Tall Dwarfs Slide
by
Tragically, Chris Knox, the grandfather of low-fi New Zealand pop, had a stroke a few months back, which has left him considerably restricted and probably out of the Kiwi music scene that he worked so hard to foster. This 1980s track, Slide, was a classic Knox production: melodic, slightly unnerving, gloriously challenging – never an easy listen, but always worth fighting past the sticking points.
Tagged: Chris Knox, Flying Nun, New Zealand, New Zealand music, Tall Dwarfs
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At first listen, The Chills were like nothing else when they burst out of the relatively cloistered confines of the Dunedin student set way back in the early 1980s. Only, in retrospect, they were kinda like so much of the rest of the Flying Nun roster: lo-fi, wearily melodic, understated, and joyously brash in their use of lush vocal harmonies and ringing guitar licks. It was simply divine. And the first time I heard this song, Heavenly Pop Hit, I thought it was exactly that: the most decadent single imaginable. Some twenty years later, it still sounds fresh. [Click here to listen to Heavenly Pop Hit]
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A collection of classic Flying Nun music videos
My favourite record label, the New Zealand-based Flying Nun — home to seminal acts such as The Chills, The Bats, The Clean, and The Verlaines — has been reinvigorated recently with the return of the label’s founder, Roger Shepherd, to steer the reigns and return this wonderful low-fi cottage industry back to its rightful glory. To mark the occasion, NZ On Screen has launched a collection of classic Flying Nun music videos, curated by Shepherd, including this frightfully progressive effort (it was made in 1981) from that doyen of Kiwi indie-pop, Chris Knox.
The Chills were the first band I ever saw. Well, actually, they were the first band I never saw, despite my best intentions. I was fifteen at the time, and my friend got word that the seminal Flying Nun act, who hailed from the deepest, darkest trenches of Dunedin, New Zealand, were to play a show that night at the now long gone Max’s in Petersham, Sydney. We had to go. It was The Chills, the very symbol of low-fi sullen rebellion, with their ruddy cheeks and out of tune guitars. So we whacked handfulls of gel in our hair and resolved to sneak our way past the doorman. Only my friend arrived at the venue a little earlier than me (his Dad was clearly a better driver than mine) and promptly sauntered into the venue, while I was turned away for ‘obviously being a minor’. Dammit! They were probably better on record anyway.
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paul said | 27 December, 2009
You can see a hi-fi version of Slide here: http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-slide-1988. Also check out dozens of other examples of the low-fi legend’s music video art in the NZ On Screen Chris Knox Music Video Collection – curated by Flying Nun founder Roger Shepherd: http://www.nzonscreen.com/collection/chrisknox — gems include Face of Fashion, Nothing’s Going to Happen and Knox-directed Tally Ho (The Clean) …