New Zealand “sloppy psych rock band” (their words) Space Dust’s debut 7″ was released in 1994 via Tom Scharpling’s New Jersey-based 18 Wheeler label. In case you weren’t buying vinyl-only releases by New Zealand indie bands in the early to mid 90’s (and to put things into perspective a lil bit), by 1994 the Dead C had released three singles on Siltbreeze and one on Forced Exposure, as well as a 12″EP, two LPs and a 2xLP all on Siltbreeze. After releasing two LPs on Homestead, the Verlaines had moved to Slash and released two more full lengths by 1994, The Clean had just released their second full length stateside and The Chills, The Bats, Alastair Galbraith, Gate (Michael Morley of the Dead C solo), Queen Meanie Puss, The Pin Group, The Terminals, The Renderers, This Kind of Punishment, Chris Knox/Tall Dwarfs, Straitjacket Fits, The Cakekitchen, The 3D’s (and many more bands I’m forgetting) all released records on US labels between 1990 and 1994. Needless to say: New Zealand was producing a TON of quality music and the US and European markets were eating it up. I personally don’t think quality control became too much of an issue but it did seem like some bands were being spread a little too thin and some might have been a little too hasty in handing over tracks for release. I wasn’t old enough to notice if the US market started tiring of NZ pop, post-punk and “experimental” music during this time but the slow down of output was definitely noticeable post-1997 or so. It was inevitable that there would be a band or two that would fall through the cracks as time went on and some bands broke up, some kept going and got boring, and others kept going only to disappear for several years between releases. Seeing as all of these bands lived about as far from the USA as possible, touring the greater 48 (or even Europe) to stay “relevant” wasn’t in the cards for most of them. Even one tour by some of these bands was a huge thankless and expensive undertaking and if it didn’t go well…if there’s one thing that will suck the air out of a filthy tour van it’s playing a poorly attended show on an empty stomach.
One band that made it to the states for a tour in 1995 (or so?) was Space Dust from Christchurch. Formed by drummer Duane Zarakov (Say Yes to Apes) and Martin Henderson (AKA Brother Love) along with Mick Elborado (The Terminals, Scorched Earth Policy) and Zarakov’s sister Violet on vocals, the band would exist on and off from 1994 to 2000 or so, changing a few members here and there but always including Duane, Violet and Brother Love. The A-side on their first single, “Cool Car,” somehow sounds like the logical combination of the repetitive, feedback-laden wall(paper) of sound the Dead C laid down on “Bad Politics”, and the (just as) lo-fi pop of a K Records band or maybe even a few of those early Go-Betweens demos. Violet’s “this is my first time singing into a microphone” charm works perfectly with bass and drum lines that sure sound like first takes. Brother Love’s guitar work sounds like he’s playing along to a song only he can hear (I’m assuming that’s him at least). In some way it’s this is the perfect 90’s NZ single as it’s completely unconventional “pop” that somehow gets stuck in your head after just a few listens. Who even comes close to pulling that off anymore? (Please don’t answer that.)
Space Dust went on to release two excellent LP’s, both in 1995, the first of which “Beetle!” barely exists (explanation and a further band history here) and one more full length CD in 1999. According to Zarakov the band never really “broke up” so I guess there’s a possibility they could emerge once again at some point in the future? Stranger things have happened in New Zealand, for sure.
