The fortnightly five - 12 May 2026
A rundown of five fresh items on my headphones for the last fortnight.
FULL FLOCKING FORCE: A Fundraiser Compilation from Aotearoa for Emergency Relief Aid in Lebanon - (Bandcamp)
The who's who of dark, edgy, or left of field connected to Pōneke/ Wellington city. There are so many gems in here and it couldn't be for a better cause. This is a fundraiser compilation album of rare and unreleased material by artists from Aotearoa in solidarity with the people of Lebanon. All profits support verified grassroots organisations bringing essential relief. Accessible to the wallet at $10NZD, and with the option for you to pay more as a donation, if you wish. Essential winter listening.
Vera Ellen - Heaven Knows What Time (Official Site)
Last week I bought you a Hemi Hemingway song, ft Vera Ellen, and this week it's the same duo, but Vera's turn to shine in the spotlight. Currently touring internationally and racing up the alt charts with her latest album 'Heaven Knows What Time'. It's a raw-hearted romp through the battles of daily life and the uncertainty of suddenly being a grown-up. She has an amazing knack for turning wrought and tense life-moments into indie-pop bops. On several of the tracks little nods of joy explode with unexpected glockenspiels, and casio tones, complementing her signature upbeat and sunny guitar work. As if to remind us, though frustrating, life is not all bleakness.
Jonathan Bree - Savour My Love (feat. Rachel Clarke) (Official Site)
Teasing his 6th studio release for 'Don’t Call It Love' (due out 27 August), two tracks have dropped in advance - 'Live to Dance' and 'Savour My love'. Jonathan Bree has a knack for being the nonchalantly cool kid. He knows how to pare back, dial up the retro percussion and then layer up the pop-chamber tones. 'Savour My love' is giving me the I'm a VIP in a 60's casino and Diana Rigg is making me a martini chills. Mid-song is where it's at for me, the filthy superflanged guitar, that neurotic drum break, and Rachels' soaring breathy pitch.
PROBLEMS (Ft. Anand Wilder) "Personal Trainer" (Linktree)
From his latest album, 'Problems Getting Hard', Chicago based electronic musician (and one of my favourite chaos gremlins) Problems, teams up with New York experimental pop artist Anand Wilder to deliver my latest earworm. I cannot get this silky 8-bit neon track out of my head. As a third-party Anand's soft vocals are almost a resigned last-ditch plea to reach a woman who he's lost to the charms of her personal trainer. When the chorus hits we are slammed with a filthy horn loop and acid realisations in the lyrics. The dropouts at the end, from full instruments to just the vocals and drum beat are so satisfying. Oh god, this track slaps! (And the found footage video is genius)
Olaf Dreijer - Loud boom (Official Site)
The Brother half of the Swedish synth pop sibling project, The Knife, Olaf Dreijer finally has a debut solo album. He wanted to “just have fun with my own music again.” And yeah this is a fun time! He brings the same organic punchy tones, high trills crossed with snappy beats, and plenty of squidgy triangle shaped noises. As a big fan of The Knife I feel at home here. But instead of the noir-scandi-gothic of his earlier work, we're getting Rio, we're getting fresher party vibes, we're syncopated dance floor rhythms to keep you grooving all night. A couple of the later songs stray into tonal Asian mystic territory, but hey it's his album and he's having fun making it.
