Goldenhorse Artist Profile

“GOLDENHORSE”Goldenhorse
  • Genre: POP
  • Mood: Productive 
  • Status: Getting in there
  • Location: Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Website: goldenhorse.co.nz
  • Band Members: Kirsten Morell Geoff Maddock Ben King Vince Hine Nick Gaffaney
News:

* New 2008 Album ~ REPORTER ~ available now! *

Goldenhorse Playlist



Goldenhorse’s Bio

Goldenhorse is from New Zealand, a land created when the earth and sky, lovers in a tight embrace, were forced apart by their children who until then had lived crouched between them in the dark. The sky weeps for her man sometimes, and the islands are covered in a cloak of mist. Otherwise the sky is clear and the sun is bright, and the people are fairly relaxed.

Their latest album is called Reporter, and the clash of modernity with this isolated birthplace is a feeling laced through it, even when the subjects of the songs are most personal. The band just doesn't really sound like any other band, and with singer Kirsten Morelle on wonderful lead vocal, the uniqueness is complete.

Geoff Maddock and Kirsten started Goldenhorse after playing together in a last minute wedding band, and their debut album Riverhead finally got to the top of the NZ charts after 52 weeks of climbing. This opened the door for the second album Out of the Moon to debut at no. 2 in the same chart, but it is their latest album that the band believe to be their finest, with Vince Hine and Ben King, bass and guitar respectively, and new drummer Nick Gaffaney giving the songs a more forceful and direct sound this time.

Goldenhorse spent some northern summer of 2005 and 6 touring through Europe, perhaps that is what brought a more of an edge to the songs, but also the influence of British/Mexican producer Phil Vynal, who has worked with Placebo and The Auteurs, and engineer Clint Murphy might be responsible.

Goldenhorse believe in pop music, this is their version.

Our sound is a clash of forces, and a great combination of everyones different beliefs on music and sounds, says Geoff That is the great thing when a band works well, you get something that is new each time, but yes it does have a tangible thread running through each choice made on the bass or drum, or whatever instrument, something that could almost be felt ahead of time.

A summer pop classic. An unalloyed gem and a rarity too.***** (5 Stars) NZ Herald Precise, tasteful, durable, real top shelf stuff. This quintet bang out tunes that are ambitious yet inviting, richly textured with a certain bucolic ease 8/10 Montreal Mirror...packed full of intelligence and wit..." ***** (5 Stars) Rip It Up echoing the Magic Numbers pop nous. Q magazine.


Influences:

Kirsten's: Buffy Saint Marie, Sex pistols, Musical Youth, Bel Costa, Blondie, Beetles, Bat For Lashes, Bjork, My Dad, The Specials. Geoff: Wire, The La's, Leonard Cohen, Popul Vuh, ZZ Top, Neil Young, Simple Minds, Bonny Prince Billy

Goldenhorse’s Fans (63)


Goldenhorse’s Comments


  • 30 Mar '09 11:56am

    Horses in LA

    I've just spent the weekend riding horses with Catalina. I forget how LUCKY I am playing music meeting people. Very cathartic watching the landscape drift by except when Said horse breaks into a sudden Gallop! Looking forward to playing Goldenhorse gigs in America. Cool K
  • 06 Feb '09 01:44pm

    New Song

    Goldenhorse did some recording the other day and we finished one great track, I am super happy with it. We have put it up on the site, it's called Autumn Jewels. It's the first mix, I did it, but I think it is a good mix, pretty rough and ready, no slick mastering job on this one! That's cause I don't know how to do a slick mastering job... Anyway, the song is like a story by Edgar Allen Poe, it's set in the dark land between consciousness and the deep well of longing and memories of death that reside below, in the lizard mind. well it is to me anyway.. and I believe the perceptions of whomever chooses to perceive to be the correct ones, of a song or some art. Not like of a car crash or anything, that happens or it doesn't. 'Did you see that!' " no I don't see anything" 'you kidding me that car just spun out, oh my god they are probably dead' "I just see an empty field of wheat swaying at the wind's caress" 'But look it's right there!' "shit man, call 111,911,999 whatever you call in this dreamland!"... ...but some song, I don't think anyone can say you are wrong about that. Anyway, I recorded my guitar parts through one one of those amp's that you can buy installed in a cigarette packet, and they sound really meaty. like smoking camels five at a time. well maybe two at a time. the vocal is fraught and stretched, but low and hurt too, I love it. but my favorite bit is the very end, it just goes out on this lonely chord. Hope you like it!
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  • 26 Jan '09 04:01pm

    Zoom Zoom

    Well I would like to say we will be zooming to America soon. But instead we played a fantastic gig for the Auckland festival last night. Geoff pulled out some wicked guitar again and I've started Karate on stage! No seriously this band is really looking forward to coming over this year. May the good gigs keep rollin! Kx
  • 19 Oct '08 05:24pm

    Maybe Tomorrow

    Hello for the first time! So I am watching the video to MAYBE TOMORROW and no one knows this but in the shot or the surf breaking is a pod of Dolphins. If you look really closely you can see their backs breaking the surface. I was kinda scared for the rest of the day to get into the water. The girl with the dark brown hair is Cat my best friend. She's in London and I really miss her. The band played a great gig the other night. It was in a theatre called 'The Pumphouse' by lake Pupuke. Our friends,fans and family were there, an intimate gig! Briliant. Now gimme some more! KM x
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  • 27 May '08 07:57pm

    ::WELCOME::

    THIS IS TE<font color="#ff0000">ST BLOG TO EN</font>SURE the HANDSHAKES <font color="#ffff00">BLOG funtionality works ..... THIS IS NOT A</font> O<font color="#c0c0c0" face="impact,chicago">FFICIAL BLOG FROM</font><font color="#c0c0c0"> GOlDENHOrse</font> .. S<font color="#99ccff">ORR</font>Y .... stay t<font color="#ff9900">uned ..</font><font color="#ff9900" face="book antiqua,palatino"> blah blah <font face="book antiqua,palatino">b</font></font><font color="#ff9900" face="book antiqua,palatino">la</font><font color="#ff9900" face="book antiqua,palatino">h BLAH ...<font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif">. don't mind ME .. just testing editor features ... </font></font>
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