By Graham Reid
KATY SOLJAK's five-track EP Presenting (Gala) has the feel of a showcase: a soulful opening ballad, a Latin underpinning and horns on You Ain't At That Number, some Ponsonby reggae for the streetwise Lemon Wedge Moon (given dub treatment as the closer) and a speak-sing Hispanic-influenced La Revolution.
Strong, assured voice, good arrangements and production by Stuart Pearce, and solid material throughout. Deserves your attention and earns her an album.
COMMON GROUND are a multi-genre, hip-hop to Latin funk collective from Paris, NYC, Dublin etc whose No More Heroes (UD/Border) equally ignores most borders but finds common ground in undemanding clubland dance constructed with a jazzy ethic from diverse elements (a touch of lounge, a whiff of sci-fi, samples'n'scratches). Interesting enough, memorable in places too - but the parade moves on.
ROCKACOWBLUES is the unwieldy band name and Live at the Brewery is the unpromising title of their indie CD recorded in Queenstown. But Noel Coutts ("an icon in Wakatipu," apparently) possesses a hoarse, lived-in, soul-blues voice which sounds like it might not last much beyond the next few drinks, the band are more than just competent, the material mostly originals (a rapid-fire cover of I've Just Seen a Face is included) and next time you are near McNeills Cottage Brewery ...
