Back in the days of rotary phones, rock ‘n’ roll drew the line that demarcated the generation gap. But things change; nowadays, at least in New Zealand, it brings them together.
Consider the associations of Ben Woods, a 20-something singer/guitarist from the South Island port town of Lyttleton, which is right around the hill from Christchurch. When Flying Nun Records issued his debut LP, Put, in 2019, he supported it by sharing stages with old-school types like Hamish Kilgour (Clean, Bailterspace, Mad Scene) and the Bats. But when it came time for Woods to make the video for “Hovering At Home,” the production team included one of the Bats’ progeny.
Woods’ musical conception is similarly era-spanning. His upcoming sophomore effort, Dispeller (Shrimper), includes one song, “Wearing Divine,” that brings to mind Tommy James And The Shondells being rearranged by Sister Lovers-era Big Star in order to be performed by an orchestra of Optigans. “Speaking Belt” sounds like the Tall Dwarfs recording rockabilly songs on a cell phone. While the latter tune features vocal contributions by Xpressway Records veteran Alastair Galbraith, Woods turned to Ben Edwards (whose credits include current figures Aldous Harding and Marlon Williams) to co-produce.
So, it makes sense that “Hovering At Home” derives from childhood memory. “The video is a retelling of a paranormal experience I had as a child with my cousin,” says Woods. “Our family was big into fishing.” In the clip, a puppet family turns in after a long day of angling, only to be awakened by a writhing specter. Trust us; you’ll never leave your cabin unlocked again.
We’re proud to premiere the video for “Hovering At Home” today at MAGNET. Check it out right here, right now.
—Bill Meyer
