One of the best-sounding CDs to have come from NZ can’t quite compete for quality of songwriting

SHM-CDs offer 100 percent of master-tape quality sound

U2’s Auckland show is amazing, and terrible. Gary Steel explains why

Superb electro cheese with plenty of action for synth festishists

Exceptional art pop from England that seems destined for oblivion. Typical.

Former members of Broadcast and Plone go for trite

Disappointing follow-up suggests Bradford Cox is keeping his best ideas for future solo projects

Die!Die!Die! make it to the third album, and it’s an acceptable trade-off between compromise and natural evolution

Jaz Coleman is an unusual man.

Hidden Orchestra make jazz-noir “imaginary cinema”. Gary Steel wonders if it’s all that it’s cracked up to be.