A LOW HUM

Red Steers – The Fever Fold

Red Steers’ new record was released on Monday; it’s a free digital download from here

The glowing reviews are coming in.

“A work of art containing alluring elements; driving percussion, blossoming harmonies and the feeling that you are venturing into an unknown world of beauty”
The Corner (full review)

“Great voice. Jaunty tunes. Each one totally enjoyable. Gorgeous almost choral moments.”
At Home with Rose (full review)

“With plenty of pop hooks and tonnes of bouncy beats, The Fever Fold is one of the most perfectly formed releases of the year”
Einstein Music Journal (full review)

If you like the record and would like to support A Low Hum and Red Steers and that we are making this music available free, you can purchase a limited edition A4 – 230gsm hand-print of the album artwork (By Chris Simpson/Ghetto Witch).  It costs only $10NZD including free postage anywhere in the World! Click here to do so. Support is MUCH appreciated.

Secret Knives – Affection

Affection, the long awaited follow-up to The Wolves EP is going to be released very soon.  A new song ‘The Ocean’ is featured on a free CD compilation released with the May issue of Tally Ho magazine, and Real Groove’s new Awesome Feelings compilation (released as a digital download in May) features ‘The Garden (Small Steps)’.

Why have I chosen ARTWORK w/MP3s as a way to release most future recordings?

I trialled it at Camp 2009 with a special compilation released with a poster, and have finally done it properly with the release of the new Red Steers record. Why?

A few years ago while on tour, me and some friends discussed the future of music distribution.

We were all well and truly over the CD as a format, it wasn’t only the wasted resources and environmental impact of the production of the CD that was annoying us, it was just that we didn’t even feel the one saving grace of purchasing music in a physical format anymore (the artwork) was even represented well with the CD, and getting vinyl pressed was simply too expensive and an elusive luxury.

It seemed so blindingly obvious. We loved the portability, affordability and no boundaries distribution of the MP3, but missed the collection and appreciation of the associated artwork. So I boiled it down to its bare necessities, removing all the unnecessary packaging and have decided to make the bulk of my future releases simply digital downloads with hand-printed artwork.

Many have been aware of my obsession with screen printed art over the years. I love the fragility of it, that every print is different. You know that each piece is unique and were created from scratch. It helps remove ourselves from the soulless world of mass-manufactured CDs and landfills full of unsold plastic jewel cases and discs.

The beauty of the MP3 is its availability to anybody with an internet connection, I didn’t want postage to become a hindrance to presenting this artwork, so have made postage free, anywhere in the World!

I settled on A4 as the ideal size after experimenting with ideas from postcard through to A3. The A4 seemed to be the perfect size where it was visible and looked great on a wall, but didn’t intrude. Also, the size reminded me of sticking record covers on the wall of my bedroom growing up and falling in love with album artwork in the first place.

The Book

The book I’m writing which started as an update to 2006’s Local Knowledge but has evolved into an all out DIY handbook for not just bands but anybody interested in music in NZ and who wants to make life better for themselves/everyone is taking shape. Much of it is me ranting on about this-and-that and I’m probably going to get no end of flack for it, but it’s exciting bridge burning time.

It is taking shape as a collection of essays, getting down on paper the thoughts that have been darting around in my head the past six years while doing long drives across the country and the World.  It’s coming together on schedule, I’m aiming for it to be out in August, so stay tuned. There should be exact details in the next newsletter.

Camp/A Low Hum Movie.

Doing another session of interviews in Auckland and also Christchuch during May. Details will be sent out on the Camp A Low Hum Facebook group.

CALH 2011

I’m fully rested and recovered from 2010, and I’m keen to keep the punishment going. Expect some sort of announcement about CALH2011 in the next newsletter.

Grayson & Flying Nun

Congratulations to Grayson Gilmour for being the first signing to the re-launched Flying Nun. I was proud to have booked the release tour for this important occasion and for the first time in maybe three!? years, I’ll be touring around New Zealand with a band. I’m especially excited about getting down to Christchurch and Dunedin again in what seems like an eternity.  If you want to check out dates of the tour etc, check here: http://www.myspace.com/graysongilmour