From: ralph@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (Ralph Brandi)
Newsgroups: alt.music.alternative
Subject: Re: New Zealand Music (more than the Chills)
Date: 26 Dec 92 05:37:07 GMT
Organization: Democrats for Broccoli

In article <BzAx5B.HBs@brunel.ac.uk> Christopher.Carne@brunel.ac.uk (Christopher J Carne) writes:
>In article <klejefm-111292002238@stiles-42-kstar-node.net.yale.edu> klejefm@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu (J Klein) writes:
>>In article <1992Dec10.231520.13681@massey.ac.nz>, R.J.Patel@massey.ac.nz
>>(R. Patel) wrote: (re: NZ Bands)

>>> So check out other bands on F.Nun and elsewhere in NZ, after all we do
>>> churn out more than pristine pop. So check out the Skeptics (sorta
>>> industrial), the Gordons (sorta mindfucking),the Clean (these guys
>>> started it ALL), Bailter Space (definitely mindfucking), Lung, Rake etc.

Well, no, strictly speaking, the Clean did *not* start it all.  If
you're talking about the sort of "alternative" bands that Flying Nun
is famous for, you have to say that it was bands like the Suburban
Reptiles and the Enemy that started it all.  And most people aren't
aware that there was a fairly thriving scene in NZ before FN came
into being.  There's an excellent 2 CD compilation of early singles
from NZ on Propellor/Festival called *It's Bigger Than Both Of Us*
that contains a lot of pre-FN music.  There are other compilations,
but you're not likely to find them in North America or Europe too
often.

>I'd largely agree with these sentiments. It should however, be borne in
>mind that there is some difficulty in getting many NZ records in the UK.

>bands whoose work is easily available. Even if other stuff gets imported
>the price is usually prohibitive. For example, a Dead C EP can set you
>back about six pounds plus.  But there's a lot of stuff that just never

This is somewhat surprising.  The New Zealand Dollar is not in the
best shape at the moment, and I'm finding imports to be priced quite
reasonably.  Last time I looked, the $NZ was worth about US$0.54,
which is the lowest I've seen since I started buying from Flying Nun
a few years ago.

>makes it over here. I'm quite prepared to believe that Bill Direen 
>record is the only one ever to be seen in a record shop in the UK.

Direen is a tough one.  I've still managed to pick up five or six
records by him over the years.  Tiny label, and Flying Nun doesn't
distribute them any more....

>Knowing about NZ bands is one thing, getting your hands on their
>records is quite another matter, sob.

I've found that mail order direct from the source helps.  Flying Nun
and XPRESSWAY both offer overseas mail order catalogs.  FN used to
accept personal checks until they found out how much each was
costing them.  Now they take Visa and MasterCard (Access in the UK?), 
which I've found very helpful.  X/WAY still takes personal checks.
Even after shipping and handling, I usually find it cheaper to order
directly from the labels than from my local stores, and of course I
find items that I can't find locally.

I've also had friends and net.friends from NZ pick things up there
and bring them here when they're on their way to the U.S. anyway.
There is a fair amount of traffic between NZ and the UK as well, if
you've got friends there.

A third way, at least here in the U.S., is ordering through some
specialized domestic mail order companies, like Ajax or Parasol here
in the U.S.  I think one of my Kiwi friends in London mentioned a
mail order place or two in the U.K. that feature NZ bands as well.
There is a pretty substantial Kiwi expat population in the U.K. to
cater to, after all.
-- 
Ralph Brandi     ralph@mtunp.att.com     att!mtunp!ralph

"Dave / And if we were'nt good to you Dave / You shouldn't take it all the
way to your grave / We should all just learn how to behave" -Will Rigby