Livelong by Brouhaha

Possibly the best street busking group in the land. Based around the hyperactive ability of main singer song writer Aaron Watson, whose sharp clear lyrics match the fast paced musical accompaniment. FEMMES meet SKA meet an eclectic college era DON McGLASHAN. Great vocal harmonies, bass driven ditties and sampled comments through out.

Review:
On a good night, Wellington quirk and quickness has moe hubbub than a Real Groove giveaway, and Brouhaha are another reason to fill a coffee shop. Livelong provides all the jangly bits, humour, rambling drums and '60s keyboards a closet gazer could wish to enjoy with winter. The lyrics are all over the place - personal, social and political - with the Gary Larssen tribute a brutal highlight. Die to the variety of material (and songwriters; mostly Aaron Watson, though), the flow ebbs a little throughout, but the bands inherent funky flippancy wins through. - Brent Cardy

Moving by EIGHT

Formed in 1996, Auckland band EIGHT have been quietly but firmly establishing their presence on the local music scene. They have independently released three singles in New Zealand to date ('Whale', 'Moments Gone', and current radio single 'No Way To Decide'. 'Moving' was recorded over five months of 2003 at award winning producer Malcolm Welsford's home studio in Auckland.

EIGHT has a high degree of industry experience amongst their own ranks also. Drummer Paul Russell was an original member of the hugely successful group Supergroove, and more recently was part of Che Fu & The Krates. He and other members of EIGHT have also played for the likes of Anika Moa and Brooke Fraser.

Mutton by Cynthia Should

Review:
Always drawn to music titles involving food, I see a direct co relation between these vital sustenances. Sprung with Dunedin this debut album is the work of some self-proclaimed 'uncool goofs', but definitely from the early Costello/Knack side of the milk bar, rather than the Chris de Burgh side, thank the Lord Goofy has always been cool and goofs have always known a hell of a lot about guitar sounds and songwriting. This theory borne out by an exceptional collection of songs about loves lost and loves desired. 'Mutton' has a strong identity despite there being four songwriters at work. There are drum fills hat made me grin from here to next Tuesday and some very competent productions by guitarist Shane Gilchrist and Tim Kitto; Fool especially caught my ear. The double vocals on The Day Before and the Clean-y Sit Down are a real treat and for an object lesson in song constructions, look no further than Sinner. The introduction to Limpet could stand proudly as a monster guitar instrumental but the remainder of the song stands up. Were more proof needed, I'm sure I heard a Rickenbacker in there somewhere. - Dominic Blaaze

My Pick by PETER POSA

Back in the 60's, Peter Posa reigned as New Zealand's King of electricguitar. Throughout New Zealand and the Pacific his guitar playing was asinfluencial as Hank Marvin or, later, Eric Clapton.

Peter's recording of 'White Rabbit' went on to sell over 100,000 in New Zealand, hit the top of the charts in Australia, and around the Pacific. Peter was a major pop star, appearing on television, touring full-time (360 days in one particularly crazy year) and releasing 20 albums and innumerable singles. Then he simply disappeared.

'My Pick' marks a remarkable new chapter in the career of one of the great artists in New Zealand music. Peter Posa hasn't recorded for decades. This first collection - his homage to heros like Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson - shows he's lost nothing during this time away.

There's also a new maturity in his playing. Peter's pick of gospel and country hits reveals an unhurried, laid-back feel, blending an "easy on the ear" traditional style with a modern country sound.