SoundBites: Hopetoun Brown, Salad Boys, Lawrence Arabia, Dunes

Salad Boys promise a more sombre outlook with their new music.

Hopetown Brown's Tim Stewart and Nick Atkinson are probably sick of being referred to as founding members of Supergroove, but if you're yet to come across their music it'll give you a good idea of what to expect. Especially on their new single You Know I Know, out this week.

The track easily matches the breathless energy of the old Kiwi faves, and features MC Sophie Burbery as well as Callum Passells on alto sax and Issac Chadderton on percussion giving it a real party vibe.

You'll be chanting "Bongos ... Alto ... Bongos ... Alto" in no time.

Hopetoun Brown will be touring Hauraki Gulf islands this summer with Finn Scholes ahead of the release of their third album in April.

Christchurch's Salad Boys (pictured) are set to follow up their 2015 debut album Metalmania early next year.

This is Glue, to be released on January 19 on Chicago's Trouble in Mind label, was recorded by band leader and guitarist Joe Sampson at his home studio.

The album's first track, Exaltation, comes across with a warm jangle like a Kurt Vile or Steve Gunn song, but This is Glue promises a more sombre outlook.

Lawrence Arabia will play a series of solo North Island shows next month under the banner An Evening Alone With Lawrence Arabia.

The tour gets under way at the Titirangi RSA on November 7, with subsequent shows including Tauranga, Gisborne, Hastings, Auckland, Hamilton and Rotorua.

Synth-pop duo Dunes, aka the McDell sisters, Jamie and Tessa, will release their self-titled debut album on February 9.

The album is said to fuse together their contrasting music influences "to tell raw and honest stories of their lives".

The pair have also shared an acoustic cover of their single Hard to mark the occasion.