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While much of the contemporary pop music coming out of New Zealand has been of the more guitar/rock, roots/reggae or hip hop variety (no complaints mind), Nelson (now relocated to Auckland) three-piece Minuit (pronounced min-wee) have taken a more modernist beat-based approach to their brand of pop music, echoing UK outfits such as Lamb, Massive Attack, Portishead, Bjork, Morcheeba, Tricky, last week's arrivals Chungking, etc. Now after four years, two EP's (previous independent effort 'Luck' has been a consistent seller at Smokecds.com) and a slew of dynamic live performances, Minuit emerge with their debut album - and mighty fine it is too. Fronted by the enigmatic and utterly gorgeous Ruth Carr, possessor of fine lyrics and a unique vocal delivery to which the lazy will compare with Lamb's Louise Rhodes and/or Bjork, it is however the inventive breakbeat arsenal delivered by boffins Paul and Ryan that gives this record its dynamic sonic punch, and without ever losing sight of the desire to create fantastic pop songs. In a nutshell, 'The 88' is one of the finest New Zealand "contemporary" pop albums of 2003, standing strong alongside illustrious international counterparts (such as those mentioned above), as well as like-minded local acts (50Hz, Flash Harry, label mates Dejusa, Nomad, etc), and is frankly an essential purchase for anyone with half an ounce of taste. Recommended. (smokecds.com)
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