New album Edge of the City.
The new album Edge of the City is currently in post production. Around 15 tracks were recorded live at Roundhead Studios in Auckland over the past year. The final tracklist is yet to be decided but the finishing touches are currently being added. The album features the Trains (John Segovia - guitars, Dom Blaazer - keyboards, Earl Roberston - drums, Andrew B. White - bass) with additional guests on BVs including Miriam Clancy. Production assistance from Wayne Bell and engineering from Neil Baldock.
More details as things progress.
The album Taken — available now.
The CD is available from selected record stores in New Zealand. If your local store does not have stock please ask to order it. The
Distributed in
New Zealand by Rhythmethod, catalogue number LD5551.
Order CDs online
At Real Groovy, Marbecks and Amplifier.
Buy digital copies
At your local iTunes store, bandcamp, Marbecks, or Amplifier.
Reviews
John Apice's No Depression review
Graham Reid's elsewhere review
Dominion Post review by Simon Sweetman
Beat Surreneder (UK) review by Simon
Taken Review by Steve Scott,9 July 2010Every once in a while an album arrives that has an immediate connection — like an old friend. Taken by Auckland singer-songwriter Greg Fleming is such an album. While the main reason is that the songs on Taken hint at that heartland Americana feel, so well illuminated by names including Uncle Tupelo, Ryan Adams and the late Townes Van Zandt, the other is, the roots of Taken stretches back to the 90s where some punters may remember Fleming’s album Ghosts Are White which he recorded with the Trains and is also included in this great double album package — along with another 11 bonus tracks.
The track ‘Codeine Road’ which featured on Ghosts Are White has been re-recorded by Fleming and basically set the wheels in motion for the release of Taken. Let me announce, we are the more richer for it. It only takes a few songs into Taken before one is totally captured by its warmth, intimacy, musical chemistry and Fleming’s assured, expressive and emotive vocal.
Whether it is the rock and roll drive and wooh ooh oohs of the opener ‘California Fishing’, the melodic, jaunty and friendly feel of ‘Good Memory’ featuring the honeyed vocal of Callie Blood or the personal and heartfelt ‘So Sad Sometimes’, the presence of Fleming has connected and the absorption is a joy. These songs inspire on many levels and create moods that become more illuminating with every play. While the title track is carried along by a dramatic piano melody courtesy of Anthony Ioasa and essential cello from Danny Manetto, it’s the vocal duet from Fleming and Boh Runga that sets the scene for the afterglow of sex to become beautifully realised.
Later, it is Boh’s sister Bic whose song ‘Listening For The Weather’ is the reflective inspiration for the wonderful ‘Lovers of Listening For The Weather’. Greg Johnson’s cohort Ted Brown joined Fleming for its short-lived duo Right Goes Wrong. The result of that is the song ‘Never Wanted To See You Cry’. It is a song one could imagine Mick Jagger recording.
Ghosts Are White — the second album also reveals refreshing qualities second time around. Certainly one can appreciate Fleming’s lyrical gift as his words create cinematic scenes especially ‘Mr Clive’ concerning the scene of a 41st birthday from the eyes of a 25 year old and ‘Wish I’d Hesitated’ with its cutting line… “legal threats and broken hearts” and the Springsteenish ‘Unanswered Prayers’. While the drama that is created in ‘Fire Escape’ makes it the pick of the bonus tracks, ‘Roll Into My Arms’ and ‘Hurt In A Friendly Game’ are also in the running.
So, be my guest and absorb Taken as a journey around heartland New Zealand it is totally absorbing and highly rewarding.
— ©Steve Scott,
House and Lifestyle Magazine,
Waikato Times
Interviews
Greg on KiwiFM I.A.N. Show with Fleur Jack —
(audio podcast, August 5th, 2010)
Articles
New Zealand Musician Magazine interview — July 2010 Issue
Free download
Download the track ‘Never Wanted To See You Cry’ from Taken exclusively at bandcamp.