Calico Brothers

Calico Brothers debut release, the six song 'god left town' EP, provides a blueprint for all that they hold dear in musical form.

Twelve string acoustics, slide guitar and drum sounds that would be perfect emanating from your AM radio on a summer night in 1976.There's no bludgeoning angst to be had from a Calico tune. The imagined California of their sound has no piercings or tattoos, it wears boot cut jeans, a full beard and is fresh from a holiday in England. It's happy to be where it is and even happier to have you along if you chip in for gas.

The songs here deal with the brink of a nervous break-up, girls in transition, a loss of faith and rock and roll cynicism. They say 'don't interrupt me while I'm dancing' but you can tell they'll still smell nice the next day. They're full of hooks aimed right for your ears and make you think the live version might really be something.

Recorded at the band's own Double Happy Studios, the songs took shape slowly after long Sunday dinners and short drives to Auckland's west coast beaches. Add the birth of a beautiful baby girl for singer Jimmy Calico to the mix and a wonderful time of family and creativity was the incubator from which these songs were hatched.

Three brothers, one cousin, one friend; all good...mostly.