From: avac002@csc.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: New Zealand Music. Creativity land
Organization: University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 01:24:59 GMT

Hi all you non New Zealand residence.

It's true there is some really great and important music going on in this
country and you guys don't even know the half of it because most of it doesn't
get recorded or released. You see it live for the duration of a bands existance
and then......it's gone , history , as good as your memory . A crime but just 
the situation in a country with not enough population to sustain a music 
industry and an apathetic attitude to their own culture and creativity.

The large record labels who in your countries actively scout for bands at gigs,
in this country ignore them until they can be sure their going to turn a
fast buck. No development and support.In other words the bands don't get the 
help until they don't need it.

There are of course the independent labels such as expressway , Yellow Bike ,
Yellow Eye ,and Failsafe , who do it all themselves and hense it's pretty hard
to pick up their releases at the local supermarket.
Unfortunately that's the reality of an enforced do it youself situation.The
funny thing is some of the music that has to be released through these less
than easy conditions is not your fringe taste type stuff at all. Some of it is
almost commercial but more in an REM type way though.

labels such as Flying Nun and Pagan are reaching a wider audience after much
hard work and being distributed through major labels but these distribution
deals have damaged the labels somewhat with a commercial sensibility creeping
in and waying against the pure art or pleasure of the music. ie it's moved the
game into a different ball park for these labels and they perhaps don't have
the contact with ground level that they use to with fewer new acts getting
picked up.
Also alot of the more interesting local releases don't get picked up for
overseas distribution because that decision is made by the distribution company
ie big wig money men.

The thing is it's just starting to get even better here after a bit of a lull
of new bands, sounds etc.
Over the last year in New Zealand I have seen many exciting new acts emerging
with lots of new musicians with new ideas churning it out instead of the same
old group of people merely reforming into new bands.  Check out 147 Swordfish , 
Supertanker , Loves Ugly Children , Throw, Feast of Stevens, Lurch ,
Pumpkinhead , Squirm , Creeleys , Malchicks , Semi Lemon Cola , Nixons ,
Emulsifier , Spambirds , Lils , Couch Fungus ,etc etc lots. Some have releases
some are going to record and some may just be lost but I think it's going to be
a good year.

So if you want to get your ears on this music and help it survive and can't
afford the plane ticket to get out here then try mail order direct from the
company.

I can't speak for the other record companies in New Zealand but the one I run
(Failsafe Records) can get releases to you for cheaper than you can buy records
in your own country including postage. This is the case for Australia and UK
Europe anyway. What do you guys in the US pay for a CD any way.
Turn around time is about nine days after reciept of your cash , bank cheque
etc. ie nine days from us to you.

Send a self addressed envelope with international reply coupons or the
eqivilant cash amount for return postage (sorry we can't afford to post
freebies all over the world) and we'll send you a catalogue as will the other
labels I'm sure.

Your tap into creativity land is just a stamp away.

Expressway
16 Bernica
Port Chalmers
Dunedin
New Zealand

Failsafe Records
P.O.Box 3003
Christchurch
New Zealand

Flying Nun
C/O Flying Inn
C.P.O.box 677
Auckland
New Zealand  

Sorry I don't know any more addresses at present but I will try and fin them
for you.

Cheers

Rob
Newsgroups: alt.music.alternative