Sharpie Crows

Day 19 of the 31 Days of May New Zealand Music Month via Bandcamp challenge is another pleasantly dark song, perfect for a gloomy autumn Sunday.

“Thank you Ladies for the spread
I really like sausage rolls and rye bread”

Sharpie Crows develop something a little malevolent out of the New Zealand tradition of the Country Womens’ Institute ‘Ladies a plate please’ local community hall afternoon tea – do we still do those here?

I love everything about this song. The icy disdain of the vocals, the Can shuffle of the drums, the big reverb twang of the guitar, the Euro-funk of the bass line, the synth dabs… and especially the layers of stern Eastern European military brass that come in; incongruous but perfect.

The music (but not the vocals & lyrics) reminds me a little of some of the earliest work of The Associates (The Affectionate Punch album) but infused with some of the sardonic darkness of 80s NZ industrial music too.

Sharpie Crows have an album out on Flying Nun Records. They are related to Girls Pissing on Girls Pissing (Muzai Records) who you should also check out if you like this.