The Pin Group - Ambivalence (2012)

Semi-mythical perpetrators of the first-ever Flying Nun record, the Pin Group were the archetypal ‘band with a plan’. This, combined with one of the lowest profiles in popular music, naturally makes them one of the hottest posthumous properties around. Two singles and one 12” EP, live shows only in Christchurch between May 1981 and January 1982, a reunion single in 1993; and that’s all folks. Now, all this has been bought together for a complete re-issue. 'Ambivalence' sees all the Christchurch act’s material fully re-mastered by band member Roy Montgomery and engineer Arnold van Bussell. Compiled by Bruce Russell, the reissue features the original version of their second single ‘Coat’, plus the 12” LP includes a bonus download of live tracks. All repackaged with reproductions of the original artwork by contemporary artist and Pin Group associate Ronnie van Hout. Includes eight bonus live tracks from the Pin Group's 1981 show at the Gladstone, Christchurch. Siltbreeze's Retrospective is a re-issued collection of recordings by New Zealand's seminal Pin Group (fronted by Roy Montgomery) -- the disc includes the "Ambivalence"/"Columbia" 7" (actually the first single issued on the Flying Nun label), the "Coat"/"Jim" 7", the Pin Group Goes to Town EP, a live cover of War's "Low Rider" and two low-fi studio tracks recorded during the group's 1993 "reunion." The band's sound -- a huge influence on the incredible New Zealand pop scene of the '80s -- was a decidedly post-punk approach that started off sounding very much like Joy Division or an extremely stripped-down version of Echo and the Bunnymen's early work -- over the band's brief career, however, the shimmery, jangly aspects of antipodean pop slowly emerged. Retrospective is a perfect collection of this material, since most of the band's original releases are incredibly scarce -- it's a vital addition to the record collection of anyone with an interest in the New Zealand/Flying Nun pop scene, and an excellent example of post-punk and its influence in New Zealand.

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