The main project for 2018 was Other Islands: 2012-2018;
The last five (of the 20) tracks were recorded in 2018 – each in a different genre:
Tag: Dave Black
Isa Lei, and the Yasawa islands, Fiji
This rearrangement of a traditional Fijian folk song was inspired by hearing the song sung there.
In May I visited the Yasawa Islands, to the northwest of Nadi and the main Fijian island Viti Levu.
Yasawa islands, Fiji
Yasawa islands, Fiji
Yasawa islands, Fiji
The boat ride took 3 hours, and enjoyably scenic. Each of the many small islands we passed was different in some way but all stunning
The marine life included
Part of Other Islands: 2012-2018
– recent highlights recorded in New Zealand, Western Australia, Fiji, Indonesia and Okinawa
Campbell Kneale & Dave Black
A Ton of Feathers is the first collaboration
by Campbell Kneale (guitar, analogue synthesiser)
& Dave Black (bass, electric toothbrush, video).
Made in Featherston, Wairarapa NZ in 2018.
New Zealand folk music, in the tradition of Birchville Cat Motel, the Dead C, and Len Lye.
This excerpt appears on the compilation Other Islands: 2012-2018, and is part of a longer piece, due for release in 2020.
Other Islands: 2012-2018
“The 20 song album covers traditional Javanese and Balinese gamelan, Asian folk music, to free jazz, and free noise. It’s not for anyone with narrow preconceived ideas about what music is, but it is for everyone else.
“If you have an open inquiring mind and love hearing a variety of sound, this is excellent.” – Darryl Baser, muzic.net.nz
- fiffdimension compilation vol3 – (see also Gleefully Unknown: 1997-2005, Fame & Oblivion: 2005-2012, and águas Brilhantes: 2018-2022)
- Made in New Zealand, Okinawa (Japan), Western Australia, Indonesia, and Fiji.
- Includes tracks by The Winter, Dave Black & Nat da Hatt, Confluence Quintet, Gamelan Sekar Puri, Gamelan Padhang Moncar, Gamelan Taniwha Jaya, The Electricka Zoo, Dave Black & Snake Beings, Dave Black & Campbell Kneale.
by Dave Black (acoustic & electric guitars, banjo, harmonica, laptop, bass, tenor saxophone, field recordings, piano, ukulele, sanshin, saron, jublag, demung, vocal), with
- Mike Kingston (charango, acoustic guitar),
- Simon Sweetman (percussion),
- Nat da Hatt (electric guitar, keyboards, banjo),
- Emit Snake-Beings (banjo, vocal, percussion, flute, electronics),
- the Digitator (electric drums, keyboards & loops),
- Campbell Kneale (electric guitar, analogue synthesiser),
- Cylvi M (vocal, field recordings, percussion, shakuhachi),
- Blair Latham (bass clarinet),
- Simon O’Rorke (keyboards),
- Chris Prosser (violin),
- Julie Bevan (acoustic guitar),
- plus Indonesian gamelan ensembles led by Sofari Hidayat, Budi Putra, and Gareth Farr,
- and field recordings from Western Australia, Indonesia, Okinawa (Japan), and Fiji.
Featuring tracks from the albums
- The Winter: Flying Visit (2012)
- in the non-idiomatic idiom in Norway (1999/2014)
- ネオン列車の風景 Neon Train Landscapes (2010-15)
- Ngumbang (2014-15)
- The Winter: Exit Points (2015)
- The Electricka Zoo (2017)
- and previously unheard tracks.
If you enjoy this, try the previous compilations
Show Me Your House Moves
Our version of a catchy groove, the first track off the Electricka Zoo album… we’re working on a music video and maybe a 7″ remix, but in the meantime…
the Electricka Zoo @ Battle of the Bands
Saturday 14 October 2017
@ Valhalla, 154 Vivian Street, Wellington NZ
Thanks everyone who came to see The Electricka Zoo in the 2017 Battle of the Bands…
The Electricka Zoo are one of Wellington’s most intriguing new live bands, a bass/guitar and live electronica duo of Dave Black and the Digitator.
We combine diverse influences from EDM to postpunk avant-garde rock, jazz, reggae, Balkan and Portuguese music into our own homegrown NZ sound.
Battle of the Bands – National Championship is New Zealand’s largest and longest running R18 Band competition; events take place nationwide, allowing bands throughout the country to take part. The event has been an annual feature of the New Zealand music scene since 1993. Continue reading “the Electricka Zoo @ Battle of the Bands”
the Electricka Zoo album
We’re happy to announce the release of the Electricka Zoo‘s first (self-titled) album.
the Electricka Zoo, 2017
The Digitator’s gear
the Electricka Zoo, 2017
the Electricka Zoo, 2017
Tapioca Dragon / The Electrica Zoo / 1/3 Octave Band poster
The Electricka Zoo, 2017
The Electricka Zoo, 2017
The duo of Dave Black & the Digitator, The Electricka Zoo combine influences from EDM and post-punk avant-garde rock to jazz, reggae, Balkan and Portuguese music. Their self-titled debut album features 8 original tunes by the bass/guitar and electronica duo wrapped in colourful mandala artwork by Lucie Hannon.
Thanks everyone who came to the launch gig at the Pyramid Club !
the Electricka Zoo on Access Radio this Saturday
Electricka Zoo played live in the studio
on Terry’s Songwriters Show.
It was broadcast on Saturday 15th of April – hear the podcast online.
Terry’s Songwriters Show is a weekly programme hosted by Terry Shore – who is a singer/song-writer himself.
Continue reading “the Electricka Zoo on Access Radio this Saturday”
the Electricka Zoo, early 2017
Next appearing at Fringe Bar in Wellington, Tuesday 28th March 2017, 8:45pm. Free entry.
The Electricka Zoo are one of Wellington’s most intriguing new live bands, a bass/guitar and live electronica duo of Dave Black and the Digitator. They combine influences from EDM, punk rock, jazz, reggae, Balkan and Portuguese music into their own homegrown NZ sound.
Keep an eye and two ears out for their first album, coming soon.
In the meantime a vinyl-only 7″ single and collection of early (2015-2016) demos on Soundcloud are available.
The Electricka Zoo – live in Cuba Mall
The Electricka Zoo performed a battery-powered guerilla gig in Wellington last Friday.
We’re taking a break for the rest of this month to travel separately overseas, but look forward to bringing you some gig announcements for the last third of 2016… as well as these tunes we’re working on coalescing into an album.
fiffdimension 