When it came to defining DIY, lo-fi indie pop it’s New Zealand’s Chris Knox was doing it across the ditch way before anyone else and became both icon and influence by default. Chris suffered a life-altering stroke last year so a load of very cool people have pooled together to help him out on a benefit CD: Stroke – Songs For Chris Knox. Doing it all for the benefit of Mr Knox are the likes of Yo La Tengo, The Chills, Bill Callahan, Will Oldham and Lou Barlow, doing his songs to tribute this atypical troubadour. 2ser Subscribers can win a copy of this album all week on Breakfast, Overdrive and Static.
On June 11 this year musician, artist, father, writer, film critic & jandal wearer Chris Knox suffered a life-altering stroke at his home in Grey Lynn, New Zealand. Everyone wanted to do something to help, so a bunch of his musician mates from New Zealand and around the world have gotten together to do what they do best to celebrate Chris’ music by recording versions of his songs. The selected tracks span Chris’ entire carer, from The Enemy, Toy Love, and Tall Dwarfs, to his solo recordings and his most recent band The Nothing. Jay Reatard, Shayne Carter, The Mountain Goats, The Verlaines, Boh Runga, David Kilgour, Don McGlashan, Will Oldham and many more have contributed songs to the album, which has 32 tracks in all. The stunning cover was designed by Chris’ fellow Tall Dwarf bandmate Alec Bathgate and uses Chris’ favourite colour combination of yellow & black.
The double CD ‘STROKE: Songs For Chris Knox’ is out now in New Zealand on Chris’ own label A Major Label, with distribution by Rhythm Method. Spunk is releasing the Album in Australia on January 22nd with all proceeds going to assisting Chris with his recovery. Stroke: Songs For Chris Knox is a chance for Chris’ many fans and friends to contribute to his future.
