[{"id":399999205614,"handle":"flying-nun-records","updated_at":"2024-11-04T08:40:05+11:00","published_at":"2022-02-08T16:04:47+11:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"web","title":"Flying Nun Records","body_html":"","image":{"created_at":"2022-02-08T16:04:46+11:00","alt":null,"width":300,"height":300,"src":"\/\/flyingnunaustralia.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/L-20365-1498236818-5866.jpg?v=1644296686"}},{"id":399996944622,"handle":"the-chills","updated_at":"2024-08-07T14:50:18+10:00","published_at":"2022-02-08T15:24:25+11:00","sort_order":"best-selling","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"web","title":"The Chills","body_html":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhere \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Chills\u003c\/strong\u003e are concerned, there’s no simple summary of who, what and why. Perhaps only ‘when’, and even then the last 30 years seem to blur. This is testament to the physical persistence of Chills founder and centrifugal force \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMartin Phillipps\u003c\/strong\u003e, but also his kaleidoscopic, obsessive and idiosyncratic nature. For no other \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFlying Nun\u003c\/strong\u003e associate had such gumption to reach out overseas, nor was beset by both simple and turbulent twists of fate. Which meant no one could keep up with Phillipps’ wayward path - hence The Chills’ now infamously documented personnel changes (there are over 20 line-ups to peruse if you choose).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pjW3MT8D9RY\" height=\"630\" width=\"1120\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pjW3MT8D9RY\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAt least the music remains, and here there is much more certainty. The Chills were exemplars of the so-called Dunedin Sound – an often moist and melancholy, simultaneously dark and breezy amalgam of Western garage-pop roots but invested with an otherworldly aura, as if those overseas influences had indeed seeped in upside down. But only Phillipps was this quixotic, bridging folk and bubblegum, Bowie and Syd Barrett, with feverish shivers and childlike whimsy. (No one else would have dared wear pixie boots with no irony, only joy.). If music has a psycho-geographical bent, then it’s the air, waves and light of the Otago peninsular, and the spaciousness and remoteness of NZ itself, that glows and thrums through his songs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","image":{"created_at":"2022-02-10T11:02:29+11:00","alt":null,"width":874,"height":877,"src":"\/\/flyingnunaustralia.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/The_Chills_Flying_Nun.jpg?v=1644451350"}},{"id":400792649966,"handle":"vinyl","updated_at":"2024-08-27T12:25:16+10:00","published_at":"2022-02-21T19:43:05+11:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"web","title":"Vinyl","body_html":""}]
SubmarineBells is TheChills’ much-praised second album from 1990. Built around MartinPhillipps’ off-kilter vocal; all accent, all attitude, it reels around folk-like couplets with brusque punk swagger fed through psychedelic hues; so timeless it still simmers beautifully. It includes the effervescent, euphoric opener ‘Heavenly Pop Hit’.
“The Chills distilled post-punk with the sweet delivery of Phillipps, making it sound like The Fall paying homage to Prefab Sprout. Something that rare.” — Perfect Sound Forever
“Utterly immaculate” — Pitchfork
Fronted by the rare talent of MartinPhillipps, The Chills were originally formed in 1980 and had a revolving cast of band members, with Phillipps remaining the only constant. His knack for writing fantastic pop songs led to chart hits back home and a cult following around the world. With their early releases via FlyingNunRecords, The Chills produced a number of critically acclaimed recordings such as the single “Pink Frost” (their first hit) from the compilation album ‘Kaleidoscope World’ and “WetBlanket” from the LP ’BraveWords’.
At the height of the band’s success, JohnPeel invited them in for a number of BBC sessions (1985/1987/1988) which were released for the first time in 2014. They released the album Submarine Bells in 1990, where their single, “Heavenly Pop Hit” garnered much international praise and press. The band returned to NZ as national heroes and proceeded to release several more albums including Soft Bomb and Sunburnt.
With a few years hiatus due to health problems, Martin picked up TheChills again in ’99 and throughout the 00’s playing shows around the world and reaching a wider audience and gaining a cult following. The band have many faithful friends around the world and a new generation (PeterBjorn and John, Songs, TheGoFind, PandaBear, TheShins et al) are now covering or attempting to emulate TheChills unique sound.
Martin has a single-minded determination to take quality, original NZ-sounding, melodic rock music global. His requirement of band members has been to meet a standard of musicianship, which is necessary to deliver The Chills songs with essential consistent energy. This determination stems from the punk rock ethics of Martin’s musical awakening and from the subsequent proximity to people like ChrisKnox who drove home how crucial it was to deliver music always with intensity and conviction. This live energy is the central reason why The Chills are remembered fondly in all of the thirty-nine countries that they have thus far visited. It’s the combination of this AND the consistent quality of their songs which have established The Chills as one of the most well-known New Zealand groups to date.
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