Thursday, October 16, 2014

New EP reviews...

Praise Be NZ Listener Sept 27 2014 Review by Jim Pinckney

"It's generally not good news when bands reform. The motivations are invariably financial or related to ego reinflation, and the results can sour the sweetest musical memories.

Fortunately that isn't the case with Auckland's Hallelujah Picassos, whose cross code adventures confused, delighted and occasionally appalled audiences from the late 80s to the mid 90s.

New EP Bullet That Breaks The Key shows they've lost none of their barricade manning fire. As ever, they remain the magnificent exception that proves the rule."


AND one more, from Australia.....

HALLELUJAH PICASSOS -Bullet That Breaks the Key EP (Independent) 4 Stars

By John O’Brien, news.co.au

"Of all the band reunions in recent years, this is one of the most welcome. Hallelujah Picassos’ fusion of ska, dub, hip-hop, punk and pop was one of the most refreshing sounds to come out of the Land of the Long White Cloud and they left fans fanging for more when they disbanded nearly 20 years ago after just a handful of albums and EPs.

In the past few years they’ve resurfaced with a best-of collection and EP of rarities and now this four-track EP. Technically there are only two new tracks, but it’s a good cross-section of their eclectic style, from the tropical melody and harmonies ofSalvadore (Miles Away From You) to the repetitious rant of Hang All Bankers, to the hypnotic dub remakes of Cracked Salvation (based on 1992’s Crack Dub) andSalvadore Dub Asylum vs. Pains People Remix. 

It might be but a taster of things to come but it’s great to hear them back in the game. An underappreciated part of New Zealand’s indie scene, they deserve wider attention this second time round."

Friday, September 12, 2014

Bullet That Breaks The Key - New EP out now!




Press release: "Following on from their insanely catchy new single Salvadore (Miles Away From You), released in July to widespread acclaim and much aroha, Hallelujah Picassos return with a brand new digital EP. Available now on Bandcamp, iTunes, Amplifier.

The four song EP features Salvadore (Miles Away From You) in its original form, plus a special beat-heavy remix of Salvadore by Dub Asylum (Peter McLennan) vs Pains People (John Pain).

Salvadore has featured extensively on the playlists of BFM, KiwiFM, Radio Active, RDU and Radio One, and appeared on the top ten charts voted by listeners of BFM, KiwiFM and RDU. It jumped from #10 to #2 on the BFM Top Ten this week!

Next up, one of their early numbers, Crack Dub (off their debut album Hateman In Love), gets reversioned by the band as Cracked Salvation, a warm, mellow, dubby number, and then we have a raucous, noisy guitar tune, called Hang All Bankers, lyrically inspired by the 2008 financial crisis, and how our politics is ruled by money. It’s a battle cry for the huddled masses. “Let karma be your hell-hound…”

Money, politics, and corruption are themes that runs thru some of the songs featured here. The EP title refers to the key to Pandora's box, and the mythology around it.

The EP was recorded and produced by Daryn Harkness, John Pain and Hallelujah Picassos at the Institute for Telepathic Research, and mastered by Angus McNaughton. Cover art image by Erin Forsyth. Released on Loopy Fruit Recordings, 2014. Cat no PCORP006

Thursday, September 4, 2014

New EP from Hallelujah Picassos, out Sept 12





Press release 


Bullet That Breaks The Key - New EP from Hallelujah Picassos, out Sept 12


Following on from their insanely catchy new single Salvadore (Miles Away From You), released in July to widespread acclaim and much aroha, Hallelujah Picassos return with a brand new digital EP.

The four song EP features Salvadore (Miles Away From You) in its original form, plus a special beat-heavy remix of Salvadore by Dub Asylum (Peter McLennan) vs Pains People (John Pain).

Salvadore has featured extensively on the playlists of BFM, KiwiFM, Radio Active, RDU and Radio One, and appeared on the top ten charts voted by listeners of BFM, KiwiFM and RDU.

Next up, one of their early numbers, Crack Dub (off their debut album Hateman In Love), gets reversioned by the band as Cracked Salvation, a warm, mellow, dubby number, and then we have a raucous, noisy guitar tune, called Hang All Bankers, lyrically inspired by the 2008 financial crisis, and how our politics is ruled by money. It’s a battle cry for the huddled masses. “Let karma be your hell-hound…”

Money, politics, and corruption are themes that runs thru some of the songs featured here. The EP title refers to the key to Pandora's box, and the mythology around it.

The band came together in 2013 to follow up on their reissues (Rewind The Hateman in 2011, Picasso Core Jukebox in 2012) with a handful of live shows with the likes of Drab Doo Riffs, Bloodbags, and Labretta Suede and the Motel 6.

The lads enjoyed playing together again immensely, so they continued on their merry way, blasting through old tunes and writing some new gems. Their last recorded outing was 18 years ago.

The current lineup of the band features the original members – Roland on vocals, Bobbylon on drums and vocals, Peter McLennan on guitars, with Darryn Harkness on bass (Loud Ghost / New Telepathics / Braintree), and original bass player John Pain, shifting to keyboards – his original instrument before joining the Picassos.

The EP was recorded and produced by Daryn Harkness, John Pain and Hallelujah Picassos at the Institute for Telepathic Research, and mastered by Angus McNaughton. Cover art image by Erin Forsyth. Released on Loopy Fruit Recordings, 2014. Cat no PCORP006

track listing
Salvadore (miles away from you)
Hang All Bankers
Cracked Salvation
Salvadore Dub Asylum vs Pains People Remix

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

New single out now!




It's out now! The new Hallelujah Picassos single Salvadore is on Bandcamp, name your price. For a free copy, just enter '0' - we'd like your email address tho, so we can keep you up to date with our plans and future releases. Go have a listen!

Sunday, July 27, 2014

New single out Tues, cover art....




Press release

Salvadore - New song from Hallelujah Picassos, and it's free! Out July 29

The insanely catchy new single Salvadore (Miles Away From You) represents Hallelujah Picassos first new recording from the recently reunited lineup. The band’s legendary frontman, Roland Rorschach says the song is “A pensive, wistful tale describing a period between defeat and triumph.“

The band came together in 2012 to follow up on their reissues (Rewind The Hateman, Picasso Core Jukebox) with a handful of live shows with the likes of Drab Doo Riffs, Bloodbags, and Labretta Suede and the Motel 6.

The lads enjoyed playing together again immensely, so they continued on their merry way, blasting through old tunes and mixing up some new gems. This is the first fruits of their labours. Their last recorded outing was 18 years ago. It’s been a minute.

Salvadore (Miles Away From You) is a jaunty pop ditty, with a melancholy vocal and skiffle drum shuffle bouncing along over electronic beats, and some fruity skanking guitar chops over the top. Soak it up! Best feedback so far - “It sounds like nothing you guys have done before, but it definitely sounds like the Picassos.”

The current lineup of the band features the original members – Roland on vocals, Bobbylon on drums and vocals, Peter McLennan on guitars, with Darryn Harkness on bass (Loud Ghost / New Telepathics / Braintree), and original bass player John Pain, shifting to keyboards – his original instrument before joining the Picassos.

Salvadore (Miles Away From You) is available via Bandcamp as a free download, and serves as a taster for an EP of more new recordings the band plan to release in mid September.

The song was recorded and produced by John Pain and Hallelujah Picassos at the Institute for Telepathic Research, and mastered by Angus McNaughton. Cover art image by Erin Forsyth. Released on Loopy Fruit Recordings, July 29, 2014.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Picassos live this Thurs, Akld, Kings Arms



Hallelujah Picassos have been invited to play with our mates Labretta Suede and the Motel 6, back in NZ briefly from their New York base, one Akld show only - next they are off to tour Spain! Come check out some swinging rock n roll good times next Thursday.

Kings Arms, 8pm Thursday April 3, $20 presales at UTR.

It's gonna be good to jump onstage again, as we've been locked away indoors recording a few new songs, recently. Sounding pretty amazing too, if I do say so. First taster will be coming to your ears soon!


That video above is one I recently uploaded, taken from our spot at BFM's Private Function party, on August 20 1994, with an intro by Joel Tobeck.

This was filmed by TV3's music show Frenzy, thanks to Ross Cunningham for the video. Sound taken straight from the mixing desk, David Hornblow at the controls. Trivia: The Picassos also had a practice room in the same group of buildings, which had been a potato warehouse.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Picassos - in the studio, new songs!

The Picassos have been brewing up some new tunes, and are in the studio recording them. Soon come!

Roland working on lyrics. Photo: John Pain

Peter McLennan laying down noisy gutiar

Bobbylon recording drums

Darryn Harkness, at the control tower