Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Various Artists - Flying Nun 25th Anniversary Box Set (4 Discs)


Yeah, yeah . . . OK.  I know . . . mea culpa.

Yes, folks - believe it or now, I'm still here, and so is Pee-Pee Soaked Heckhole.  Don't let the dearth of new posts here lead you to believe that the demise of this blog is nigh . . . far from it.  I have yet to run out of ideas or stories.  By last check, I've got at least a dozen posts in various stages of development. 

The tragedy of it all is that, for the past three months, I just haven't been able to complete any of them to my satisfaction.  Despite this being a silly little music site of no major consequence to anything else going on in the world, it is mine own, and as such I try to put a little care, work and editing into my screeds.  With that in mind, I'm constantly in search of the perfect phrasing and narrative flow to make these tales at least somewhat interesting, in the hope that when visitors come here to grab the links for my latest album posting, they just possibly might linger a bit and actually read what I've penned in relation to the music.

Unfortunately for me, that quest for the "right" line has led to stagnation and writer's block.  I visit this site with a sense of shame now, looking back guiltily over the vast number of unfinished postings stretching back for months and wondering when the fog will lift, and when I'll be able to add them to the others.  It's annoying, to say the least.

But there is a bright side - this has happened before, and no doubt will occur again; sometimes I just get locked up.  But in the end, I always end up completing the stragglers and clearing out the backlog.  So keep watching this site; I will undoubtedly be backdating quite a few postings in the next few weeks.  But they will get done.

Until then, here's a stopgap to tide you over, the Flying Nun 25th Anniversary Box Set, four discs jam-packed with pure Kiwi punk/alternative goodness by New Zealand's premier independent music label.  These limited-edition discs contain a semi-chronological overview of nearly all of that country's (and label's) great non-mainstream artists - some of whom you may have heard of (The Chills, Toy Love, The Clean) and many others which may be new to you (The Pin Group, Straitjacket Fits, Love's Ugly Children, Chug, The Dead C).  Many of the tunes in this set have long been out of print, making it a must-have for anyone with any interest in the New Zealand scene.

The reason I'm posting this (other than as an apology for being so idle over the past couple of months) is because not only is this a great set, an outstanding overview of the evolution of New Zealand alternative music since 1980 - it's also annoying difficult to track down online.  And I know that if I have trouble finding it, many, many more of you are having a hard time as well.

So here - let me make it easy for you all:  Here's the Flying Nun 25th Anniversary Box Set, eighty-three tracks of Aotearoa brilliance, released on Flying Nun Records (duh) in December 2006.  Enjoy these while I get my act together, and let me know what you think. 

And one more thing - thanks for hanging in there with me and this blog.  More to come.

Please use the email link below to contact me, and I will reply with the download link ASAP:

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42 comments:

  1. I just got around to listening to the 3Ds and instantly needed more Flying Nun. Looking forward to hearing this. Thank you!

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  2. Thank you very much for this! Flying Nun has some amazing bands on their label, and I'm looking forward to hearing some that I haven't heard before. This will be perfect to listen to on the long drive ahead of me today. Thanks again!

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  3. Great music, thanks for sharing stuff I'd otherwise never hear! Keep up the great work.

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  4. A great label that signed great bands. Some of the most vibrant music to emerge from New Zealand was released through this record label. I've been looking for this compilation for ages and thanks to PPSH I've finally got a copy. Really looking forward to hearing the artists whose work I haven't heard before (like The Great Unwashed and Pop Art Toasters). Great work mate and much obliged!

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  5. I first heard about Flying Nun, thanks to Sneaky Feekings, a group I can't help listening to again & again, since a month or two now. Amazing sound, very pure and full of emotion. I found in this compilation many songs in a similar mood, very simple and creative at the same time. I really enjoyed listening to this box. Definitely worth checking !!!

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  6. Thank you very much for sharing this big pile of classics!

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  7. thanks so much!!!

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  8. Cheers! Couldn't find this anywhere. Great collection of tracks

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  9. Just been listening to this great comp of kiwi alt-pop bands. Such a revelation! Very comprehensive indeed. Thanks for posting this. Absolutely amazing.

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  10. Thank you so much for this!!!
    -Jonathan

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  11. great comp, thanks for sharing!

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  12. Randolph's Going Home with a brilliant Flying Nun box set. Thank you.

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  13. Thanks very much! I only know a few Flying Nun bands, I'm very interested to sample more from the roster.

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  14. Holy Wow! I had this box years and years ago on the other side of the country. It is no longer in my possession, so thank you so much for sharing the tracks. Huzzah to you.

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  15. Thanks! Hopefully this'll be an awesome start to delving into the label.

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  16. Excellent stuff!

    I visited Dunedin a few years ago (to see Billy Bragg play) *trivia: it's the southern most place he's ever performed* The town had lost all its live venues and was a sad sight.

    I did walk up the hill to take some shots of the house used in Scarfies aka Crime 101

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    1. That's sad to hear that Dunedin's scene has all but died. That's weird for such a college town to have it all dry up like that. Reminds me of when I revisited Dallas, TX a few years ago after being away for several years and finding that Deep Ellum, the once-nonstop party, bar and music district in the city, had almost completely closed down. It was a sad, shocking change from what I had known before and always assumed would be there . . . but I guess that's why they call it "change". Oh well.

      Thanks for the comment!

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  17. Thanks bro great post. NZ bands NOT APPRCIATED as MES would say. J in Liverpool
    PS You asked for feedback on link site..... Tricky (after a few beers)
    PPS re JFK.... The Driver

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  18. Great post bro. Bit of a mare getting the tunes (after a few beers) and leaving a comment (for a technophobe!). Keep up the good work!!! J in Liverpool.
    PS re JFK ...... The Driver.

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  19. Awesome! Been looking for this gem for a while. Keep up the good work!

    -Vincent

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  20. Thanks a lot. In the 80s many Flying Nun bands were amazing (Chills, Bats, Verlaines, ...) ! Now I'm much older :-) but still happy when I can listen to them. When reading the track list of this compilation I'm really surprised about how many bands are unknown for me! Looking forward to listen to them Stuart!

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  21. Thanks very much.Listening to this box now.Great tunes & quality.Again thanks for sharing.
    Anders,Stockholm

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  22. Absolutely brilliant!! Have searched hi & lo for this classic. Really appreciate the share & enjoy the blog
    g8rrick :)

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  23. Thanks for the share, absolutely brilliant!! Have searched hi & lo for this indie gem :)

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  24. more lots of thanks!

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  25. One of the best box sets ever! appreciate the share. Thank you

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  26. been trying to find this for ten years?! thank you for allowing me to lay this to rest!

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    1. Glad I could finally close out your long search, Nate - enjoy, and thanks for the comment!

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  27. It took me a long time to properly digest this, partly because I kept getting distracted by tracks I liked and started exploring that band's discography. The Bats are especially fantastic. The set as a whole is a bit inconsistent, but there are some really terrific songs on here.
    -Hamish

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    1. Yes, The Bats are an outstanding band . . . if you like "North By North", track down "Made Up In Blue" - it's the single song that made me a fan of theirs.

      I concur somewhat with your assessment of the set; the first two discs are FANTASTIC, showcasing the high points of the label's early history. The third discs is pretty good as well, I think. But the fourth disc features for the most part some of the newer, less familiar - and frankly to me, less compelling or ground-breaking - Flying Nun bands. For a soup-to-nuts label history, it's great- but the meat of this set is in the first half/three-quarters.

      Thanks for your comment! Glad you're enjoying!

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  28. Thank you. Really looking forward to hearing this!

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  29. Great! Many thanks!
    Tim from Arnhem

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  30. Thank you so much for this awesome box set. There must have been something in the water in NZ during the 1980s.

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  31. I was desperate to hear this box set and you were kind enough to oblige. Thank you so much for your generosity, it is much appreciated!

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  32. An amazing boxset, a little slice of a subculture decades and worlds away from me. It's rekindling my desire to travel to NZ someday. Thanks so much!

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  33. very dope compliation that needs to be recognized more that it currently is!

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  34. Another long sought compilation gifted to me by your hand! Crazy such a small place is responsible for giving so much excellent music to the world. Grateful for your many gestures which comprise this kickass blog. Thankyou again kind sir !

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  35. Wow!!!! This is a true savior to for providing such a cool collection of music. I truly thank thee for providing such a vast and expansive collection. Thank you so much!

    I'm so thankful that people like you exist!

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  36. Hey thanks for being so kind and great job with the blog. Great box set, great bands.

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