If you haven't already got them, get them.

The caliber and craftsmanship of Wellington based releases this year so far has been of a pleasingly high standard. It's refreshing to hear these releases, they're the product of serious, talented musicians who make the effort to play live regularly and who've taken the time to polish their work into these amazing little packages. Anyway, I've had them on high rotation since I got my hands on them, you should too. They need no flamboyant, Pitchfork-esque introduction. For the most part such discourse is trivial. If you haven't heard these EP's/albums yet, download them and your life will be enriched with premium local A Low Hum muscial goodness.


Glass Vaults is Richard Larsen and Rowan Pierce. Emerging out of nowhere and winning over the scene with their delicate and fully formed sound, this EP has taken everyone by surprise, a very pleasant surprise I might add. Get it. Now. There's no reason not to.






Download their self-titled EP here: http://glassvaults.bandcamp.com/album/glass-ep .


It is the debut release of Sean Kelly however - who goes by the pseudonym of Seth Frightening - which has been the standout release of 2010. The Prince And His Madness is the best New Zealand album to be released this year, and yes, this is taking into consideration So So Modern's Crude Futures, Grayson Gilmore's No Constellation, The Ruby Sun's Fight Softly and Connan Mockasin's Please Turn Me Into The Snat. The honest, unpretentious beauty of Seth's voice is amplified further by his melancholic, intimate and highly personal lyrics, which resonate over and over in your head long after listening. The vocal layering - which he now has managed to weave into his live set - amplifies the already potent levels of honest and raw emotion, especially on the stunning 'Even If I Die (Classical)'. It is only a matter of time before Seth is signed to Roger Sheperd's iconic and revitalised label Flying Nun. His raw talent certainly isn't going unnoticed either, later this year he will be supporting Jonsi (of Sigur Ros) in two shows in Australia, that fact alone, speaks for his itself.


Download The Prince And His Madness here (you'll have to pay a little for this one, easily the best ten dollars you'll sped this year): http://sethfrightening.bandcamp.com/album/the-prince-and-his-madness


Then there's this little treat from Basketball Nightmare (Auckland). Who incidentally, used to play synths for Seth in his previous band, Seth and Merle.




Listening to this sweet five track party-time EP is like eating a piece of fresh banana cake, with loads of chocolate icing, accompanied by a dollop of whipped cream and a cranking chocolate milkshake - all in the midst of a euphoric rave with all of your best friends of course.Ye.


Download it free here:

http://basketballnightmare.bandcamp.com/album/aethaer

Enjoy, good music is for sharing.

More goodness at http://www.sonorouscircle.com/.

Goodbye.