A little something for different moments, like waking up from hibernation. Except we’re waking up into the dead of winter.
Rick Shrimp – Ocean Mist
The first thing to say about this is… wow, what a name. Rick Shrimp. Don’t know much else about them but a funky name will win me over any day. This song belongs to a two-part NZ compilation project called ‘Two Daze’ where musicians and producers write, perform and record a track within 48 hours. Ricky boy is channelling some serious Toro Y Moi chill wave vibes in this one, right down to the slightly fuzzed out autotuned vocals, chipmunk harmonies, and synths that sound like cartoon bells. Ocean Mist wanders along at a goldilocks pace, neither too frantic nor laggy, but a tempo that’s just right.
PollyHill – Rare View
Auckland-based rapper and producer PollyHill recently released her Greatest Hits EP on all streaming platforms (it was originally only released on Soundcloud last year) and this opening track sets the scene for the rest of the record. PollyHill recognises the importance of reflecting on our histories in order to progress forward and make positive change, repeating the line: “We keep a clear view, and look backwards to move forward, that’s a rare view”. The darkened beats provoke a sense of introspection and melancholia, as PollyHill navigates difficult topics on both a personal and societal level. The track includes a guest verse by fellow Auckland wordsmith, LB.
i.e. crazy – As It Stands
Before hearing this song on Jess Fu’s Totally Wired bFM show last week, I had never heard the music of i.e. crazy (Maggie Magee). On first hearing, I was compelled to stop what I was doing and pay full attention to what I was hearing. The 5 minute piece is held together by a single-note drone that runs from start to finish, a solid thread through which other sounds weave in and out of. The words of i.e. crazy are direct, dragging you into a confrontation that may have been coming for a while, and in this very moment seems impossible to escape. The cathartic release of emotions that have long been feasting on the mind, and cannot be neglected any longer.
Hoisin Sauce – Back Heavy
This is the debut track from Tāmaki Makaurau-based electronic collective Hoisin Sauce, consisting of Jess “The Chef” Dowlman (of cross Tasman trip pop duo MØLLY), Brendan “Mr B_Licious” Mc Mahon and Flint “Lemon Pepper” Jackson. This sex positive dance tune has an undeniable strut to it, leaving you with no option but to get down and dirty and move that ass. Even if we can’t wiggle our limbs communally in sticky-floored clubs just yet, there’s no reason why you can’t get sweaty and enjoy that filthy bass with nine other people in the safety of your own home!
