“Is You Real?” by Purple Pilgrims

“Is You Real?” arrives near the start of Purple Pilgrims‘ debut album “Eternal Delight” and transports you far away to another world.

It’s a perfect delight to introduce an album that lives up to its name. This track – and the whole album – carefully stirs together psychedelia, ritualistic mantra, hypnotic folk music and dreampop.

Despite the hazy charm on the surface, there is always a hint of something a little ominous or disturbing beneath the surface in their music, as with earlier offerings from Purple Pilgrims. In literature and fairy tales the concept of “Eternal Delight” always came with a catch…

“Eternal Delights” was conceived and recorded by Purple Pilgrims – sisters Clementine and Valentine Adams – in the forests of the Coromandel, east of Auckland, NZ.

The album is available on CD and LP on Not Not Fun Records.

“Call The Days” by Nadia Reid

“Call the Days” is a track from the debut album “Listen To Formation, Look For The Signs” by Port Chalmers, Dunedin musician Nadia Reid.

Since the release of the album mid-2015 it has built a steady momentum of international interest and new fans.

There’s not much I need to say about the song or the album. The video is another beautifully filmed and edited creation from Dunedin video makers Emily Berryman and Phoebe MacKenzie and the song will tell you what you need to know about an album you may want to investigate further, if you haven’t already.

As all the reviews – and anyone who hears Nadia perform live – have noted, it’s all about the voice. Not strictly true, as Nadia’s songs and lyrics are equally important – a great voice always deserves the best songs.

I first heard Nadia about 6 years ago on a Sunday afternoon at Carey’s Bay Hotel, playing originals and Gillian Welch covers with spooky ease. On the strength of that I asked her to open for a show I’d organised locally for touring US musician Tiny Vipers.  What I enjoyed then – as now – is that the voice is without affectation and seems timeless, well lived-in and conveying a sense of melancholy with an honest human warmth. It seemed extraordinary in someone so young back then in 2009, and no less so now.