West Harbour psych-pop trio the Shifting Sands are releasing their sophomore album next week, following on from their lilting, beach-toned debut, Feel.
However, while Feel was recorded with a shifting who's who of Dunedin's musical past centred around the songwriting talents of Michael McLeod, their new album, Cosmic Radio Station, is much more of a solid band affair.
''Feel was recorded with about 16 different people playing on it in three different main studio locations, with totally different rhythm section bands each time,'' vocalist and guitarist Michael McLeod says over an outdoor drink in Dunedin's encouraging good weather.
''Since then, when we put that album out, we toured it, got a band together, and that band has remained since. The first batch of songs I took to Feel were largely written at home on an acoustic guitar, and these were written with a live band in mind.''
McLeod is now joined by bassist Tom Bell and drummer Jake Langley, the trio coming together in late 2012 to not only perform as the Shifting Sands but also run Port Chalmers venue Chick's Hotel.
''The beginnings of this album actually predate our time at Chick's,'' McLeod says.
''I was working at a cafe in Port Chalmers and the owners have a woolshed near Purakaunui, up above Murdering Beach, which they've converted into a family home. We did about half of it there, and half a bit further along the coast in a crib that I own.''
The psychogeography of West Harbour is all over the vibe of the record, McLeod's voice smoothly meditating over churning astral seascapes and deep sonic undertow.
''It's a bit spacier,'' McLeod says of the new LP.
''There's way more synth and scuzzy droney stuff on this album. When we went to play live as a three-piece band after the first record, we felt a bit naked with just one guitar, so we thought `what can we do to add a bit more dimension?' So Tom has the loops that he activates when we play live, and now we like having the blanket of sound, almost.
''It's quite comfortable, a nice warm blanket.''
Wrap yourself up and tune in to the Cosmic Radio Station next week at Chick's Hotel.
HEAVY COLLABORATION
Two of new Zealand's heaviest have joined together this month for a national tour of colossal proportions.
Coming off a series of club dates around Europe and an appearance at Belgian post-rock festival Dunk, 2015 Taite Music Prize-winner Jakob will join metal riff gods Beastwars for an event of transcendent and formidable sonic power tonight at Re:Fuel.
In support is emergent heavy-psych power duo Triumphs.
Fresh from releasing their fantastic debut album Beekeeper/Bastardknocker through local boutique label Monkey Killer Records, the pair of John Bollen and Matthew Anderson will hit the stage before embarking on their own nationwide tour, which begins next month.
The gigs
• The Shifting Sands Cosmic Radio Station album release tour, Friday, October 9 at Chick's Hotel, Port Chalmers with Elan Vital, 8.30pm doors. The Chick's Hotel Magic Bus leaves Countdown at 8.30, the uni library at 8.35, and returns to town after the show.
• Saturday, October 10 at the Sherwood, Queenstown with Killergrams. Advance tickets $10 from undertheradar.co.nz or $15 door sales.
• Preview the album at fishriderrecords.bandcamp.com.
• Beastwars & Jakob New Zealand Tour with support from Triumphs, tonight at Re:Fuel, Dunedin. $35+bf pre-sales available from undertheradar.co.nz. 9pm doors.
