Music reviews
The Motels The Last Few Beautiful Days (Southbound) ★★★ No matter your musical preferences, when the masses speak you can’t deny the commercial reality of popular music. The Motels were one of the US’ first New Wave bands who hit the soft spot in the early 80s with three singles Total Control, Only The Lonely and Early Last Summer. They were fronted by the enigmatic Martha Davis, whose voice had the softness of Debbie Harry and grittiness of Bonnie Tyler. Three decades on Davis is back with the latest version of The Motels. She has probably never been so honest (or dark). Punchline opens the album with the chiming of a clock and the (punch) line ‘‘I know you hate me now’’. You then get a sense that Martha and The Motels have never been away, with a characteristic driving rhythm, a great melody and a catchy chorus. That’s about as classic as you get, with touches of blow-hard sax and smoothly intricate keyboards. The tragedy of losing her daughter is reflected in Lucky Stars and the title track, though Davis is defiantly optimistic in an album that is touchingly honest and upbeat. - Mike Alexander Los Angeles-based Kiwi expat Sam McCarthy drops his debut of deeply infectious and memorable electropop goodness. Formerly of Goodnight Nurse and Kids of 88, McCarthy has constructed a pop record that’s naturally bright and effective – as opposed to one that sounds desperate to crack the Top 40. The late 20-something Auckland native pulls you into stunning hooks that feel a world away from much of the lacklustre of modern synthpop and EDM. Lead single None of Your Love and U are certainly ones for those party playlists where your esoteric leanings are probably not appropriate. BOYBOY is catchy, sleek, refreshing and dreamy. McCarthy is no new figure to the NZ musical landscape, but, boy, this will be bound to take him to new realms of attention. - Hugh Collins Dark, gothic, atmospheric, delightful. Wellington’s Eb & Sparrow seem to get better with every album, and that happy trajectory continues here on the wonderful Seeing Things. Though they’re often defined as alt-country (a very loose definition itself), there’s only a smattering of straight country here. Instead, the album is enveloped in a dreamy pop sensibility, with shimmering guitars and Ebony Lamb’s soothing voice at the forefront. There are highlights aplenty. Opening with a slow song is bold, but Seeing Things‘ opener Death is a winner. Mt Vic is gorgeous, bringing out the best in Lamb’s sultry vocals, and the same goes for the beautiful Prodigal. Cowboy Junkies-esque closer My Old House rounds things out nicely. A true gem. - Jack Barlow