After reforming to play two benefit shows in October — minus Peter Hook who slammed the rest of the band, saying “Everyone knows that NEW ORDER without PETER HOOK is like QUEEN without FREDDIE MERCURY, U2 without THE EDGE, SOOTY without SWEEP!” — New Order have announced that they will play one show at Auckland’s Vector Arena on February 27. The current lineup of the band is Gillian Gilbert (keyboard, guitar), Stephen Morris (drums), Bernard Sumner (vocals, guitar), Phil Cunningham (guitar, keyboards), & Tom Chapman (bass). Tickets are on sale online only from Dec 16th at Ticketmaster and on sale Dec 18th from all outlets including Real Groovy.

Chillstreet, who played their debut gig with Homebrew over the weekend, have released their op-shop themed video ‘Savemart’; watch it below and freeload the song via Soundcloud.

In support of his latest album How Do You Do?, Mayer Hawthorne has announced that he will play two shows in Auckland and Wellington this February.

Mayer Hawthorne
+ DJ Marek
22nd February – SFBH – Wellington
Tickets: www.1night.co.nz & all 1night outlets – on sale 9am Friday 2nd December

Mayer Hawthorne + special guests
23rd February – The Powerstation – Auckland
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.nz – on sale 9am Friday 2nd December

In support of their latest album Days, New Jersey band Real Estate have announced that they are heading to New Zealand for two shows in March 2012.

AUCKLAND
Thursday 15 March 2012 – Kings Arms,
Tickets on sale Wednesday the 7^th December
from www.undertheradar.co.nz
& Real Groovy Records

WELLINGTON
Friday 16 March 2012 –San Francisco Bath House,
Tickets on sale Wednesday the 7^th December
from www.undertheradar.co.nz 
& Slow Boat Records

As Stuff reports, Florence and The Machine are heading back to New Zealand for one show on May 28 2012 at Vector Arena. Tickets will be available via Ticketmaster from December 7.

R&B singer Lloyd, who recently released his album new King Of Hearts, will play one show at Auckland’s Civic Theatre on February 3. Tickets are on sale Thursday December 1 from The Edge.

As The Fader points out, MGMT’s new video for their cover of Bauhaus’ ‘All We Ever Wanted Was Everything’ was made by New Zealand animation director Ned Wenlock. Watch it now.

Due to popular demand, the Fleet Foxes show in Wellington (previously scheduled for The Hunter Lounge) has been relocated to the Wellington Town Hall. Tickets already purchased for the event remain valid and you can head here for all other ticket information.

Like discovering a lost tribe’s voodoo dances from another planet, it is an understatement to say this album is not of this earth. Filled with carnivorous zapping and whoosing noises, distant rumbling drums and burbling and gurgling bubbles popping like bad sci-fi foam. At times it sounds like a malfunctioning machine in a Martian fishtank. ‘Megatron’ is practically rock n roll though – all pushed back and wallowing in a robot hole. Your ears will not be insulted by this music. ‘Hurricanes and Tornadoes’ appears to leave the solar system all together – perhaps it was recorded in a black hole through orange cellophane. Something is clearly not right. Pierre Henry has been sick. He was at a meeting with his doctor Delia. Delia Derbyshire. She makes a pass. Then they make an indoor garden under glass. He turns into bubbles, she turns into foam….water starts filling the room and the house lifts off like something at the end of Evil Dead 2. That’s what this sounds like. Later more rock n roll surfaces – particularly ‘Honey, Bring Back the Car’. It’s a funny title. This musique is so concrete it’s practically marble. Balloon trips by Amstrad. ‘Crazy Driver’ is lacerating guitar that sounds strong and proud – but hey Mr Guitar you are only slaying electronic bubbles. You are proud anyway – good for you. The album ends on two contrasting slick highlights. ‘Mysterious Bird’ is melancholy, melodic and determined. The last tune is practically heavy metal and frankly a bit scary but then it is called ‘Space Thug’. This album is great because your ears and brain will like it. They will feel intrigued but you might need more than one lobe to listen through. An extra lobe and a line to the astral plane. You might have a strange looking head but at least you will be in tune with the right kind of galaxy. [A]