Once an integral part of New Zealand’s award winning noise rock/art punk quartet The Mint Chicks, lead singer Kody Nielson has come a long way from the chainsaw wielding corporate logo destroying stage antics of his past. Legendary for his death defying feats of precarious P.A. climbing, hanging upside down suspended high above the crowd from lighting rigs, guitar smashing and drum kit crashing, Nielson & Co. once reportedly played so loudly parts of the performance hall fell down around them during their set.
After three powerhouse full length Mint Chicks albums in four years and six New Zealand Music Awards including “Best Group”, “Album Of The Year” and “Best Rock Album” Nielson turned his back on the crowd, storming off stage during the band’s final gig in March of 2010 destroying two drum kits and imploring members of the audience to, “start your own fucking band.” Contrary to the unsolicited advice Nielson imparted on the crowd that evening he himself has opted to go solo for his latest release.
Written, performed and produced entirely by himself Birthday Suite is an unlikely collection of 12 exquisite instrumental drum and keyboard based tracks all riffing on classical music’s modern possibilities reimagined through a genre splitting filter of futuristic ‘70s disco, afrobeat, Muzak, baroque and beyond. Inspired perhaps by his predecessors, pioneers in the field of modern electronic music, most notably Wendy Carlos, Tomita and early Kraftwerk, Nielson has taken a wonderfully refreshing career turn with Birthday Suite managing to risk, surprise and succeed all at once.
Rating 7.5/10
Star Rating 3.5/5
2018 Song Of The Day Club Album Review 32/52