Artist:The Raylenes

The Raylenes are an ongoing contest between four New Zealand boys and one Australian girl, and it looks like she’s winning. Since forming in 2004, their sumptuous blend of literate lyrics, lush arrangements, vocal harmonies and the very occasional blistering guitar solo have helped them notch up an impressive record of live gigs and airplay – and their first album hasn’t even been released yet. On the live front, they’ve played with local luminaries like Spencer P. Jones and the Escape Committee, ex-Klinger frontman Ben Birchall and the Corrections, Sophie Koh, The Little Stevies, Durbeyfield and Those Bloody McKennas, while also supporting international s like Pluto and The Brunettes (who liked Jamie’s playing so much they kidnapped him for a forty date US tour). Despite their stated intention to make “pop music that was 100% pure and completely free of aggression or machismo”, listeners have detected hints of Northern Soul and Alt-Country alongside the more predictable Belle & ...