Selected Reviews

Superturtle create music that sounds like it has just got laid, then maybe smoked a joint. It is sweet, gentle, and leisurely ease while simultaneously packing an absurd amount of quirkiness and melodic and rhythmic variety, as well being a little smug about it all. Which is cool, they deserve confidence: they’ve attempted to break loose of the typical ‘indie’ sound and travel in the direction that has suited them, fuelled by experience, influence, and musical talent. The result is an album that offers something new with every track – from fuzzy pop (‘The Whole Night Through’), to hard-focused post-punk (‘Cash that Cheque’), to deep moaning brass and adorable space-wobbles (‘All Our Friends’) – and an approach to music to has valued artistic integrity over ego and reputation.

Their charm stems from an aura much like the bright New Zealand suns of old. They are rediscovering music with a New Zealand flavour without resorting to dub/roots or blindly following international indie trends like zombies and calling it ‘local’. Bands such as The Mutton Birds, Bressa Creeting Cake, Split Enz and – dare I say it – Goodshirt all spring to mind: perhaps it’s the squawking seagull samples, the confused stumbling bass lines, vocals thick a dated kiwi accent (from when it still betrayed our British heritage) or the plain down-right originality. But more-so I think they all share a musical style that is earnest and innocent, flowing with youthful innovation. Yes, there is something to this stubborn Auckland sound that is just bloody wonderful!

Of course it should be no surprise that the single is such a wonderful mix of old and new: featuring on the record are Debbie Silvey from Garageland, Ricky McShane who (along with Silvey) is from Chainsaw Masochist, and Ben Furniss who (along with McShane) is from White Swan Black Swan, accompanied but the fucking Hot Grits horn section! The band began as Darren McShane’s (Chainsaw Masochist and BFM DJ) pet project and it grew to become the five-piece it is today.
Salient

I actually bought this solely because of the packaging. The CD album comes as a "bonus" with a 7"single of 'All Our Friends' b/w 'Never Came Back' presented in a gatefold sleeve with retro liner notes. And all for only $12.50. Luckily when I got it home the music was pretty good too - clever guitar led pop augmented with horns, organ and more.
Counting the Beat

Superturtle represents one of the smoothest aural and visual presentations
of melodic alt-pop I've ever come across in the local market "
Martyn Pepperell - The Groove Guide

"References The Tokey Tones, Brunettes and Ryan McPhun - styled retro pop and the buzz/fuzz alt-rock of contemporary acts like White Swan Black Swan. I really enjoyed this album."
Simon Sweetman - NZ Musician

"Superturtle make a charming , lighthearted idiosyncratic style of pop that has a feel redolent of the less self-conscious bends on the Flying Nun and Arch Hill label's . Its a concoction that's livened up by McShane's sense of humour, and the slightly loopy instrumental line-up which includes, at times mellotrons and theremins......
Does it sound good ? It sounds good."
Gary Steel - Tone Magazine

Liner Notes

"To The Rescue" has 10 tracks as well as multimedia content and is accompanied by a 7-inch vinyl single in a gatefold sleeve.

Superturtle

Darren McShane - Vocals, guitars
Jude Aish - Vocals, percussion
Murray Jacques - Keyboards, guitars, vocals
Ben Furniss - Bass
Paul Taylor - Drums and percussion