Harvest – Records & Roads

Rip It Up, Issue 17, 1 November 1978, Page 8

Harvest - Records & Roads

Ken Williams

Stiff Records boss Dave Robinson contends that everyone has a hit single in him. Golden Harvest are proof of this. Their first single, "I Need Your Love," won the acclaim of the record industry as single of the year. Despite the limited scope of the New Zealand recording industry, Golden Harvest’s achievement is not to be denied. “I Need Your Love” had one of the most original sounds to hit the airwaves in this country. Its ethereal, even fragile, drone, jumped off the radio, the testing ground of the single record. Implicit in Dave Robinson’s sweeping maxim is that while virtually everyone has a statement :3 make, few of us have more than a sentence co speak (perhaps this is why there are so many duff albums). Golden Harvest are out to prove him wrong. They have just finished their first album and have out a new single, "Love is Everything,”

again penned by rhythm guitarist, Gavin Kaukau.

Strictly speaking, it’s their third single, but the second single was virtually indistinguishable from the first and subsequently suffered identity loss.

"Love is Everything” is a distinctly "pop” song, light and summery, aimed at the charts. Gavin says without embarrassment that his songwriting is directed toward a saleable sound. "If we put a commercial song down it might get into the charts. Live, a heavier number with a lot of showpiece in it might get more reaction, but recording is a different thing.” Singer Karl Gordon, who joined the four Kaukau brothers some 15 months ago, misses the live atmosphere. “I wish we could get that live feeling on record." (The best producers in the world have been trying to achieve that for years). "Live, there’s something to see as well

as hear.” Live performance is the backbone of Golden Harvest. It’s a tough regime. They're only briefly back at the family home in Newmarket after four months’ continuous touring. The band is Auckland-based in name only. In the past two years they have travelled virtually non-stop the length and breadth of both islands, going to towns that never see a travelling rock act. Most bands gravitate to the cities; Golden Harvest have made the most of the possibilities outside the main centres.

Manager Benny Levin cites Peter Frampton, where strenuous touring preceded breaking platinum. Golden Harvest have no delusions about pop stardom. It’s Sundays-off only on the road in their big Chevrolet. There was no snobbishness over the seemliness of selling their records at their shows. "We got a lot of response,” grins Gavin. "Especially from our aunties.” Live, the band is much heavier than the singles would indicate. All five use the word "heavy” to describe their basic feeling for music. "We're getting heavier and heavier,” says Gavin, who at 19 is midway among the group’s age line-up. Lead guitarist Kevin is the oldest brother at 21. Merv is 20 and Gene 18. Karl, the relative newcomer, is 18. The Kaukau brothers have had their group together seven years. On stage, they do a lot of cover versions and Kevin plays a lot of guitar. Hendrix is one of his heroes. There’s a bit of chewing on the strings and Jimi’s version of "All Along the Watchtower” is one of their show-stoppers. A version running six minutes or so is on the album. Electronic effects abound (will psychedelia be the next thing?) Gavin admits the group has a live face and a recording face, but it’s apparent that they have not proved incompatible. Benny Levin is anxious to stress Golden Harvest’s future potential. “Don McLean’s manager Herb Gart has taken a mix of the album back to the States. He rang me last Tuesday and mentioned that he had been playing tracks to some people in New York and there had been a favourable reaction.

"We’re thinking of Australia by th& middle of next year. We’re sending the album to agents in Melbourne, which is the rock centre of Australia.” (Funny, I always thought it was Ayers).

An album could open the door for Golden Harvest in Australia. They have been tquring constantly to make their name in New Zealand. They don’t want to start from scratch in Australia.

Their off-the-beaten-track approach may be their making in the end. Other bands buy tickets for London and Los Angeles. Golden Harvest are looking to South East Asia, Japan and West Germany as possible record and performance markets. Did anyone mention Boney M?

But that’s in the future. Before Christmas it’s a solid round of gigs “around Auckland” Auckland, Whangarei, Waiuku, Hamilton, Rotorua. Some of those places must be like hometown? "All of them,” allows Gavin.