Half of this session is available on Mixcloud:
Speakers: Isabelle, Stéphane, Dominique et Laurent
For our sixth session, The Record Club travelled to the Southern Hemisphere and explored some of the finest independent music ever produced in Australia and New Zealand.
The playlist deliberately mixed contemporary artists with the pioneers who helped shape the region’s unique indie identity. We moved from the shoegaze-inspired textures of Hatchie and Flying Colours to the power-pop brilliance of The Beths, while revisiting legendary Flying Nun Records alumni such as The Bats and The Chills, two of the key architects of New Zealand’s celebrated “Dunedin Sound”.
Featured Artists
- HighSchool – Dipped
- Gang of Youths – What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out?
- The Jean Paul Sartre Experience – Into You
- Hatchie – Carousel
- The Beths – Metal
- The Bats – A Crutch A Post
- Mild Orange – Mood
- Howling Bells – Setting Sun
- Flying Colours – Like You Said
- The Go-Betweens – Finding You
- The Chills – Pink Frost
- teargloss – Unseen
- Negative Gears – Negative Gear
- Sia – Breathe Me
Highlights of the Discussion
The session highlighted how Australia and New Zealand have consistently produced world-class independent music despite their geographical isolation.
Several participants were struck by the continuity between generations: from The Go-Betweens and the Flying Nun era to modern acts such as The Beths, Hatchie and HighSchool. The discussion also touched on the remarkable influence of New Zealand’s Flying Nun Records, whose legacy can still be heard in countless indie bands around the world.
The Beths generated significant enthusiasm thanks to their combination of infectious melodies and sharp songwriting, while Pink Frost by The Chills reminded everyone why it remains one of the defining songs of New Zealand alternative music.
Session Verdict
Rather than focusing on the obvious international stars, this special session celebrated the depth and diversity of two music scenes that continue to punch far above their weight.
From post-punk (Negative Gears) and jangle pop to dream pop, shoegaze (Flyying Colours, Jean Paul Sartre Experience) and modern indie rock (Gang of Youths), Australia and New Zealand once again proved that some of the most enduring and inventive music often comes from the farthest corners of the map.
The Record Club continues every Wednesday at 9pm CET (Amsterdam, Paris time), bringing together music lovers from different backgrounds around one shared playlist and a simple idea: discovering great music together. https://concertandvinyl.com/the-record-club/
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