The Bilders
Encyclopedia
The Bilders is the name for lineups of musicians led by a New Zealand
singer-songwriter
. The first Bilders sprang from the group Vacuum (1977-79) and is known under other names such as Kazaportico, Above Ground
, Bilderbergers, Builders, Soluble Fish and Bilders Paris Sessions. Their material is known for literate lyrics, challenging song-subjects, 'rough' music making (often live in the studio), and a lo-fi recording style that has produced “many genuine classic compositions”.
The Bilders exist as New Zealand and overseas groups, with different lineups in France, Germany, the USA and New Zealand.
Known past members and co-workers include members of The Terminals
, Scorched Earth Policy and Victor Dimisich Band, Malcolm Grant (who later joined The Bats
), Alastair Galbraith, Jon Evans (synthesiser, 2008, Berlin), Fred Morvan (beatbox, 2008, Berlin), Stuart Page
(drums and artwork, 1983, 2010), Greig Bainbridge (bass), Alec Bathgate
(1984), Chris Knox
(1982) of Toy Love
and Tall Dwarfs
, Alan Brunton http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/bruntonalan.html/ (Red Mole), Steve Braunias
, Campbell McLay, and Hamish Kilgour of The Clean
. Recent members include Nikola Kapétanovic (electric guitar, dumbra, kalimba), France Hervé http://www.franceherve.blogspot.com/(chanteuse), Bill Direen (group coordinator, songs, guitar) and Jonathan Crayford
(NZ) - piano (2010-11, occasional guest and manager of a special poetry-piano project). Current New Zealand members include Greig Bainbridge, Stuart Page
, M. Elborado and R. Anderton). Material has been released on the labels Siltbreeze
, Unwucht, Onset Offset, South Indies
, Powertool Records http://www.powertoolrecords.co.nz/ and Flying Nun
.
20 Solid Krypton Hits. 1980. The groups Cherry Smash, Crowd Scenes, Ritual Sex, Caligula & Max Kwitz. LP. Independent Onset/Offset. 1981.
Soloman's Ball. Bilders. 1980. 7" vinyl. Independent PR code(EMI) then Independent/Flying Nun
. 1981.
Die Bilder, schwimmen in der See. 7" vinyl. Independent PR code(EMI) then Independent/Flying Nun
. 1981.
Dance of Death. Soluble Fish. Independent PR code(EMI). 12 " vinyl 45 rpm. 1982.
High Thirties Piano. Bilders. 7" vinyl. Independent PR code(EMI). 1982.
Beati/en Hearts. Builders.12" vinyl. Flying Nun
,1982 then purchased by South Indies 1985.
Above Ground. Cassette. Independent. 1983. Siltbreeze
, 2011.
Feast of Frogs. Soluble Fish. Versions of 4 satirical songs by Boris Vian translated and adapted. Independent PR code(EMI).1983
Split Seconds. Bilderine. 12" LP vinyl. Independent/South Indies
. 1984.
CoNCH3. Builders. 12" LP vinyl. Independent/South Indies. 1985.
The Donkey & the Albatross on KVI. 7" EP. Independent Onset/Offset. 1985.
Let's Play. Bilders.12" LP vinyl. Independent/South Indies. 1986.
The Cup. Bilders. 12" vinyl. 45 rpm. Independent/South Indies. 1987
Life in Bars. Bill Direen and Barry Stockley. 12" vinyl. 45 rpm. Independent/South Indies. 1987
Ginger Jar. Bilders. 7" vinyl. 45 rpm. Independent/South Indies. 1987.
Sound Cues. Soluble Fish. 12 LP vinyl. Independent/South Indies. 1987.
Coolest Cats. Bilders 12" LP vinyl. Independent/South Indies. 1988.
Divina Comedia. LP compilation of Bilders material 1980-88). Independent/South Indies. 1989.
Cut. CD. Bilders. IMD. 1994 IMD CD 10030.
Max Quitz. Bilders. CD. Retrospective Vol 1. Flying Nun 10 year lease (South Indies).1994. FNCD274 D31088
Beati/en Hearts. Bilders. CD. Retrospective Vol 2. Flying Nun 10 year lease (South Indies). 1994. FNCD275 D31089
Split Seconds. Bilderine. CD. Retrospective Vol 3. Flying Nun 10 year lease (South Indies). FNCD276 D31090
Pyx. Bilders CD. Retrospective Vol 4. Flying Nun 10 year lease (South Indies). 1995. FNCD277 D31091
Human Kindness. Bill Direen (& guests Graeme Galyer, Christian Aebi...).12" vinyl (CORA 5-1). CD (CORA 5-2). Corazoo.1997.
New York Sack Bill Direen & Friends (Hamish Kilgour, Alan Meek, Tony O'Blaney, Steve Cournane, Liz Silver, Lisa Siegel) : Powertool 2006:
17 Pianos. 2006. 17 short pieces for piano, recorded rough in Berlin in 1996. Mini CD (3 cms). Bill Direen : Pseudoarcana.
Yes Today No Tomorrow. 'Bits & Pieces 1995-2005'. Bill Direen : Powertool. 2006.
Flying Nun Box Set (Alligator Song). Period usage. Warner Bros. 2007.
Human Kindness. NZ Edition (+ bonus track). Bill Direen : Powertool. 2007.
Songs for Mickey Joe. Seven songs written with Alan Brunton for his theatre-music piece Comrade Savage, (first Labour P.M. of NZ, 1935–40). Bill Direen : Powertool, 2008.
Dial a Claw. Songs from the opera by B.D., recorded by B.D.. Sketches recorded for the actors and singers to work from, but are four-track recordings in their own right.
Chrysanthemum Storm. Twelve new songs. Tour edition.
Parisian Friday songs recorded in galleries in and around Paris; includes translations into English of songs by Aristide Bruant
, Bertolt Brecht
, Georges Brassens
, with treatment of W. H. Auden
's Epitaph on a Tyrant.
Mean Time, home recordings. 2010.
Mindful, recordings (of poetic content spoken to spontaneous music) made during one week in a Berlin Art Gallery (2010).
Vacuum, archival release of very early (1978-79) material with others who formed groups such as Pin Group and The Terminals
(Siltbreeze
, 2011).
Krypton 10. Unwucht, Augsburg, Germany. Double LP. Vinyl. 2011.
Above Ground. Siltbreeze. Philadelphia, USA. LP. Vinyl. 2011.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. The first Bilders sprang from the group Vacuum (1977-79) and is known under other names such as Kazaportico, Above Ground
Above Ground
-History:Above Ground developed out the friendship of the four members. It played locally and at the Punakaiki Music Festival ; and would have been forgotten like a lot of bands had Stuart Page not recorded nearly every practice and concert and organised the cassette, rereleased in 2011 on vinyl...
, Bilderbergers, Builders, Soluble Fish and Bilders Paris Sessions. Their material is known for literate lyrics, challenging song-subjects, 'rough' music making (often live in the studio), and a lo-fi recording style that has produced “many genuine classic compositions”.
The Bilders exist as New Zealand and overseas groups, with different lineups in France, Germany, the USA and New Zealand.
Known past members and co-workers include members of The Terminals
The Terminals
The Terminals are an alternative rock band from New Zealand. They released material on the Xpressway and Flying Nun labels.No affiliation with the TERMINALS aka the TERMINALS , a Surf/Punk band from Hutchinson, KS, USA...
, Scorched Earth Policy and Victor Dimisich Band, Malcolm Grant (who later joined The Bats
The Bats
The Bats are an influential New Zealand rock band formed in 1982 in Christchurch by Paul Kean , Malcolm Grant , Robert Scott and Kaye Woodward...
), Alastair Galbraith, Jon Evans (synthesiser, 2008, Berlin), Fred Morvan (beatbox, 2008, Berlin), Stuart Page
Stuart Page
Stuart Page is a New Zealand photographer, designer, documentarist and drummer.He graduated from Ilam School of Fine Arts with a Diploma Fine Arts in Photography in 1980. He has worked with artists on the Flying Nun label and many lesser known counterculture groups of his country.After travel to...
(drums and artwork, 1983, 2010), Greig Bainbridge (bass), Alec Bathgate
Alec Bathgate
Alec Bathgate is a New Zealand musician who was a key member of The Enemy and Toy Love, as well as being one half of Flying Nun Records act Tall Dwarfs alongside Chris Knox. As well as playing guitar in these bands, he has released two solo albums....
(1984), Chris Knox
Chris Knox
Chris Knox is a New Zealand rock and roll musician, cartoonist, and DVD reviewer who emerged during the punk rock era with his bands The Enemy and Toy Love. After Toy Love disbanded in the early 1980s, he formed the group Tall Dwarfs with guitarist Alec Bathgate, much loved for their honest,...
(1982) of Toy Love
Toy Love
Toy Love was a New Zealand New Wave/punk rock band fronted by Chris Knox. Other members were guitarist Alec Bathgate, bass player Paul Kean, drummer Mike Dooley, and keyboard player Jane Walker...
and Tall Dwarfs
Tall Dwarfs
Tall Dwarfs are a New Zealand rock band formed in 1981 by Chris Knox and Alec Bathgate who, through their do-it-yourself ethic, helped pioneer the lo-fi style of rock music. The duo formed out of the ashes of Toy Love....
, Alan Brunton http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/bruntonalan.html/ (Red Mole), Steve Braunias
Steve Braunias
Steve Braunias is an award-winning New Zealand author, columnist, journalist and editor.He has won 30 national awards for writing, including the 2009 Buddle Findlay Sargeson Literary fellowship, the 2010 CLL Non-Fiction Award, the supreme award as the 2006 Qantas Fellowship at the New Zealand...
, Campbell McLay, and Hamish Kilgour of The Clean
The Clean
The Clean are an influential Indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1978. Led through a number of early rotating line-ups by brothers Hamish and David Kilgour, the band settled down to their well-known and current line-up with bassist Robert Scott...
. Recent members include Nikola Kapétanovic (electric guitar, dumbra, kalimba), France Hervé http://www.franceherve.blogspot.com/(chanteuse), Bill Direen (group coordinator, songs, guitar) and Jonathan Crayford
Jonathan Crayford
Jonathan Crayford is a composer/multi instrumentalist.Jonathan studied classical piano and learned jazz by ear...
(NZ) - piano (2010-11, occasional guest and manager of a special poetry-piano project). Current New Zealand members include Greig Bainbridge, Stuart Page
Stuart Page
Stuart Page is a New Zealand photographer, designer, documentarist and drummer.He graduated from Ilam School of Fine Arts with a Diploma Fine Arts in Photography in 1980. He has worked with artists on the Flying Nun label and many lesser known counterculture groups of his country.After travel to...
, M. Elborado and R. Anderton). Material has been released on the labels Siltbreeze
Siltbreeze
Siltbreeze is an American independent record label based out of Philadelphia.-Roster:*1929*A Band*Above Ground*A Handful of Dust*Alan Licht*Alasehir*Alastair Galbraith*Angus Maclise*Ashtabula*Ashtray Navigations*Axemen*Bardo Pond*Blues Control...
, Unwucht, Onset Offset, South Indies
South Indies
South Indies was established in 1984 in Christchurch, New Zealand, as a launching pad for new musical and literary ideas. In the 1980s it released vinyl, cassettes and video-cassettes recorded or owned by other artists, before moving into the control of music group The Bilders material and the...
, Powertool Records http://www.powertoolrecords.co.nz/ and Flying Nun
Flying Nun
Flying Nun may refer to:* The Flying Nun, television series* Flying Nun Records...
.
Discography of Bilders & related
Six Impossible Things. 7" vinyl. Independent/Sausage.20 Solid Krypton Hits. 1980. The groups Cherry Smash, Crowd Scenes, Ritual Sex, Caligula & Max Kwitz. LP. Independent Onset/Offset. 1981.
Soloman's Ball. Bilders. 1980. 7" vinyl. Independent PR code(EMI) then Independent/Flying Nun
Flying Nun
Flying Nun may refer to:* The Flying Nun, television series* Flying Nun Records...
. 1981.
Die Bilder, schwimmen in der See. 7" vinyl. Independent PR code(EMI) then Independent/Flying Nun
Flying Nun
Flying Nun may refer to:* The Flying Nun, television series* Flying Nun Records...
. 1981.
Dance of Death. Soluble Fish. Independent PR code(EMI). 12 " vinyl 45 rpm. 1982.
High Thirties Piano. Bilders. 7" vinyl. Independent PR code(EMI). 1982.
Beati/en Hearts. Builders.12" vinyl. Flying Nun
Flying Nun
Flying Nun may refer to:* The Flying Nun, television series* Flying Nun Records...
,1982 then purchased by South Indies 1985.
Above Ground. Cassette. Independent. 1983. Siltbreeze
Siltbreeze
Siltbreeze is an American independent record label based out of Philadelphia.-Roster:*1929*A Band*Above Ground*A Handful of Dust*Alan Licht*Alasehir*Alastair Galbraith*Angus Maclise*Ashtabula*Ashtray Navigations*Axemen*Bardo Pond*Blues Control...
, 2011.
Feast of Frogs. Soluble Fish. Versions of 4 satirical songs by Boris Vian translated and adapted. Independent PR code(EMI).1983
Split Seconds. Bilderine. 12" LP vinyl. Independent/South Indies
South Indies
South Indies was established in 1984 in Christchurch, New Zealand, as a launching pad for new musical and literary ideas. In the 1980s it released vinyl, cassettes and video-cassettes recorded or owned by other artists, before moving into the control of music group The Bilders material and the...
. 1984.
CoNCH3. Builders. 12" LP vinyl. Independent/South Indies. 1985.
The Donkey & the Albatross on KVI. 7" EP. Independent Onset/Offset. 1985.
Let's Play. Bilders.12" LP vinyl. Independent/South Indies. 1986.
The Cup. Bilders. 12" vinyl. 45 rpm. Independent/South Indies. 1987
Life in Bars. Bill Direen and Barry Stockley. 12" vinyl. 45 rpm. Independent/South Indies. 1987
Ginger Jar. Bilders. 7" vinyl. 45 rpm. Independent/South Indies. 1987.
Sound Cues. Soluble Fish. 12 LP vinyl. Independent/South Indies. 1987.
Coolest Cats. Bilders 12" LP vinyl. Independent/South Indies. 1988.
Divina Comedia. LP compilation of Bilders material 1980-88). Independent/South Indies. 1989.
Cut. CD. Bilders. IMD. 1994 IMD CD 10030.
Max Quitz. Bilders. CD. Retrospective Vol 1. Flying Nun 10 year lease (South Indies).1994. FNCD274 D31088
Beati/en Hearts. Bilders. CD. Retrospective Vol 2. Flying Nun 10 year lease (South Indies). 1994. FNCD275 D31089
Split Seconds. Bilderine. CD. Retrospective Vol 3. Flying Nun 10 year lease (South Indies). FNCD276 D31090
Pyx. Bilders CD. Retrospective Vol 4. Flying Nun 10 year lease (South Indies). 1995. FNCD277 D31091
Human Kindness. Bill Direen (& guests Graeme Galyer, Christian Aebi...).12" vinyl (CORA 5-1). CD (CORA 5-2). Corazoo.1997.
New York Sack Bill Direen & Friends (Hamish Kilgour, Alan Meek, Tony O'Blaney, Steve Cournane, Liz Silver, Lisa Siegel) : Powertool 2006:
17 Pianos. 2006. 17 short pieces for piano, recorded rough in Berlin in 1996. Mini CD (3 cms). Bill Direen : Pseudoarcana.
Yes Today No Tomorrow. 'Bits & Pieces 1995-2005'. Bill Direen : Powertool. 2006.
Flying Nun Box Set (Alligator Song). Period usage. Warner Bros. 2007.
Human Kindness. NZ Edition (+ bonus track). Bill Direen : Powertool. 2007.
Songs for Mickey Joe. Seven songs written with Alan Brunton for his theatre-music piece Comrade Savage, (first Labour P.M. of NZ, 1935–40). Bill Direen : Powertool, 2008.
Dial a Claw. Songs from the opera by B.D., recorded by B.D.. Sketches recorded for the actors and singers to work from, but are four-track recordings in their own right.
Chrysanthemum Storm. Twelve new songs. Tour edition.
Parisian Friday songs recorded in galleries in and around Paris; includes translations into English of songs by Aristide Bruant
Aristide Bruant
Aristide Bruant was a French cabaret singer, comedian, and nightclub owner. He is best known as the man in the red scarf and black cape featured on certain famous posters by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec...
, Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
, Georges Brassens
Georges Brassens
Georges Brassens , 22 October 1921 – 29 October 1981), was a French singer-songwriter and poet.Brassens was born in Sète, a town in southern France near Montpellier...
, with treatment of W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
's Epitaph on a Tyrant.
Mean Time, home recordings. 2010.
Mindful, recordings (of poetic content spoken to spontaneous music) made during one week in a Berlin Art Gallery (2010).
Vacuum, archival release of very early (1978-79) material with others who formed groups such as Pin Group and The Terminals
The Terminals
The Terminals are an alternative rock band from New Zealand. They released material on the Xpressway and Flying Nun labels.No affiliation with the TERMINALS aka the TERMINALS , a Surf/Punk band from Hutchinson, KS, USA...
(Siltbreeze
Siltbreeze
Siltbreeze is an American independent record label based out of Philadelphia.-Roster:*1929*A Band*Above Ground*A Handful of Dust*Alan Licht*Alasehir*Alastair Galbraith*Angus Maclise*Ashtabula*Ashtray Navigations*Axemen*Bardo Pond*Blues Control...
, 2011).
Krypton 10. Unwucht, Augsburg, Germany. Double LP. Vinyl. 2011.
Above Ground. Siltbreeze. Philadelphia, USA. LP. Vinyl. 2011.
Sources
- Campbell Walker, ‘The Songwriter’s Cut’ pp 36–39 in Music in New Zealand (Ed. William Dart) Number 28 (ISSN 0113-7441) Autumn 1995. Compositions and releases,1980–1995, with performance history of The Bilders.
- 'Bill Direen live and on record:1979–1983' *Mysterex History of Punk, Related and Post-Punk NZ Music Entry of Sunday, 24 May 2009. Partial performance archive of The Bilders.
- 2007 New Zealand radio interview about The Bilders
- Interview on various related subjects RNZ 2006
External links
- Page of Powertool Records Bilders label 2006-present
- Powertool Records Germany
- Bilders videos with French explication
- Lisa Warrington on the Playwrights Conference, Nelson, New Zealand 1990 See also ‘Writers Turn Art on its Head’, Nelson Mail, 1990.