Favourite albums of 2022 so far

Friends of TimeOut share their favourite New Zealand albums of 2022 so far.

Sarah Illingworth is a music writer and artist services manager at Flying Out. Various artists: Sunreturn

This is a really cool recent compilation of songs by artists from Ta¯ maki Makaurau’s DIY indie scene. Capturing a moment in time — much like a class photo — the release features tunes by friends and signings to Zac Arnold’s Sunreturn label, including Dateline, Dbldbl, Amamelia, and plenty more. Hard to pick a favourite, but I’m going to point to N.T. Honey’s Run Away, which you’ll also find on that act’s own record, Accidental Punk.

Tooms: Fake Teeth

The debut album from this long-standing Ta¯ maki Makaurau duo, out on local indie label 1:12 Records, has been dubbed “wine punk”. The album’s high energy tracks pelt like deftly crafted lyric bombs, designed to keep listeners awake not just woke. Tracks like Bit Part are wry anthems for anyone needing to exorcise the demons of urban life, probably even better done in a live environment on a Friday night at Whammy Bar.

Die! Die! Die!: This Is Not An Island Anymore

It’s no small feat being able to hold a multigenerational audience, especially when you’re a DIY punk band, but seven albums in, Die! Die! Die! continue to bring the goods that won the hearts of their diehard core fans in the first place. This Is Not An Island Anymore sees the reunion of original members Andrew Wilson and Michael Prain with bassist Lachlan Anderson, and songs like IMAGINE remind you how cathartic a wall of noise can be.

Tom Harper is the host of the NZ music podcast Locals Only. Erny Belle: Venus Is Home

Venus Is Home is so good it’ll change your Spotify algorithm. It’s an alt-folk masterpiece that sits alongside the sounds of Stella Donnelly and Kiwi counterpart Aldous Harding in that it’s playful, earnest and serene. The opening lyrics to Nuclear Bombs, “I’m gonna go smoke some ‘P’ and put my baby in a washing machine” hit me, as intended, like a nuclear bomb. Instantly making it my favourite track off the album.

Aldous Harding: Warm Chris

Harding’s cheeky and challenging instrumentation on the album is remarkable. Yet, it’s her refusal to sound the same on any two tracks that’s cemented the kooky, calm alt-folk chameleon atop the New Zealand music landscape with her fourth studio album. You’d be right to think that the strut track Fever is a standout on the album. It’ll have you a button loose, with a wine in hand dancing in the kitchen.

Yumi Zouma: Present Tense

Yumi Zouma’s fourth studio album, Present Tense, plays like a ripping night out with your mates. The band’s lead singer Christie Simpson’s vocals hold a sense of safety and nostalgia. Yet, the New Orderesque guitar lines littered through the album kindly say, “Let’s go large tonight!” which makes Present Tense the soundtrack to the coming-of-age film starring you. Check out the climactic credit song Astral Projection to find out how the film ends.

Estelle Clifford is the music reviewer for Saturday Morning with Jack Tame on ZB. Jamie McDell: Self-titled

Tu¯ı¯Award-winning singer-songwriter Jamie McDell’s self-titled album has the sounds of an artist who is confident in what she’s doing. It’s a personal journey. Honest, sad at times, and reflective. Recorded in Nashville, it is raw in its delivery but also in its production. I love that it’s not heavy-handed or layered too much. Jamie’s voice seems stronger in these tunes, perhaps that is the nature of telling your own stories. Poor Boy, inspired by her dad, is my fave.

Mousey: My Friends

Mousey’s new album, My Friends, is a lively collection of tunes celebrating and reflecting on her closest peeps. Her voice is the magic, with a knack for crafting catchy melodies and lyrics on songs that transition from light and floaty to loud grungy guitars. Mousey and her band are a talented bunch with a style that’s fluid and fun. Highly recommend seeing them live. My pick is One Dollar Wednesdays, a song written for her husband that can only be described as couple goals.

Te Kaahu: Te Kaahu O Rangi

Te Kaahu is the reo Ma¯ ori project of the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Theia and it is a beautiful listen that is, at times, nostalgic. When I asked about the inspiration behind this album, Theia told me she wanted to capture the waiata of her nannies when sitting at the base of their skirts, singing along as a child. I felt connected to that. E Taku Huia Kaimanawa is my favourite track.

Cam Mansel is the host of the ZM Night Show. Benee: Lychee

Benee returned in 2022 with this new EP which is full of funky tunes to get your ears around. It’s a coming-of-age album which takes us on a journey through navigating life, heartbreak and finding yourself in a world that’s everchanging. It provides thought-provoking lyrics with dreamy melodies making it the perfect soundtrack to contemplate life.

Josie Moon: Paint Me How You Need Me

Josie Moon is an artist you might not have heard of yet but you definitely need to! Wellington’s up-andcoming alt-pop princess sent me an advance copy and I promise you this is an album you need in your life. From sweeping dream-pop vocals to funk soul melodies you will find it all. Moon’s clever songwriting will transport you from your daily tribulations into her carefully crafted sonic world. This debut album is due in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for it.

Broods: Space Island

Join Broods on the intergalactic journey we didn’t know we needed to Space Island. While its extraterrestrial melodies are very different to anything we’ve heard from Broods before, you can always count on Georgia’s angelic vocals and Caleb’s driving beats to impeccably deliver the goods. You’ll find my favourite track halfway through the album; I Keep, featuring Tove Lo, delivers the mental turmoil you face when you’re in a relationship that you should leave but keep going back to.

Martyn Pepperell is a music journalist, broadcaster, DJ and writer. Mokotron: Tawhito

In the early 80s, the machine-funk sounds of electro ruled dancefloors from New York to Pa¯ tea. Forty years on, Ma¯ori electronic music producer Mokotron keeps the funky sound alive in Ta¯ maki Makaurau, but with a twist. Across Tawhito (ancient), Mokotron combines taonga puoro and vocoded te reo Ma¯ ori vocals with the drum machines, synthesisers and sci-fi noises that ushered in electro’s halcyon years, in the process sharing a distinctly Ma¯ ori version of ancient futurism with us. Check the album’s b-boy anthem, Ma¯ ori Electro Alliance, it has enough bounce to get the whole party cutting shapes.

Unsanitary Napkin: All Billionaires Are Bastards

If you like your music angry, socially aware, cutting and caring, Te Whanganui-a-Tara anarcho-punk trio Unsanitary Napkin’s new album All Billionaires Are Bastards is for you. Over 12 short, sharp and screamy songs loaded with angular guitars, relentless blast beats and pummeling basslines, they take aim at Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, police violence, altright rhetoric, and disinformation. Three albums in, Unsanitary Napkin are only getting more focused and ferocious. Enjoy the ride. Album track Peter Thiel (Literal F***ing Vampire) is the soundtrack to rioting for all the right reasons.

christoph el truento & brandn shiraz: No Warning

Over abstract, sample-based instrumentals produced by Home Brew/Avantdale Bowling Club collaborator christoph el truento, young Ta¯maki Makaurau MC brandn shiraz shows off his rap skills. Recalling the dusty grit of modern New York boom bap and the psychedelic West Coast beat loops of Madlib and his peers, No Warning takes global influences and makes them feel local. It’s the sound of an inner-city Auckland where rappers perform with jazz bands at art gallery shows. Album joint HOL’ ON is the pick with stylish introversion and bravado set against a syrupy jazz-soul strut.

Thur 7th July DUNEDIN

UNION HALL Fri 8th July OAMARU

OAMARU CLUB Sat 9th July CHRISTCHURCH

NGAIO MARSH THEATRE CHCH UNI* Sun 10th July METHVEN

Fri 15th July BLENHEIM

CLUBS OF MARLBOROUGH Sat 16th July NELSON

RATTLE N HUM Fri 22nd July MT. MAUNGANUI

Thur 28th July WELLINGTON

SAN FRAN Fri 29th July PALMERSTON NORTH

THE ROYAL Sat 30th July NAPIER

Fri 12th August AUCKLAND

TUNING FORK** Sat 13th August TOKOROA

TOKOROA CLUB Sat 20th August BROWNS BAY

THE BROWNZY Tickets onsale Thurs 28th April