The founding member of New Zealand indie legends The Clear dies at 65.
Fashioned in 1978, The Clear prompted the event of the New Zealand indie scene and, significantly, the Dunedin sound. The formulation of such included jangling guitars, surf-rock-esque riffs, a veil of lo-fi sound and a wistful melody. Setting this commonplace, the band’s 1981 debut single Tally Ho! was the second launch on Roger Shepherd’s Flying Nun Data label, a New Zealand counterpart of Tough Commerce, propagating the sound of Dunedin.
Followers of 60s music, Hamish (drums, vocals) and his brother David (guitar, vocals) equally borrowed from the previous and seemed in the direction of the long run. Though the early information typically trace on the impeccable and clever pop of The Kinks and The Seashore Boys, there’s a sense of novelty. Minimalist punk aesthetics and extra experimental strikes on later information, e.g. 1996’s Unknown Nation album, are proof of the band’s future-oriented method and try to diverge from the whole lot else.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2009, Martin Phillipps, the founding father of the Chills, one other band related to the Dunedin sound, described the phenomenon of the New Zealand indie scene. “From our perspective, it was, ‘We’re these of you courageous sufficient to leap on rickety little boats and head off into the darkened seas to arrange courageous new colonies as a result of we didn’t need to be a part of this class system. However we’re nonetheless a part of you.’”. The Clear didn’t observe the foundations of the large recreation which didn’t make them a giant title within the music trade. They but remained influential.
Ultimately, the band’s cult standing unfold past native New Zealand, having influenced Yo La Tengo, Guided By Voices, Sonic Youth, and Pavement. Kilgour’s drumming model was adventurous and daring. He co-founded Nelsh Bailter House, one other NZ treasure, a noise band whose title was later shortened to Bailter House. Whereas dwelling in New York, he launched just a few information with the Mad Scene in 1992 and two solo albums virtually 20 years later.
On 27 November 2022, the musician was reported lacking. A reason for demise has not been revealed. Hamish Kilgour was 65 years outdated.
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