{"product_id":"alpaca-brothers-figment","title":"Alpaca Brothers - Figment (Vinyl)","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBruce Blucher\u003c\/strong\u003e (guitar) and\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Nick Wilkinson\u003c\/strong\u003e (bass) formed the \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAlpaca Brothers\u003c\/strong\u003e in Dunedin 1984. Named for their penchant for wearing a very similar style of alpaca jersey, but without a drummer, they roped in the services of\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Steve Cournane\u003c\/strong\u003e who still believes he may never have done a gig in his life if it hadn’t been for that unusual invite. However, hearing the duo at their practice rooms for the first time \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCournane\u003c\/strong\u003e did wonder what he had gotten himself into: they were extremely loud, discordant, and truly unlike anything he had ever heard before.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWith no more than few days rehearsal \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAlpaca Brothers\u003c\/strong\u003e played their debut gig supporting \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Weeds \u003c\/strong\u003eat a packed Empire Tavern on 7th June 1984. \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSteve\u003c\/strong\u003e clearly remembers borrowing \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLesley Paris’\u003c\/strong\u003e drum kit for the show. People liked that raucous, untrained din for some reason, and pretty soon they were playing all over the city and heading to Christchurch supporting different luminaries like \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Great Unwashed, The DoubleHappys, The Bilders\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLook Blue Go Purple.\u003c\/strong\u003e It was frenzy of playing during a magic time in NZ music history, now well documented by \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMathew\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGoody’s\u003c\/strong\u003e recent book \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNeedles and Plastic.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe band went to Auckland several times including a short NZ tour in 1985 where they supported \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Chills\u003c\/strong\u003e and later jaunts north in 1986 which included their final gig as a support for\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e The Cramps\u003c\/strong\u003e. They also released an E.P \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLegless\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e on \u003cstrong\u003eFlying Nun\u003c\/strong\u003e in 1986 which surprised the critics somewhat as live shows were often unruly with long, meandering blasts of noise. \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLegless\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, with its unusual mix of pop songs like \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHey Man\u003c\/em\u003e and\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e It’s No Joke\u003c\/em\u003e, and more instrumental, improvisational material like \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eZither\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWilderness\u003c\/em\u003e on its B side was critically well received.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHowever, by August 1986, following problems between \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBlucher\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWilkinson\u003c\/strong\u003e, it was all over. \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBlucher\u003c\/strong\u003e went on to form \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTrash Hotel \u003c\/strong\u003ewith \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePaul Cahill\u003c\/strong\u003e who had joined the \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAlpaca Brothers\u003c\/strong\u003e that same year. In the 90’s \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCournane\u003c\/strong\u003e moved to Wellington to study jazz eventually forming \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCLBob\u003c\/strong\u003e who toured NZ relentlessly and won the 2002 NZ Jazz album of the year. \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWilkinson\u003c\/strong\u003e moved to Auckland and formed \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eClapomatic\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAlpaca Brothers\u003c\/strong\u003e completely disappeared for over three decades until December 2020 when \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSteve\u003c\/strong\u003e got talking to \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBruce\u003c\/strong\u003e following the news that \u003cstrong\u003eFlying Nun\u003c\/strong\u003e had digitised the two track master of the E.P. Just like the impromptu manner in which the band had formed, it was was suddenly decided to record again. \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNick\u003c\/strong\u003e was un-available due to ill health, so \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCournane\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBlucher\u003c\/strong\u003e enlisted the help of \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRobert Scott\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Clean, The Bats\u003c\/strong\u003e) on bass.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhat started as an attempt to only document a few songs turned into an album with the help of engineer \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRikki Lind\u003c\/strong\u003e who recorded the band in his living room just as \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTerry\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMoore\u003c\/strong\u003e had done with \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLegless\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e in \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBruce\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBlucher’s\u003c\/strong\u003e flat. \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJason\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHorner\u003c\/strong\u003e then laboured on the material with \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBruce\u003c\/strong\u003e, mixing and adding various overdubs as they both could spare time in Dunedin. The final result is \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFigment\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, a nine song amalgam of pop and weirdness that hints at conspiracy theories and a world under COVID. The influence of time and a new bass player has rendered this a very different band to the original trio, yet \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBlucher’s\u003c\/strong\u003e cutting Gibson Les Paul sound remains ever present on material like \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAlien On My Doorstep\u003c\/em\u003e which has the sonic edge of old and the frantic instrumental \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGreen Guitar,\u003c\/em\u003e which beckons to\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e The Gordons, \u003c\/strong\u003eand is dedicated to bass player\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Nick Wilkinson.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOn 6th August 2022 the new five piece \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAlpaca Brothers\u003c\/strong\u003e headlined the Zelle Festival in Port Chalmers with new members\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Robert Scott\u003c\/strong\u003e on bass,\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Jason Horner\u003c\/strong\u003e on 2nd guitar and \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBruce’s\u003c\/strong\u003e daughter \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEva Blucher\u003c\/strong\u003e on vocals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8w8hNTcgKFE\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alpaca Brothers","offers":[{"title":"Vinyl LP","offer_id":58596776018255,"sku":"ZR013","price":5.12,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2164\/3343\/files\/FIGMENT-FRONT.jpg?v=1787984024","url":"https:\/\/www.vinylforger.com\/products\/alpaca-brothers-figment","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}