CD of Motueka music crowns ambitious community project

December 18th
[by David Armstrong]

The culmination of months of work by a man on a musical mission arrived this week with the release of the CD titled "Home: Songs in the key of Motueka" showcasing the talents and inspirations of established and budding musicians from around the Motueka district.

Dana Orrock-Binnington has been seeking to promote Motueka as a musical and cultural hub of which the Motueka community can be justly proud. The project (he says he is the "co-ordinator" but "driver" may be closer) became public over the past two months with a series of Friday lunchtime concerts outside the museum.

Last Sunday many of those artists performed at the day-long festival in Decks Reserve which was well received. The intention had been to use that festival to launch the CD, but production problems meant that didn't happen for a couple more days.

Dana has been a passionate advocate for the project, and hopes to make it an annual event. "The idea to create a collaboration album of musicians from in and around the Motueka area is one that has been floating around in one form or another for a long time," he says on his website.

"Motueka is a place that for various reasons attracts many people from the creative communities of Aotearoa and the wider world to spend time visiting and often end up living here long term. It is a unique blend of natural beauty, good climate and relaxed small town feel that lends so much to the atmosphere of the place and no doubt inspires much of the art, music and culture that is produced here.

"With many great festivals and events based in and around Motueka as well as great local venues to support performances, it is an ideal place for musical and artistic talents to rise and shine! By creating a buzz around town in the popular months, we raise Motueka's profile."

Dana funded the project from his own pocket, to the tune of $5,388 for staging the festival, designing the CD jacket, manufacturing the CD and building the promotional website. He approached businesses for financial assistance but was told they were already committed, and he had no joy in applying for Creative Communities NZ funds. The Community Board last week approved of discretionary funding of $250 to help.

Sales of the CDs, at a reasonable $20 a copy, would hopefully recoup most expenses. More importantly, support from the community by buying copies will encourage Dana and his friends to persist with their important contribution to our vibrant community. For young people in particular, this would make a great Christmas present.

I was given a copy of the CD to write about but after listening decided it would not and should not be the province of a person of "advanced years" to comment too much. The 18 musicians and bands featured cover a very broad spectrum of styles, and you could say that there is almost certainly something for everyone (except for purist classical music lovers).

It's great to hear that all songs are originals, and this is emphasised with the first two tracks - a haunting karakia by Tanya Corbett and "Kohatu Kaiteriteri" by Harmony Aquarian. I very much enjoyed much of the first half of the album but could not indentify (it's that age thing) with most of the second half, which was generally louder and heavier.

Don't let that put you off buying it, though. The production values are excellent (though the blanking out of some words was rather distracting), the artists all present confidently, and the variety of genres will appeal to many people. Youth and young to middle-aged adults will likely enjoy most of the content.

Worth noting and commendation, also, is the album itself, with striking warm photography and full (apparently unedited) bios of all the contributing artists. The performer list also includes KiwiJam, Solroom, Charlette Hannah, MIYT Collective, The Valley Project, DIWATA, Tommy and the Fallen Horses, Tom's Field, Cool Vibes, Le Freque Ragdoll, Pants Off, Temple Henge, Ralph Bennett-Eades and the Honey Badgers, Richard Fry, Panic Attack, and Dave Connock.

Comment by Tara Forde:
[Posted 19 December 2010]

I think it's a total cop out by our Arts Council that they are unable to recognise the good that work such as this does. This multifaceted art project has done much to build and further work on Motueka's Arts culture. These collaborations are vital links in our community, both within and to be presenting a shining face in marketing Motueka as an arts capital.

I am disappointed in the Community Board for not allocating the full $500 as well. Dana has volunteered a lot of his time and effort into making Motueka a better place, and surely some older members of the community could have seen and recognised his organising talents. Buy the CD, it makes a great christmas present!

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