The Verlaines | Artist

The Verlaines are a New Zealand rock band from Dunedin, formed 1981 by Graeme Downes (lead vocals, guitar, keyboard), Craig Easton (guitar, vocals), Anita Pillai (keyboards), Greg Kerr (drums) and Jane Dodd (bass, vocals). The band is led by songwriter and vocalist/guitarist Graeme Downes, although many other New Zealand musicians played guitar, bass, drums and brass instruments during the different stages of the band. The Verlaines are noted for their angular, "difficult" song structures, wordy and downbeat lyrics, unusual subject matter, all contained in often frantic up-tempo playing. Musically, there are similarities with bands such as Television and early Talking Heads. Their recorded debut was on the seminal Dunedin Double EP, which was released in 1982 by Flying Nun Records, and was the debut of several bands who would go on to be central to the mythology of the Dunedin Sound. To-date the band has released Ten studio albums plus a number of excellent EPs and Singles. Standout recordings include the albums Hallelujah All The Way Home, Some Enchanted Evening, Ready to Fly and Over The Moon, plus the 1984 EP 10 O'Clock in the Afternoon. Also highly recommended are the compilations Juvenilia (1987) and You're Just Too Obscure For Me (2003). Downes is currently an academic at the University of Otago where he is head of the Department of Music. He teaches contemporary music and has research interests in Mahler and Shostakovich. He has released one solo album, Hammers and Anvils, which came out on Matador Records in 2001.

Artist Website: theverlaines.co.nz

Featured Albums: The Verlaines

Related Artists: The Chills, Able Tasmans, Graeme Downes

Video Clips: Death and the Maiden, Pyromaniac, Doomsday