Pre-Order the new album, Leave Love Out Of This, hear the new single, ‘Entertainment,’ and see the new video for ‘Two Free Hands.’

It is with great excitement that I announce the release of the new full-length album, Leave Love Out Of This, and invite you to hear the opening track, ‘Entertainment.’

Leave Love Out Of This arrives July 16, on Vinyl, CD, Digital, or as a Deluxe Edition LP, with green vinyl and a bonus 7” record. All physical and digital download versions of the album come with an additional 8 minutes of music, including the extra track,‘Lockheed Bomber.’

After years working together and one or two thinking about this album, I’m proud to have my visual collaborator Daniel Blackball Alexander on the album art.

You can pre-order the album right here, at slowtimerecords.com, bandcamp, or ask at your favourite record store. If looking for it on your favourite music service - you can find that here.

I’m particularly delighted to join Nadia Reid’s label, Slow Time Records - a new collaboration in New Zealand and Europe to join our friends at Misra in North America and Flippin’ Yeah in Australia. Nadia has released her own albums on Slow Time, but I have the honour of being the first new artist on her label. Nadia and I met in Dunedin growing up, we’ve toured New Zealand and Europe together, and the idea, which she suggested after we played her inaugural Christmas show, was a perfect fit.

‘Two Free Hands’ video

We also have a new video for “Two Free Hands,” which finds its home on vinyl with the release of Leave Love Out Of This. The video was recorded as part of A Synthesized Universe for the Auckland Arts Festival at Stardome Planetarium. It was filmed by Renato Lehr and the From The Noise Floor team, with a sound mix by Bob Frisbee.

Video edited by Renato Nehr and @fromthenoisefloor. Cameras by Renato Lehr, Fergus Milner and Bob Frisbee. A Synthesized Universe made in collaboration with Otago Museum. Planetarium visuals by Andrew Charlton with photography by Dr Ian Griffin. Sound recorded by Malcolm Ibell, mixed and mastered by Bob Frisbee. Styling by Karlya Smith. Thanks to Doran and Doran.

When you pre-order the new album from the store or bandcamp, you’ll also get the studio versions of Entertainment and Two Free Hands right away.

I worked closely Leave Love Out Of This with my long-time producer Jonathan Pearce, of The Beths. Jonathan shares a writing credit on ‘Entertainment,’ which follows an athlete with a once-in-a-lifetime shot at television stardom.

Jonathan also features in the new video for Entertainment - directed by Auckland’s Sports Team, alongside mixed media artist Erica Sklenars (Lady Lazerlight), Callum Devlin and Annabel Kean of Sports Team, and myself.

Video Directed by Sports Team, DOP: Samuel Austin, Producer: Anthonie Tonnon Projection and light design: Erica Sklenars Styling: Karlya Smith Starring Jonathan Pearce, Erica Sklenars, Anthonie Tonnon, Annabel Kean and Callum Devlin Made with the support of NZ On Air.

Over a period where I developed the A Synthesized Universe and Rail Land shows, Jonathan and I worked on the new album, looking for a balance between organic sound and the synthesized sounds that drive those shows.

On ‘Entertainment, and ‘Two Free Hands’ Stuart Harwood played the acoustic drums, and David Flyger played bass guitar, while an array of collaborators joined the album - including Anna Coddington, who layered an incredible array of BVs from her home studio on Two Free Hands, and The Beth’s Elizabeth Stokes, who snuck in some French Horn.

A Synthesized Universe

A Synthesized Universe is an immersive experience that combines live music with a flight through the known universe, custom animations, and mixed reality. Originally developed for a modern planetarium with animator Andrew Charlton and the Otago Museum, we’ve also expanded the show to work in traditional performance spaces, with the help of video and mixed reality artist Erica Sklenars - a.k.a Lady Lazerlight.

It was an honour to bring A Synthesized Universe to Arts Festivals in Auckland, Tairāwhiti/Gisborne, Nelson, and Tauranga in 2019.

We have plans to take it to new planetariums and other spaces soon. If you’d like to inquire about the show, please contact reuben@banishedmusic.com

Rail Land 2020-2021

Rail Land finished its extended summer last month in Wanaka.

Rail Land is a theatrical show and experience that celebrates public transport and passenger rail.

In its first two years, Rail Land took myself and audiences to community venues by rail or other public transport. The summer just been we had the chance to bring the show to more than 20 towns, thanks to the work of Arts On Tour, Auckland Arts Festival, The Festival of Colour and Papaioea Festival of the Arts.

Rail Land will return in some form at a future date. Until then, you can see more at the Rail Land page, including the music video for ‘Old Images.’ The video tells the story of the Dunedin Rail System - the last suburban train network in the South Island. The process of researching and filming this video eventually led to the idea for Rail Land.

Video directed by Julian Vares. Styling and assisting by Karlya Smith, Research by Anthonie Tonnon. Thanks to NZ on Air, the Dunedin City Council, Dunedin Railways, Kiwirail, and Toitu. Suit and shoes courtesy of Barkers and R.M Williams.

You can also hear the EP, Old Images/ Songs from Rail Land, which came out of the first year of the show. It includes the singles, ‘Old Images,’ my version of the Chills’ extraordinary 1990 song, ‘Submarine Bells,’ and three live songs from the first Rail Land show. You can purchase the CD or digital copy at the store.

Old Images engineered and produced by Jonathan Pearce and Anthonie Tonnon. Strings performed by Charmian Keay, Nick Dow, Nathan Pinkney and Kathleen Tomacruz. Strings arranged by Matthew Bodman. Bass by David Flyger. Acoustic drums by Tristan Deck. Additional vocals by Nadia Reid.

Mataura Paper Mill Single, Socks, and Water Underground (live) B-Side

‘Mataura Paper Mill’ is based on the true and ongoing story of an historic industrial building in Southland, after it was mothballed in 2000.

Footage by Andrew Charlton. Additional editing by Tristan J Brooks.

The video was shot, in Mataura, by A Synthesized Universe animator, Andrew Charlton - as part of the most recent version of that show.

You can purchase the single, ‘Mataura Paper Mill’ along with a pair of special edition socks, designed by Karlya Smith, and made in New Zealand from a slim merino wool blend. Buy them here from the store, or from bandcamp.

All purchases come with a digital download of Mataura Paper Mill, and the new b-side, ‘Water Underground (live)’, recorded at the Auckland Arts Festival.

Mataura Paper Mill was recorded and produced by Jonathan Pearce and myself. Water Underground was recorded live by Malcolm Ibell, and mixed and mastered by Bob Frisbee.

About this website

I started this website to release the orginal song and Extended Player, Two Free Hands, which you can find at the store and stream below, along with other releases and merchandise.

The EP is available only from this store, New Zealand music stores, and bandcamp, while the single is available on all music services.

I aim to make this website, and the mailing list my first portals of communication. Joining the mailing list or visiting the site means you don't need to use social media to know about new releases or performances.

I have pro-technology philosophy, as long people are using the technology, not the other way around. Above all, I respect your time. This is why I have no comments, like or share buttons on this site, and why I send a maximum of four emails to the mailing list a year.

But if you’d like to get in touch, I welcome correspondence - details are at the work section.