In The Marigolds (Vinyl)

“In The Marigolds” brims with pleasantly scuffed, quietly considered charm. Songs nod openly to the South Island sounds-of-yesteryear without feeling hamstrung by nostalgic whiff. Rather, Jim Nothing implement the rickety gallop of The Bats (Seahorse Kingdom) or chug-a-chug moves of 3d’s (Yellow House) as sonic-starter to bud their groggyheaded guitar-steez.

“Never Come Down” boasts the kind of spring-loaded chorus Tāmaki Makaurau futurist P.H.F. might mess around with, while “Borrowed Time” pits power-pop urgency against the easy thrum of Melted Ice Cream alumni, Salad Boys.

Should every knotty rock outfit have a violinist handy? Anita Clark makes a case for yip! Across the record she acts as anchor and alternate weather; throwing emotionally weighted leads, defiant sustains and winning harmonies against Sullivan’s sunkist ditties. The production, courtesy of drummer (and Melted Ice Cream boss-hog) Brian Feary, feels both craggy and spacious, capturing perfectly the open claustrophobia of life in a flat city.

40 odd years ago in Ōtepoti, The Enemy offered transcendence-through-destruction on their dank anthem Pull Down The Shades— “Rippin the guts out of stranded automobiles/can’t you see how beautiful it feels” went Chris Knox with jerky glee. Sullivan offers a gentler solution to humdrum living— “We should get lost cos at least that’s something to do” he sings on “Never Come Down” –but there’s an odd urgency in his voice, hinting, perhaps, that another aimless afternoon isn’t the only threat in sticking to the path.