Butterflyrobot wrote:

I have just been listning to the third volume in the New Zealand Psychedelic series. The first volume was excellent, the second not bad. The third volume is just as good as the first volume. Probably even better based on the strength of individual songs, but the first volume had a higher proportion of obscurities and unreleased songs whereas this has a number found on other compilations.

The hightlights of the set depends on your taste. My favorite is the Dave Miller Sets "Someone is sure to" which is the B side to their great version of "Mr Guy Fawkes" and I have always loved this song. Like the A side it is a cover of a Eire Apparents song, and is almost as good as it. It is a pleasure to hear a clean version (My scratched 45 did not really cut it) It is a stronger more strident version than Eire Apparents version, and like the A side stamps authority on the song. But wait there is more...

For lovers of phasing, you have the indulgently phased duo of covers, Spinning spinning spinning by the Simple Image and The Dedikations "Greenburg Glickstein, Charles, David Smith and Jones"

The Smoke represents a earthier garagy sound, Timberjack, Rebels and House of Nimrod provide a rockier sound

British Pop Psych sounds abound, Human Instinct, and the Gremlins provide stunning originals in this vein.

Pop sike sounds with The Avengers slightly odd Daniel the Postman, and the more overt Fourmyulas "Alice is there" which provides another take on Alice in wonderland library of psychedelic songs about her.

Folky psych also, with the suprising rebranding of NZ folk trio The Yeomen as the "No 1 conversation piece" to attempt a hip contemporary hit. Very interesting song with some backward tape effects.

Than there are the off kilter orchistrated pop songs such as The Hi Revving Tongues "You'll find me anywhere" and the odder pop of Bruno.

And I have not even begun to talk about the Music Convention.

Overall its a fine compilation. Lets hope people buy it, the local market in counteries like New Zealand is small, and we ceretainly could use more compilations like this one.

RhubarbRhubarb wrote:

There's some amazing psych pop from NZ, which is pretty incredible when you consider it's size/population and proximity to the epicentres of psychedelia at the time.

Fourmyula's Green B Holiday LP is up there with most I know and was an amazing surprise when I first heard it - a real pop psych feast of mesmerizing melodies and inventive effects.

2 questions Mr Robot:

Was Fourmyula's next LP as good?

Do you think there are any noticable general differences between Aussie and NZ late 60s sounds.

Butterflyrobot wrote:

Well, Mr Rhubarb, these are good questions.

Fourmyula released 3 LPs and a live LP (and also had a unreleased LP-). Their sound changed a lot between the 2nd and 3rd LPs. The 3rd LP Creation is a more standard and less whimsical. They wanted to go for a heavier sound. In the end it is a compromise between the two. Its quite good, but to my mind the songwriting consistancy has fallen, and there is a bit of filler on the LP. The live LP is mostly standard covers and is a dissapointment.

As for a general comment between the late 60s NZ/Australia, from my listening the New Zealand sound was poppier, and folkier. Many Australian groups often went for a earthier or heavier rock sound. I think it was due to the difference in audiences, and what the audiences wanted. Australian bands gigged more, especially at pubs and concerts. New Zeland being smaller had more family orientated shows. They put out package tours and these tours had 4 or 5 acts, each designed for a different age group. As a consiquence the groups on the tour tended to be toned down a little.

Add to that is the larger population in Australia which supported greater diversity, so Australia developed more into movements such as Prog rock. In the 70s New Zealand began to get heavier.

I think it reflects even in the psychedelic movements. The NZ psych is more influenced by the british scene, especially in the lyrics.

My opinion anyhow.