The Sampler

Tony Stamp delves into the latest album releases, looks back at past classics, and speaks with a range of people on the pop cultural landscape.

Hosted by Tony Stamp

Birds-eye-view of an illustrated black vinyl record with a yellow centre and red tonearm, on a blue insert and a red background. The text 'Sampler' reads in white on the right hand side from bottom to top.

RNZ exclusive

This podcast is only available on the RNZ website and apps, ad‑free and uninterrupted.

Lazarus soundtrack by Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, and Floating Points

All episodes:

Lazarus soundtrack by Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, and Floating Points

A trio of instrumentalist heavy-hitters provide sounds for the new animation from Cowboy Bebop director Shinichirō Watanabe.
Lazarus soundtrack artwork

Thee Black Boltz by Tunde Adebimpe

TV on the Radio's lead singer steps out on his own with an album that's steeped in grief but always optimistic, and still sounds like no one else.
Tunde Adibempe

A Deeper Life by Chaos in the CBD

The NZ-born brothers made a career in the UK with their signature blend of smooth house music, but have never released a full album until now.
Chaos in the CBD (Louis and Ben Helliker-Hales)

Patience, Moonbeam by Seattle snack rock band Great Grandpa

Elliott Childs reviews Seattle snack rock band Great Grandpa's first new album in 5 Years.
Episode image

Riki Pirihi & Abigail Aroha Jensen climb the stairs to heaven with LP Tūpiki

Maggie Tweedie reviews Riki Pirihi and Abigail Aroha Jensen release Tūpiki a spiritual and experimental album inspired by the journey Maui took to climb the 12 stairs of heaven, Te Ara Poutama.
Tupiki album artwork by Susan Te Kahurangi-King

Blush by There's a Tuesday

Toeing a line between pop and indie guitars, the Christchurch band's debut LP is wildly impressive.
There's a Tuesday

A Study of Losses by Beirut

Zach Condon's compositions for a Swedish circus troupe show he's still a musical magpie, and can still pen moving tunes.
Zach Condon

Freqs in Flux by Pitch Black

A selection of remixes from Pitch Black's Rude Mechanicals yields bass bin-busting results.
Pitch Black

Perfect Teeth by Unrest

The 30th anniversary edition of this Washington DC band's final album comes loaded with rarities that are as good as the main tracks.
Unrest

Music Can Hear Us by DJ Koze

Entering the world of German DJ Koze can be a head-spinning experience, but it's a rewarding one, too.
DJ Koze

Slipper Imp and Shakaerator by Babe Rainbow

There's a touch of larrikinism to the Aussie psych rockers' sixth album, but some beaut tunes as well.
Babe Rainbow

The Other Side by Void Waves

A pleasant surprise has emerged from a basement studio in Auckland, Aaron Wood's solo project mixing vintage technology with lashings of post-punk.
Void Waves covert art

Interview: MĀ speaks about her new album Blame It On The Weather

Tony catches up with the Te Whanganui-a-Tara multi-hyphenate about her environmentally-aware second LP.
MĀ

Find Me in the Rabbit Hole by Neive Strang

Singer-songwriter Neive Strang enlists producer Sean Donnelly for a simmering set of songs that wisely foreground her voice.
Neive Strang

Sable Fable by Bon Iver

Justin Vernon's future-folk project has swollen with ambition over the years, toeing a line between artsy indulgence and solid tunes.
Bon Iver

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