It's 2025!? WTF man... when did that happen? Oh!... right, I remember now. Welcome to Midnight and other beasts. First time? It's not too late. You can still turn back. I didn't and... well, you know.
Alright then. You were warned. Anything that happens after this is on YOU. Today we're going to do something different. New year, new shit. Right? We're going to explore some music, albeit through a series of Screwtube videos, but with a theme. As the title implies we're going to visit our Anglospheric cousins down under. Aussie or Kiwi. Sorry, you all sound the same to us.
Without further ado, we'll begin with yer average Sheila next door...
Well, despite her notable respiratory challenges this lady is clear voiced and pretty handy with a guitar. A pretty fair backing band too, I'd say. These videos are sourced from Courtney's own page and you will find links therein for her site. If you're already a fan that's great! If you like what you heard here I'd encourage you to explore more of her music.
In today's fractured musical landscape Courtney is not a household name, but certainly not unknown. I'll hope that somewhere in this audience there is a newbie who will say, "Yeah, I like that." In terms of the rock or alternative genre she is a relatively contemporary artist. Now we're going to dig a little further back in the vault...
No! Not AC/DC. Not even INXS... no alphabet soup for you! While AC/DC was still riding high on Back in Black and INXS burst upon the stage in those early MTV years...
Kiwis
The Luddite Memorial analogue gang
Lo-fidelity guerrillas to their enemies
Their societal apex the seventies
Escaped to the ends of the earth
Where anything could happen
but we're assured that
Nothing's going to happen
Hand me down sofas
we sat on the floor
A young lad could afford a flat
and a Saturday case of ale
then play Sundays by rubbish heaps
and watch time go by
Both from 1981 folks. You probably didn't hear it here in the states. The Clean is on Flying Nun records (see link with the vid). Tall Dwarfs are also on Flying Nun, although one will not find this video on the label. This is an early self produced project from Mr.'s Knox and Bathgate and a very clever little bit it is. They are the Schroedinger's book ends of the New Zealand alternative scene. Anything can happen, but nothing's gonna. I can live with that. In fact... we'll all just have to, won't we?
Back in the waning years of the twentieth century the band Semisonic had a hit with their song Closing Time. The song was a wistful yet gentle treatment of those awkward hours of the single life. Tall Dwarfs brushed against this hour in Nothing's going to happen with their phrase, "heading in the general direction of anywhere but home". I'm here to tell you that Semisonic was wasting their time. Chris Knox told this tale fifteen years before in a poignant little ode, All of my hollowness to you
So sentimental. You really have to admire the honest man. Even when he's somewhat manic.
Maybe you heard an old favorite. Or maybe it's new to you. This is a bit experimental and perhaps better presented in some other fashion. We may explore some more themes in future. Provided that we do not hear from anyone something like, "Dude! That was complete rubbish! My eyes and ears are both bleeding now!", then I'd say we probably will. Even then we might still.
Thanks for visiting. We'll be back with some other... stuff... sometime. Off to do a bit of Avant Gardening of my own.
T
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