Haunted Out-Takes

Welcome to the HAUNTED OUT-TAKES, the sophomore selection of original tunes from Auckland musician / producer and Tui Award winner, Andrew Spraggon a.k.a. Sola Rosa.

Beckoning you in with wails of 'hold tight', stuttering dynamics and a geothermal squelch is the full-bodied opener Awish. Fresh from remix duty, Woodcut Production's Juse lends a dab hand with the scratches. Spraggon conjures up a whirling cauldron of low-end thud and high-frequency hootenanny, and all bets are off as the second full-length Sola Rosa album prepares for blast off.

But wait, there's spooky moaning from the closet...

Ready Now is the cry as the feisty favourite and lead track shuffles the pack and cuts the deck. Most will be familiar with this joyous juxtaposition of sneaky strings and 'south of the border' trumpets by now; for those that aren't, rest assured your transport is ready! Striding in with a snatch of hip-hop swagger and - hold the front page - was that an accordion?!

Easy/Uneasy is mellow medication for harrowed headz, a chill pill with enough bite to ignite. Whistling? Scratching? It's all grist to the mill and sound saucology for Spraggon as he gets foolish and schoolish with the fruity funphonics of Scratch Apprentice.

John Pain of torturous tone troublers Pains People follows his vibraphonic duties on Solarized's closing moments with a stellar guest appearance alongside the rattling of the pots and pans of regular Sola Rosa live band member John Highsted (who also features on Awish and Sleepwalker)

Raising the spirit level No More Rain floats around on supernatural rollerskates, a deceptively curly guitar lines shimmers out across the wide mix while moody vibes and ghoulish grooves permeate the atmosphere.

Terrorgosa with the plaintive howlings of Neil Watson's lap steel guitar and Pluto's Mike Hall bringing the bass is ballistic borderline business; the Tex-Mex border that is! A spaghetti western theme for Desert Road drives, or a shifty imaginary trip for couch potatoes, the choice is yours. All audio idiosyncrasies are catered for. After a worthwhile journey may we suggest - a delightful descent, the time has come to Go Underground. Opening with a waft of jazzy muted trumpet and a couple of good old 'Owuhs' and 'Heys' this subterranean slow-burner gloriously unravels into a playful pick that will undoubtedly become a firm future favourite.

Don't be fooled by the title, Sleepwalker is no couch slouch, with top-notch trumpeteer Kingsley Melhuish adding trimmings over slovenly hip-hop beats and an XXL bassline, this somnambulistic scorcher allows no time for snoozers.

Boasting a bit of brass from the Euphonium of Don McGlashan and Moog-oid beatwise assistance from Andy 'Submariner' Morton Sugar Lines is an enchanting tale of saccharine success and sweet delight, best not to be distributed to hyperactive minors before bedtime. Deepwater concludes proceedings with a slinky b-line, sub-aqua keyboards and all manner of suitably Sola Rosa-esque stringed things combining into a flavoursome finale.

And there you have the natural successor to Solarized, ten perfectly proportioned pieces of possessed palaver mixed and mastered by ghoulmaster general Angus McNaughton. You won't even need a séance to get an introduction, check the - HAUNTED OUT-TAKES.