Betchadupa Move On Again
I really enjoyed Aiming for Your Head, the 2004 release from the exciting young New Zealand, err, Austraila, err, English band, Betchadupa. The CD combined the instantly recognizable melodic sense (and voice) of leader Liam Finn - son of Split Enz / Crowded house frontman Neil Finn - with wild youthful energy and a wealth of ideas.
After gaining a reputation as New Zealand’s best live band, they relocated to the larger market of Australia a year or so ago. Now while many of us in the U.S. await a stateside release of their 2004 release, the band just announced that they are relocating to the even larger market of London. It’s an interesting tactic in today’s electronic/global economy: focus on access to bigger gigs and larger local markets rather than sign with a major label with strong international distribution. It bodes well for a band when they elect to take the music to the people themselves, rather than let a multinational corporation do all the work.