I'm speaking to Dictaphone Blues mastermind Ed Castelow, of Auckland, about common rock 'n' roll narratives.
''People have been saying that for ages, but you never do ... you never get that sound. I don't think, anyway.''
Dictaphone Blues' first album On the Down and In in 2009 was a bedroom project for Castelow, while its follow-up was written in conjunction with bandmates.
For this new album, however, Castelow has played, recorded, and mixed the entire record himself, eschewing completely ''that live band sound''.
The new album, Mufti Day, is out on Friday via Banished From the Universe Records (LP, CD, digital), the same night the group plays at Chick's Hotel in Port Chalmers.
''There are ugly terms, like `stoner' or `tripped out' or whatever, but I've got a fondness for making that kind of music. It's good doing that by yourself,'' Castelow says.
''I'd worked with the band on my last record and the way it turned out was that everyone was busy and that I was hitting a creative stride,'' Castelow continues.
''And, it sounds awful, but I wasn't feeling like I shouldn't share it [laughs]. I wanted to do it by myself and see what that would be like. It makes a difference. Compromise is a good way of saying it. I didn't want to compromise.''
Castelow recorded the LP using ''tape machines and vintage equipment'', and laughs when I suggest that in the age of digital and Pro Tools that might also be something of an increasingly common rock narrative to convey identity and authenticity.
''[Tape] does sound better to me,'' he says.
''I think its because there are a couple of mechanics in it, a couple of moving parts. There's a bit of flutter and that kind of adds to feel of it, because it's not just a digital image. Those little imperfections are disguised just a little bit, or made to sound not so bad [laughs].''
Mufti Day is a bold listen, with plenty of identities on show and plenty of contrast.
Album opener, the APRA Silver Scroll nominated Her Heart Breaks Like A Wave is jangly and psych-focused, while second single 365 featuring Emily Edrosa (of Street Chant fame) opens with a dirty overdriven guitar riff reminiscent of garage rockers GRMLN, mellowing into something a bit poppier and a Beatles style (Castelow is a huge George Harrison fan) middle eight freak-out.
''I always felt a bit of trepidation going to school on the big day,'' Castelow says of the high school tradition from which the album takes its name.
''You'd have to worry about what you were going to throw together, and there was always a worry about what your pals might think. It's an eclectic album. It's just like mufti day really, just everybody wearing their gears out there.''
AN INTIMATE EVENING
In their last show for the year, local independent record store portil is offering the chance for an intimate evening with local psych-pop star Kane Strang.
A favourite here at Suitable Alternative, Strang recently performed his first solo show outside Dunedin, a sold-out performance (also recorded and filmed by Radio New Zealand) at the Longhall in Wellington, and is currently sitting atop the Radio One 91FM charts with his single In Thailand.
SEE IT
• Dictaphone Blues' Mufti Day Album Release Tour with support from Astro Children, Bad Sav, and Pesk, Friday, December 5, at Chick's Hotel, Port Chalmers. Doors open 8pm, gig starts 9pm. Tickets and ticket and vinyl/CD combo available from www.undertheradar.co.nz
• Portil presents Kane Strang, Thursday, December 4, at the Havana Lounge (cnr Moray Pl and Filleul St). Tickets available instore, $20 and include pre-show food. Doors at 6pm, show starts at 7.30pm.
