An Emerald City (psychedelic, post rock, instrumental / New Zealand)

Forming in late 2005 this New Zealand six piece band has created a sound that combines Eastern traditional instruments and psychedelic leanings with experimentation and musical liberation. Instrumental, thoughtful songs created by guitars, drums, sitars, violins, a Persian long necked lute, tabla, daabuka, piano and percussion found from various reaches of the universe. 


Their debut self titled EP was released in 2008 and co-produced by Liam Finn. It was critically acclaimed and the band continued to play memorable live performances at the likes of Womad, Soundsplash, Rhythm and Vines and Canaan Downs.


2009 saw the release of their debut album Circa Scaria which was recorded in the cave of Whatipu on Auckland’s west coast. Soon after release the band relocated to Berlin where they have lived as a base to tour Europe.

In late 2010 the band, stripped back to four members, returned to record. In Studio East, a quaint recording studio located in the heart of communist era Germany’s Funkhaus, the old broadcasting building on the banks of the river Spree. The imposing soviet style building and the snow outside helped to create the eerie prog offering that was An Emerald City’s second record The Fourth, released in April 2011.

An Emerald City have gathered an excellent following in their home country and have spent much of late 2007 and 2008 playing shows, festivals and tours supporting the release of their debut self titled EP, which has received excellent reviews. Late 2008 and early 2009 has seen the band back on the festival circuit with legendary live shows throughout the South Island of New Zealand. The band have gone into record their debut album in early January 2009 in an isolated cave on the rugged West Coast of Auckland.


Their first three songs from their EP went on to high rotate on New Zealand alternative radio, and all were Top 40 New Zealand radio singles, despite commercial radio not being involved at all. Their first song Qing Song spent 12 weeks in New Zealand’s premier alternative radio stations top ten with four weeks at number 1.

Having been one of the stand out local acts at Womad 2008, Big Day Out 2009 , Soundsplash, Canaan Downs and Rhythm and Vines, they are gaining a reputation as one of the country’s most exciting and refreshing live acts. The band relocate to Europe (Berlin) in May 2009.

The band returned home to NZ for the summer of 2012 for a select few shows, and, now, it is announced their final one before parting company.


Personnel:


Dan Katz – Drums, Percussion 
Felix Lun - Violin 
Jessica Roth - Bass 
Sam Handley – Synths, Guitars, Percussion 
Reuben Bonner – Guitars, Synths, Vocals, Percussion, Bass
Rob Croft – Percussion, Bass, Sitar 

Albums:

An Emerald City (2008)
Circa Scaria (2009)
The Fourth (2011)



Moon: https://youtu.be/6LLWVgABQDI :

A Thousand Stars At Night: https://youtu.be/yBScaCgot6w :