Torque – Tourismo
November 24, 2023
Sydney’s jazz fusion heroes, Tourismo, crank the dial to eleven on their debut album Torque. Co-led by national jazz award winners Matthew Thomson and Alex Hirlian, this five-piece outfit fuses razor-sharp rhythms with melodies that sneak into your brain and refuse to leave.
Each track navigates complex odd-time signatures like a GPS with a sense of humor, while sly nods to Robert Glasper, Gerald Clayton and Ben Wendel wink at jazz aficionados. Michael Avgenicos’s sax squawks, Josh Meader’s guitar bends and Nick Henderson’s bass grooves with the mischievous delight of a cat on a keyboard, all under the nimble, inventive drumming of Alex Hirlian. By the end, you’re left dizzy, grinning and craving another spin.
Enter Now Brightness – Nadia Reid
February 7, 2025
Port Chalmers singer-songwriter Nadia Reid returns with her fourth album Enter Now Brightness, a sparkling indie-folk gem that balances heartache, hope and homegrown charm.
Moving beyond her earlier folk roots, Reid crafts a sound uniquely her own, blending tenderness with wry, reflective lyricism. Over ten tracks, she explores change, motherhood, heartbreak and the delicate joys of everyday life, all delivered with her signature poise and warmth.
Supported by New Zealand On Air, the album captures the quiet magic of Reid’s storytelling, offering listeners a deeply personal and subtly joyful experience. It’s an intimate journey through emotion and growth that lingers long after the last note fades.