The Big OE

Hi, ho. We're back. The website is back up. Check it out at www.groovefm.co.nz, especially the Grooveland Section. Send us in your favourite photos and stories and we'll add them. Big news this week. Well, in town for Dec 6 and 7 is OE:Brazil featuring Hollie Smith, Barnaby Weir, Maaka Phat and a host of Brazillian Players. This is not to be missed. They'll be at the San Francisco Bathouse from 10PM each nite. Zip over to Real Groovy to pick up a ticket.

Xmas is around the corner, only 18 Sleeps, whew! Groove is featuring your favourite Groovy Xmas songs right now, so tune in.

Speaking of on air, welcome Andy and Tim! Andy's got he Comedy show on Groove around 7PM on Monday nites - check out the live and less than dead (LOL) recordings. Say goodbye to Monday Blues!

Eco kiddies can check out the Ecobots Children's Show on Saturday mornings with Leah - details on the Website.

Next year, Groove will being going Organic - no we're not going to be rolling in the mud! - we'll be at the Organic River Festival 27-28 January, Broadcasting live on the local airspace and up on stage! Check http://www.ecofest.co.nz/ for details.

More news as it happens.... later

Milky Bar Kid

Rumble Thru the Cheese

Yep Tonite from 6.00 (Thurs) A collection of Swingin' Cheese from the Ultra Lounge Collection, Robert Mitchum and others plus highlights from the 2006 Comedy Festival - Join us at Groove 107.7 FM from 6.00PM

Get Ready to Rumble - Again

After a stint treading the boards, Groove's ecleptic DJ - DJT has returned and Rumble thru the Crates is back with a spectacular new show featuring new and past work from :

Fly My Pretties – Re-released “Live at Bats” – Barnaby Weir’s First outing with local Welly Musos
The Black Keys – Thickfreakness – Raw Blues (Think Howlin’ Wolf Fronting the White Stripes) - http://www.theblackkeys.com/

Ojos De brujo – Techari – Spanish Flamenco meets Hip Hop, via Africa and France - http://www.ojosdebrujo.com/
Pink Martini – Hang On Little Tomato – Spanish Influenced Lounge from this French Collective
Belle & Sebastian – Re-Released Storytelling, Books and The Blues are Still Blue - http://www.belleandsebastian.co.uk/
The Tiki Lounge – Hawaiian Originals
Over the Rhine – From Nowhere - Tracks from their first live Album (Available thru their website see our links on the side) - http://www.overtherhine.com/
Rodrigo y Gabriela – New Studio Album - http://www.rodgab.com/
Hollie Smith with the Mt Raskill Preservation Society
Totally rewired – An Acid Jazz Compilation - http://www.acidjazz.co.uk/
Francoise Hardy – New Compilation
The Ipanaemas – Samba is our gift

Rumble thru the crates - 6.00 PM tonite, Thursday 24/08/2006 (Rumble plays every Thursday from 6PM)

All the News that's fit to print!

Well, it's been a while. I've settled in to working full time on Groove and 'The Business Edge'.
Welcome to Danny Androutsos who is doing Monday nights on-air from 6pm - 9(ish). We also have 2 more announcers potentially about to come on board. More about them next time.
Recieved 7 new CD's from the 'Putumayo' label today so make sure you look out for them (titles below).

I featured in an interview in a Podcast done for 'Tuned in', the newsletter for top Radio advertising agency; 'The Radio Agency' (novel name). It is attached for anyone who wants to have a listen to it.

"Station of the week. Groove it up with a groovy man managing a very groovy radio station in Wellington said to be quite a groovy place despite some of the not so groovy politicians....We interview Wellington's Groove FM station manager - Dean Conland - to find out why the National Party may be tuning in to his radio station - is it cool? (Listen to podcast)."

The new filter coffee machine in the studio has been going full tilt since the boys'n'gals at Havana Coffee Works have been providing us with the "Coffee You Feel" - we sure are, up half the night on the buzz, Yee Haa!

It looks like we will be setting up the new transmitter shortly to cover Kilbirnie/Miramar/Lyall Bay better. Keep that to yourself for now... Onwards & upwards!

Don't forget our Vinyl copying service - if you have friends who would like a favourite old record or 2 transferred to CD, we can do it for $25.

Keep on Groovin'

Dean

New CD's in the studio this week:
Ultra-Lounge Vol 7: The Crime Scene
New albums' from... Giles Peterson
Joyce with Dori Caymmi

Putumayo compilations:
Blues around the World
2006 World Music Sampler
A Taste of Putumayo (Sampler of their food/wine & cafe themed CD's)
Music from the Wine lands
Baila! - A Latin Dance Party
South African Legends (Autographed by a legend).
One world, one kid - A radio show by a 6 yr old to cheer up his friend dying of cancer and featuring the Putumayo childrens catalogue
Current Advertisers (please support them) :
Amcal Pharmacy in Cuba Mall
Crepes a Gogo in Manners Mall & now in the Harbour City Centre
Havana Coffee
Big Image Print
The Vipers

"Rumble" it Strange!

Tonite, Rumble is thrilled to present tracks from Play it Strange Vol1 & Vol2. these compilations cover a wide range of styles and genres. Given that all songs feature the original songwriters with help from studio musicaian its clear to see New Zealand's musical future is in great hands. Many thanks to the "strangies" for dropping these great cds in our box.

From the Site, http://playitstrange.co.nz/ :
"The Play It Strange Charitable Trust was established in November 2003 for the purpose of encouraging young New Zealanders to develop interests and skills in songwriting and musical performance. The Trust intends running a range of programmes across New Zealand to achieve its purpose.

For the first time in our history, we have a popular music industry where local artists singing original songs are outperforming the Anglo-American imports. And this celebration is happening at all levels. From the Beehive to the church hall, from the decile 1 school to the Aotea Centre, NZ music is coming across loud and clear."

If you are a budding young songwriter, then you may be interested in the National Seconday Schools Songwriting Competition 2006.

This will be the the competition's third year and PLS are looking forward to many more brilliant songs coming to light from our young New Zealand songwriters. For details, entry forms etc head to the website: http://playitstrange.co.nz/

RUMBLE SUPPORTS NZ MUSIC MONTH 05/60

Groove Supports NZ Music Month playing all local fare throughout "Rumble Thru the Crates"

Tune in every Thursday after 6.00 for a Taste of Kiwi!

RRRRRRUMBLE EVERY THURSDAY!

On Rumble tonite

Gahu: Gahu combine elements of traditional West African rhythms and percussion, Jazz, Funk, African Highlife and Afrobeat in a unique sound we call Afro-Kiwi. In the meeting of diverse cultures, a new sound is born.
Based in Auckland, Gahu's energetic performance has entertained crowds at festivals and other events around New Zealand, as well as weekly gigs at The London Bar in Auckland. Gahu have recorded four albums of original and traditional music.

We feature their latest release "Shell Money" : Spanning a range of influences from Ghanaian village music to Highlife, Afrobeat, Funk and Hip Hop, Gahu introduce their new album Shell Money, promising to be even more danceable than the last.

See: http://gahu.co.nz/

Join me, DJT, as we feature this amazing album, plus choice cuts from John Butler, Wellingtonian, Holly Smith and Canadia Katie Melua. Tonite from 6

Bonsoir, Mes Amis. Rumble heads for Paris!

Tonite on Rumble through the Crates: Serge Gainsborough.
Whatever you might say about Serge Gainsbourg, it has probably been said before and probably by Gainsbourg himself. Was there ever a man or woman more intent on self-promotion?
Gainsbourg circa 1973
Whether burning a 500 franc note on television, writing a reggae take-off on «La Marseillaise» or appearing half naked with his 14-year-old daughter in the video for «Lemon incest», Gainsbourg always kept his name in print and his face on the covers of magazines and newspapers.
It would be a mistake to think of Gainsbourg as just a scandalous figure, a creature of the popular press. His impact on French music is inestimable, and his admirers include many who found his lifestyle objectionable. With over 200 songs recorded by everyone from Juliette Gréco and Yves Montand to Alain Chamfort and Vanessa Paradis, Serge Gainsbourg reached an audience that spanned generations and musical eras.
Gainsbourg was born Lucien Ginsburg in Paris in 1928. His father was a musician who had come to France from Russia just after the 1917 revolution. With false papers, quick wits and constant vigilance, the Ginsburg family managed to survive the German occupation. Coming of age during such a time of fear and repression, it's not surprising that Gainsbourg would develop a cynical and fatalistic approach to life, best summed up by this line from his 1979 album Aux armes et caetera, 'Moralité: eau et gaz à tous les étages'.
Lucien Ginsburg was trained as an artist, but devoted much of his time to the piano and guitar. During the early 50s he earned his living as both a musician and by painting advertising signs for movie theaters. Rapidly approaching thirty, Ginsburg took his father's advice and took a steady job as a pianist at the Milord l'Arsouille, a cabaret located near the Palais Royal. It was there Gainsbourg encountered Boris Vian.
Gainsbourg was more than just a pianist, he was a character. Full of cynical charm and dark humour, Boris Vian recognized Gainsbourg as someone with great talent, and encouraged him to write songs.
Performed by Michèle Arnaud, house singer for Milord l'Arsouille, Gainsbourg's early songs attracted the attention of other singers and soon he was writing for many of the major figures of that school of chanson called St. Germain-des-près.
Deciding that no one could sing his songs as well as he could himself, Lucien Ginsburg changed his name to something he felt to be a bit more French, and as Serge Gainsbourg he signed with Philips Records. His first album, released in 1958, was not a great commercial success, but the critics and his peers adored it. Here's how Boris Vian announced it to the worls: "Allez, lecteurs ou auditeurs toujours prêts à brailler contre, contre les fausses chansons et les faux de la chanson, tirez deux sacs de vos fouilles et raquez au disquaire en lui demandant le Philips B 76447 B...C'est le premier 25 cm 33 tours d'un drôle d'individu nommé Gainsbourg Serge."
Many of Gainsbourg's songs had already been recorded by les Frères Jacques, Michèle Arnaud and Jean-Claude Pascal. Soon Juliette Gréco would turn songs like «Le poinçonneur des lilas» and «La chanson de Prévert» into classics. Gainsbourg had an ear for fine melodies, and his lyrics, full of worldly cynicism, struck a cord with the fashionable Left Bank crowd.
At one time Gainsbourg's early recording were true collectors items, 25cm monophonic disks pressed in the late 50's. But with the advent of the compact disc and Gainsbourg's huge following, all his earliest recordings have been digitally re-mastered and included in a series comprising his entire recording career.
The first CD in the series, Le poinçonneur des Lilas, contains 24 songs recorded between 1958 and 1960. They run the gamut from 50's cabaret tunes to early 60s pop. The title track is a lament on the work-a-day world. What better way to depict the "horror of the mundane" than to show us the world through the eyes of a subway ticket puncher. The poinçonneurs have been gone from Paris's subways for many years now, but when Gainsbourg's character describes his days punching we have no trouble relating.
Gainsbourg has often been cited as a misogynist, and these tendencies are evident in even his earliest recordings. Songs like «Sois belle et tais-toi», «La femme des uns sous le corps des autres» and «Indifférent» reflect an attitude towards women that is far from being enlightened. He sings in «Indifférent». And then he goes on to mourn her lack of interest!
One may well wonder how Gainsbourg got away with his excesses, both in his life and in his music. Where his songs are concerned, one can point to his musicianship and to his humor - many times he is making fun of his attitudes as well as those of the so-called prudes he was deliberately trying to offend.
Gainsbourg's wicked sense of humor is evident throughout his work, but no more so that in the song «Judith», written in 1960 for the film L'Eau à la bouche. The song sounds like something Paul Anka or Franky Avalon would have recorded - like rock beat, fuzzy saxophone and female chorus. Even the lyrics sounds like something for the Bobbie-soxers. But after six stanzas of declairing his undying devotion, we get the Gainsbourg twist.

Throughout the 1960s, Gainsbourg divided his time between his own records and writing songs for others. It was a career, but he remained a somewhat minor player in the music scene of les années yéyé. All this changed forever when he tied up with the 18 year old France Gall.
Her first hit had been «Sacré Charlemagne», released the previous year. But when she appeared on television, lollipop in hand, singing Gainsbourg's «Les sucettes», both of their careers went through the roof. Ostensibly the song of a young girl who loves anis flavored lollipops, «Les sucettes», in realitiy it was a vulgar joke made fully evident when Gainsbourg recorded the song himself. Once the joke was explained to Ms. Gall, she never worked or spoke with Gainsbourg again!

Suddenly Gainsbourg was in hot demand. After years of being the darling of the left bank, he was now main stream, a crafter of hits. By 1968, Serge Gainsbourg was known throughout France. He had appeared on television in his musical comedy, Anna, with Anna Karina and Jean-Claude Brialy and his liaison with Brigitte Bardot provided a media field day.
In her autobiography, Initiales B.B. (éditions Grasset 1996), Brigitte Bardot writes of her affair with Gainsbourg: "Ce fut un amour fou - un amour comme on en rêve - un amour qui restera dans nos mémoires et dans les mémoires." Together they performed such Gainsbourg classics as «Bonnie and Clyde», «Harley Davidson» and «Contact». But after recording «Je t'aime...moi, non plus» (which sat on the shelves at Philips unreleased for 17 years!), the two split permanently.
Bardot felt that «Je t'aime... moi non plus» was too daring and prevented it from being released. Gainsbourg, of course, found someone else.
British actress Jane Birkin was not at all put off by «Je t'aime...moi non plus». She made her mark in world cinema three years earlier in Michelangelo Antonioni's film Blow-Up. Her part in film was small, but featured nudity that was extremely daring by Anglo-American standards.
«Je t'aime... moi non plus», version Gainsbourg-Birkin was released in 1968. Canal+ journalist Marc Toesca described the reaction to the song as follows: "Surprise et succè en France. Mais les soupires et halètements provoquent un scandale... chez nos prudes voisines anglais." The outcry was such that the original label in England, Fontana, dropped the record despite its being number 2 on the charts. A small company, Major Minor, immediately bought the rights and saw the song climb to Number 1, the only French song to ever do so.
Here in the States, there was never a question of putting the song on the radio. It may have been the era of free speech and free love, but not on the American air waves. It wasn't the lyrics to the song that caused the trouble - after all it was sung in French, but one listen to even a brief passage and you'll understand. Across the country, copies of the 45 kept popping up at colleges and Universities. A sophomore at the time, I recall it as the most played song on the juke box in our student center. At least until faculty pressure forced its removal. Despite the lack of air play and no coordinated marketing effort, Serge Gainsbourg became the most successful French singer in America since the Singing Nun!
Gainsbourg closed the 60s with his album 69, année érotique and opened the 70s with his first concept album, Melody Nelson. These albums are combined in the disk Gainsbourg Vol. 5, Je t'aime… moi non plus. The success of these two albums recorded with Jane Birkin was such that Ms. Birkin, despite possessing a singing voice with no redeeming qualities what-so-ever, has enjoyed a lasting career as a singer in France!
The seventies saw Gainsbourg experiment outside music, releasing a feature film of Je t'aime... moi non plus, and directing television commercials for such products as Lux and Woolite. He continued to write songs for others, but his best work was for himself on albums such as Vu de l'exterieur, Rock around the bunker, L'homme à tête de chou and Aux armes et caetera.
This last album was recorded with musicians from Bob Marley's Wailers, and introduced reggae to France. It also introduced Gainsbourg to the wrath of the Legion d'Honeur, who took as a serious insult Gainsbourg's reworking of the National Anthem.

Gainsbourg's career is full of remarkable ironies. Despite his reputation, he was tapped to write the lyrics for the French version of "You're a good man, Charlie Brown", and in 1987 was asked to write an anti-drug song. After a life of such excess, it's pretty hard to imagine what people were thinking of, but Gainsbourg managed to produce a very power and uniquely Gainsbourgian song. Gainsbourg's own thoughts on the subject are illuminating: "Tout le monde pense que je suis un junkie, parce que j'ai un regard...comme ça... étoilé. Je ne le suis pas. J'en ai connu, des petites junkies, mais moi, j'touche pas à ça et j'veux pas qu'on y touche. Le leitmotiv, c'est «casser la gueule aux dealers», c'est normal, ce sont eux les assassins, ils vont à la sortie des écoles communales et des lycées."
Whether you listen to Gainsbourg from the fifties, sixties, seventies or eighties, you hear the music of a man totally connected to his time. One of his last albums, You're under arrest is solid 80's dance-beat rock, his music from the late 60s rings of fuzz-box guitar and blues riffs not unlike Buffalo Springfield. And when you listen to the full range of his music, both the songs written for himself and those for others, there is no denying the man's talent.
"Inculpation: Détournement de mineures," reads the rap sheet on the cover of You're under arrest. To Gainsbourg's detractors, that could be a fitting epitaph. Others might prefer Gainsbourg's favorite quote from Oscar Wilde: "J'ai mis mon génie dans ma vie et mon talent dans mon oeuvre."

This Sat Groove is in Kilbirnie on 88.4FM!

• We're Grooving on-site at the National Inter-Council Sports Tournament this Saturday (25th March) . We'll be broadcasting from Kilbirnie Park from 8am on 88.4FM with classic 80's songs added to the usual Groove mix (the tournament has an 80's theme) and bits of live comedy from the one and only Raybon Kan throughout the day. Come down and support the Wellington City Council team playing Touch Rugby, Soccer & 'Top Town' all to a Groove/80's soundtrack! Of course, the usual Groove program that we know and love continues on 107.7FM.
• Tony had a great day broadcasting at the Newtown Fair the other week.
• The Little Day In (Picnic in the park) has been postponed. Watch this space for details!

Tommorrow Nite on Rumble

The Black Seeds.

With gold and platinum selling albums in New Zealand and several years of successful touring, Wellington-based band The Black Seeds have received recognition as one of New Zealand’s finest acts.
An 8-piece live band, The Black Seeds produce a unique blend of funk, reggae, soul and dub that has set dancefloors alight throughout Australasia and sees them regularly sell out shows and tours.
In June 2001 The Black Seeds released their Gold-selling debut album Keep On Pushing on Wellington-based record label Loop Recordings Aotearoa. Acclaimed in all quarters, Keep On Pushing received massive b.net support and reached the top spots of the station's listener-voted charts. In 2001 Keep On Pushing was voted among Rip It Up magazine's Top 50 Albums Of The Year. ‘Keep On Pushing’ has since been released in France, Belgium and Switzerland through French label, Productions Speciales and in September 2004 the first single ‘Keep On Pushing’ reached number 32 in the French groove charts and number 100 in the overall French singles charts.
In October 2002, The Black Seeds' debut album was skillfully reworked and reshaped by some of the country's leading producers into the remix album Pushed. Jet Jaguar's Coming Back Home remix reached No.1 on the New Zealand b.net charts and the album went on to sell well throughout the country.
The Black Seeds second studio album ‘On The Sun’ was released in New Zealand in 2004 through Capitol Records and debuted at number three album charts. The album has since become a top seller and is close to reaching double platinum sales in New Zealand. ‘On The Sun’ again features the familiar reggae/dub sound from their debut album but introduces a heavy funk/soul flavour that has become a recent feature of their much loved live shows. Singles from the album such as ‘Turn It Around’, ‘Sort It Out’ and ‘Fire’ received massive alternative radio airplay and the hit single ‘So True’ received enormous support from New Zealand commercial radio and music television.
Since forming in 1998, The Black Seeds have become renowned as one of New Zealand’s finest and most dynamic live acts. The band regularly sells out New Zealand shows and tours and play headline slots at New Zealand’s top music festivals. The Black Seeds have now completed four hugely successful tours of Australia, starting with a 16-show tour in June 2003 to promote the release of their debut album ‘Keep On Pushing’. The Black Seeds completed their most successful Australian tour to date in June 2005 that saw them perform to full houses in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Byron Bay including capacity shows at Sydney’s ‘@Newtown’ and Melbourne’s ‘Prince Of Wales’. In October, 2005 ‘On The Sun’ was released in Australia through Shock Records and Loop Recordings and The Black Seeds completed a 7 show album release tour in November.
In August 2005 The Black Seeds completed their first 18 show European tour. The successful tour saw the band perform in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Holland including three sell out shows in London. The Black Seeds will again return to Europe in 2006.
In October 2005 The Black Seeds began work on their 3rd studio album which is due for release in April 2006. The album is again being recorded by Lee Prebble at the Surgery in Newtown and will be The Black Seeds first album with new drummer Jarney Murphy and Bassist Tim Jaray. The release will be followed by a New Zealand album release tour in May 2006.
For more information on The Black Seeds: http://www.theblackseeds.com/

RUMBLE THU THE CRATES - EVERY THURSDAY NITE FROM 6pm

Rumble is Back, Baby, Back!

Hey, Hey, Hey! How are Y'all. Rumble thru the Crates is back on Air. Back with The Best. Already we've featured Holly Smith, Susheela Ramen and Rachael Yamagata. "Who are they?", you ask. Get with the programme, Groovers. "Rumble" that is. This is the show that features at least one artist every week. Tonite we go further and feature more Welly Music, including another chance to hear Holly Smith's brand new EP, Rhombus, Fat Freddy's and several others.

"Rumble thru the Crates" 6-7.30 Every Thursday

Groove's been out an about. You may have seen us down at Oriental Bay last week. We had plenty of feed back - all good. Thanks to Barry, who manned the studio and assisted with the live-to-airs.

There are fringe festival give-aways!

Double passes the Fringe show 'Shadows of Care' (2 x 1 act plays, 1 written by Barry from Groove).

Kiteroa - Auckland Jazz group "the Chris Mason-Batley Group" featuring traditional Maori instruments played by Richard Nunns 8PM Massey University Concert Hall - Next week we hope to feature Chri's new album on "Rumble".

Your fringe, fringe festival station....

Organic River Festival this weekend!

The 6th and biggest Organic River Festival happens over anniversary weekend this w/e and we will be there to tell you about it. Better still, why don't you go there yourselves?
16 musical acts, over 100 organics food and lifestyle stalls, over 33 talks and workshops as well as 3 days camping in an Idyllic setting on a river bank by Levin.

$45 for 3 days camping or $10 for a day pass.
See www.ecofest.co.nz for more information and stay tuned to Groove 107.7FM for your chance to win free tickets!