#the renderers

2/29/20.

Leap Year.  I would have posted this no matter what, so don’t try to find any leap year meaning here.  This deserves a non 2/29 posting...not possible this year.

Fishrider Records is a label out of Dunedin, New Zealand.  This label has released The Puddle, The Shifting Sands, and Elan Vital.  I would say that all these bands nod to Flying Nun.

2/7/18.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a true crooner.  Paul Bergmann (New York, New York) is one in the great tradition of Neil Hannon, John Howard or David Thomas Broughton.  The singer is more out front in his release “1″.  This release has a darker feel with some squalling guitars on a few songs.

“Like The Moon” has a Monroe Mustang or Renderers feel.  And on this release his vocals take on a Peter Jefferies quality in spots.  And finally, the mood can be melancholically (new word!) beautiful like Molly Drake at her finest.

4/12/16.

The Renderers are currently on a mini West Coast tour (Bay Area and Davis this coming weekend). Their eighth album, In a Sodium Light, is distinctive among their releases as it brings in some new instruments (viola, pump organ) and a more restrained, sparser sound. It also reflects the landscape of Joshua Tree, California, their new home since relocating from their origins in Christchurch, New Zealand following the 2011 earthquake.

From Ba Da Bing: "A Renderers song creates its own space, one that threatens dissemblance at every turn. With two of the most distinct voices in New Zealand rock, they [Maryrose and Brian Crook] trade off vocal duties, and both contribute toward burying their songs in layers of swelling and swirling guitars...Songs creep out of holes, seep and spread, permeating the room. The album is a languid, calm-waters drift over the abyss in a glass-bottomed boat. Let the tide take you. "

the RENDERERS “Low To The Ground”  A Dream Of The Sea (Siltbreeze - 1998)

From the Renderers Facebook page  “…we just discovered we’re playing both our shows on saturday night in NY [5/9/15], early show at Union Pool supporting Endless Boogie at 8pm and headlining at Cake Shop at 10pm, so 2 chances to catch us”

cakeshopnyc & cakeshopcalender

I really have to give it to the ZACC, the quality of their shows lately has been pretty astounding. Jonathan Richman is playing there later this month, Wooden Wand & Simon Joyner recently stopped in, and now there's this thing: New Zealand's The Renderers and California's Artemis. Two bands I admittedly knew little to nothing about before hearing about this show.

I'm really, really liking The Renderers. They seem to have lodged themselves into a weirdo style of Americana common to non-Americans like The Mekons or the Nick Cave or something. It reads as cinematic, dusty rock & roll. Lazy, but lazy in the same way I'd use that word to describe Mazzy Star. I'm really horrible at describing things half the time so I hope you're at least nodding along. Thank you.