Music Plus with Winston Watusi watusi@thesun.co.nz

This week I planned to write about the Tauranga City Council elections: it seemed important.

Then I read this on SunLive: Only about one-third of Tauranga residents voted – the lowest turnout in a decade. Apparently fewer people cared about “restoring our democracy” than those who voted for the mob whose alleged infighting led to the loss of it in the first place. Of course, the full results might be different but not by much. Colour me disillusioned.

So let’s not dwell on events that only one-third of you care about. Instead, we’ll head straight to what it says on the tin: Music plus …

Once again there are several interesting local releases across a range of styles and with more planned. There are releases from relative newcomers and seasons veterans, so let’s dig in and see what’s here and what’s on the way.

Fiona Cosgrove.

Auckland jazz and blues singer Fiona Cosgrove has become a regular visitor to Tauranga, popping up at Jack Dusty’s, The Barrel Room and all over. She’s also been touring through July to launch her debut album, ‘Introspective’. That happened here with a blast of a gig at Mount Maunganui’s Voodoo Lounge a few weeks back.

‘Introspective’ is dynamite stuff, currently only available on CD before dropping on digital platforms in August. I’ll be back with a full review then; meanwhile the big-band funk of lead single ‘Comfortable’ is on YouTube.

Marmalade Skies.

While I’m on album launches, cool Auckland outfit Park Rd, who play a lovely melodic indie rock, are coming to The Mount’s Palace Tavern on August 16 to launch their cracking debut album ‘Novel’. They have most excellent local indie-popsters Marmalade Skies in support. Get in early, it’ll be good.

Park Rd.

Hoick.

On a more practical and considerably more hardcore note, at Palace Tavern next Saturday, August 3, local punk trio Hoick, which seems a very apt name for a punk trio, will be selling T-shirts and taking koha to raise money to complete their first album. Live crowd-funding.

They’ll have veteran reprobates Threat.Meet.Protocol and Stunt Clown kicking in to aid this very worthwhile cause of more music being released from the Bay.

Also just released, within seconds of my deadline, is a new album from singer-songwriter John Michaelz, who has ended the reggae collaboration with the Black Brothers which resulted in last year’s ‘Soul Exodus’ album.

Now ‘Some Songs III’ offers a retrospective collection of live, alternative and unreleased songs along with two new recordings.

Also singer-songwriter Frances Ellen is gearing up for the release of her first full EP in August, four songs, all written with and produced by high-flyers Reb Fountain and Dave Khan.

Frances Ellen.

Frances can be seen singing jazz at the monthly jams and moves across a wide range of styles. You could call the three songs available so far pop or even perhaps contemporary folk. Expect big things from her.

One last song, only on YouTube: Kokomo has dropped a new track from upcoming album ‘Futura’, somewhat surprisingly an instrumental electronica take on Bob Dylan’s ‘Dignity’.

Hear Winston’s latest Playlist