Music reviews
Neil Young Hitchhiker (Warner) ★★★★★ Neil Young is a legacy artist who spent as much time recording material that never saw the light of day as he did touring and promoting his latest album. In 2009, he opened the archives with a series of what was to be live, boxed anthologies, special edition and re-mastered albums – many of which uncovered some gems. Hitchhiker, an all-acoustic album, is one of those – recorded in 1976 but then scrapped.
It features two unreleased songs – Hawaii and Give Me Strength. It is Young at his rawest, most vulnerable and plaintive, where songs such as the Pocahontas, Ride My Llama and Powderfinger are as poignant as the versions which were fleshed out with his band Crazy Horse. Hitchhiker may well be Young’s finest acoustic album. – Mike Alexander ★★★★ Recorded in Vietnam against the backdrop of swaying bamboo trees, Wellington producer Estere lets loose on her MPC on an EP that she says is ‘‘part of an interconnected’’ work.
And whether ‘‘by design’’ or simple creative genius she nails what is so unique about her African-Kiwi heritage in contemporary beat driven settings – the gorgeous ode Grandmother is beautifully juxtaposed against the funky electronic mash of Control Freak and the robotic sassiness of Pro Bono Techno Zone.
With so much electricity and earthiness going on it’s easy to forget what a unique singer she is.
Think Janelle Monae, but made in New Zealand. – Mike Alexander ★★★★ Montreal’s Wolf Parade return from a hiatus with their first album in more than seven years. They haven’t missed a beat – there’s a fluent conversation between guitar and keyboard throughout that many bands dream of. The unexpected downside is that their musicianship allows somewhat weak ideas to pass as ‘‘fine’’ for longer than they probably should. Who Are Ya and You’re Dreaming are jaunty but insubstantial.
The first halves of Lazarus Dreaming and Weaponized struggle under their own weight, but melt gracefully into far-more-interesting conclusions. On balance, it gels more often than not. And when everything does work – as on King of Piss and Paper, one of the best arena anthems that most people will never hear – it’s quite special. – James Cardno