By: Daniel Wipert
Why New Zealand? New Zealand is for music critics what the Galapagos islands is for evolutionary biologists. Fragments of mainland music from the UK and America wash-up upon their shores, and then the fun starts. The cultural and physical isolation of New Zealand helps to produce mutations of our most popular musical trends. These mutations lead to very unique and interesting music that is close enough to our own that it is palatable, but underneath this music is whole world that is mostly foreign to us.
This song could soundtrack any movie trailer or the opening of any tv show. In fact, it is the theme song to season 4 of the BBC show Skins. The energy of this song is so potent that the band has to take a break between each explosive set of hooks. The Naked and Famous just released their debut album Passive Me, Aggressive You in New Zealand. The local critics love it . What makes them unique is their energy. They are uninhibited but meticulous at the same time.
The Naked and Famous should become popular in America. All they need is a single spot on a soundtrack or tv commercial, and they will be set. Wherever they play it, “Young Blood” will own.
The most debasing insult you can toss on a band from a smaller scene is “Provincial.” In British Colonial speak, provincial translates to “meaningless.” Being a British Commonwealth far removed from the heart of the Empire, I imagine New Zealand has had its run-ins with this label more than once. Street Chant is proof that being far removed from the cultural capitals can sometimes be more of a blessing than a curse.
I immediately fell in love with their first single “Scream Walk.” This is punk music at its core: raw, outrageously confident, and a fucking blast. I just don’t see bands right now in London or New York making this music. It’s too joyous, too pompous, and too much fun. It is the anti-cool, and that makes it the most cool. I hear Dinosaur Jr. among other early 90’s sounds in Street Chant’s music, but having strong roots is a good thing. As long as they stay under the ground and the band develops their own foliage, we are none-the-wiser.
Street Chant is proof that great, vital music is not only the purview of the major music scenes in America and the UK. Brilliant and significant art is made by individuals, not incestuous groups of art-school dropouts and Nike-wearing scensters. For every Street Chant there are a thousand bands who look and act the part, but ultimately most are mere avatars of the real and indisputable.
Surf City is also mining the early 90’s Sonic Youth sound. Surf City has played in the US, and they have received some buzz here as well. They are definitely playing right into the hands of trend-makers with their dreamy fuzz pop. Surf City seems to be going more in the direction of shoegazing instead of the popular garage pop sound of Best Coast and Dum Dum Girls. Their debut album was just released, and they will be playing CMJ in New York this October.
They might wear their influences a little too much on their sleeves (The Jesus and Mary Chain), but there is definitely a lot of potential here. While not as well-formed as The Naked and Famous or Street Chant, I think Surf City has the talent and vision to create something innovative and interesting.