Various Artists – 1:12 Party
(1:12 Records)
Reviewed by Doug Peters.
Originally meant as a Record Store Day 2020 release, 1:12 Party is the latest compilation from Tāmaki Makaurau’s 1:12 Records. A 14 track celebration of the best DIY and underground acts Auckland has to offer, this album is essentially the equivalent to a night spent flitting between The Wine Cellar and Whammy! Bar on a busy night (BYO booze and yarns with strangers of course).
Only available on Vinyl (locally produced by Holiday Records), it would be remiss of me not to comment on the physical beauty of this release – from the stunning cover artwork produced by local artist Erin Forsyth to the completely translucent vinyl itself. In a world where multi-coloured vinyl is the new norm it’s refreshing to see how great this crystalline disc looks.
But, there’s much more to this release than just its visual beauty. Kicking off the party is Thee Golden Geese with the lo-fi punk number ‘1:12 Party Emergency’ – an instant 1:12 Records anthem.
Side A then continues to roll through a veritable who’s who of Auckland’s underground rock ‘n roll royalty – from the bubblegum-ish punk rock of Cindy (featuring the “human dynamo” Scott Brown of DHDFD’s fame) through to the high kickin’ low down rockin’ Labretta Suede & The Motel 6.
One of the standout tracks on this side is King Kaiju’s cover of The Revels classic ‘Intoxica’ – a sleazy little instrumental that pays tribute to The Centurions version of the track as featured in John Waters’ Pink Flamingos.
Flipping the disc over to the B side, we’re met with one of my favourite punk-rock acts in the scene right now – Dick Move performing ‘Ladies Night’. This track only ups the anticipation for a full length release soon… hopefully!
Hallelujah Picassos bring an electro-clash remix of the closing track of their last album to the mix, while the Echo Ohs track ‘The Moon’ is a space rock extravaganza. And the last song of the night is probably my favourite on the whole album – the beautiful Southern Dad-Rock styled ‘Sorry For Your Loss’ performed by Magic Factory, a kind-of 1:12 Records supergroup consisting of a rotating roster of nine members.
As I mentioned in the beginning of this piece, 1:12 Party is a celebration of local DIY and Underground acts so don’t be expecting crystal clear shiny production or top 40 pop hits. And that’s the attraction here – these bands are all superb in their own rights and are able to craft beautiful music without the glitz and polish of the mainstream. My recommendation, turn this album up to 11, crack open a drink and PARTY in your lounge or music room. That’s what I did!
Thank you 1:12 Records, you’ve compiled a masterpiece!
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