The Sampler

Tony Stamp looks back at some of his favourite reissued albums and archival compilations of 2021, including Japanese ambient, West African funk, grunge icons and more.

Tony Stamp looks back at some of his favourite singles of 2021 - specifically, ones that didn't appear on any albums. Te reo Maori psychedelia, dance floor bangers, and even a few Christmas songs were grist for the mill.

Tony Stamp looks back at some of his favourite international albums of 2021, including UK soul, Scottish post-rock, American folk songs about movies, and more.

Tony Stamp looks back at some of his favourite local releases of 2021, including summery beats, bedroom pop, Dunedin legends, and dance floor bangers.

Tony Stamp marvels at the new album by Whanganui-a-Tara folk outfit French for Rabbits, and a deeply spiritual EP from anonymous South Auckland artist FABLE, while Elliott Childs assesses a star-studded covers album led by American musician Jason Isbell.

Tony Stamp explores the new album by retro-rockers The War on Drugs, a stripped back set of lockdown songs from Aussie wit Courtney Barnett, and trip-hop kingpin Nightmares on Wax's latest guest-heavy outing.

Tony Stamp rummages through Tori Amos' nature-inspired sixteenth album, guitar-pop wunderkind Snail Mail's second, and an electronic tribute to a lost friend by Tāmaki producer Skymning.

Tony Stamp mulls over the second EP by Iranian-NZ rapper Chaii, a dance-influenced outing from NYC rockers Parquet Courts, and Alec Bathgate's 1996 solo debut.

Tony Stamp locks ears with Auckland producer Leaping Tiger's sophomore album, folk artist Hand Habits' expansive new work, and the sixteenth long player by indie stalwarts Starflyer 59.

Tony Stamp investigates Luke Buda from The Phoenix Foundation's third solo album, a nostalgic collection by Canadian jazz-futurists BADBADNOTGOOD, and the debut of Californian funk-pop misfit Remi Wolf.

Tony Stamp delves into a summery sample collage from Tāmaki Makaurau beat-maker Christoph el' Truento, the fearsome second album by Melbourne punk rockers Amyl & The Sniffers, and a collection of b-sides by Canadian singer-songwriter Andy Shauf that's much more than the sum of its parts.

Tony Stamp merges his bubble with the expansive new album from Japanese-American folk singer Mia Doi Todd, Wellington-via-Los Angeles musician Vera Ellen's Flying Nun debut, and the minimal synth experiments of Ramona Gonzales, AKA Nite Jewel.

Tony Stamp delves into a movie-themed collaboration between American singer-songwriters Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine, two dance floor-focused EPs from Tāmaki producer deepState, and an eighties-inflected tribute to longterm lust by Torres.

Tony Stamp explores the new album by NZ-born, London-based neo-soul adventurer Jordan Rakei, a blissed out collection about motherhood from UK singer Cleo Sol, and guitar-slinger Steve Gunn's latest assortment of pastoral tunes.

Tony Stamp samples the bombastic new album by 'Britain's greatest rapper' Little Simz, a concept album about waking up from Wellington singer Mā, and indie stalwarts Low take their sonic adventuring into bold new territory.