Folk with a twist

An impressive debut with Kiwi connections bends a familiar sound into new and arresting shapes.

- GRAHAM REID

NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME

By Folk Bitch Trio

This debut by Melbourne's assertively named trio comes with local connections: recorded at Auckland's Roundhead; co-produced with Tom Healey (Tiny Ruins, The Veils, Marlon Williams, The Chills and others) and with guest violinist Anita Clark, aka Motte, (Don McGlashan, Tami Neilson, Voom and more).

The trio deny the expectation of their name, with close harmony and sensual folk-pop, slashes of wry humour and tense folk-noir (Hotel TV, The Actor).

Moth Song is a lyrical riddle seemingly about a violent death (a mother?) and the beautiful Cathode Ray is loaded with medical and sexual imagery: "we get home, get the scalpel out", "with a new procedure he made me glow".