Year of the ratbags and their musty theme songs
troy kingi & The Promises
Year Of The Ratbags And Their Musty Theme Songs is Troy Kingi’s '80s-inspired album - the sixth album the award-winning Northland musician has released in his 10:10:10 series of 10 albums in 10 different genres over 10 years.
The album title Year Of The Ratbags is a reference to the Chinese Year of Rat - 1984 is Troy's birth year. Before making this album, he had "steered clear" of 1980s influences in his music.
"I was born in the '80s but it's always been a super tacky era for me as far as production goes. We just embraced it fully on this album as far as gated snares and all the sounds I normally cringe at. I really enjoyed making this album and just embracing my era."
- Charlotte Ryan RNZ
“Twelve synth-soaked anthems — feeling at times like a long lost Pagan Records compilation from the era in its FM radio / haunted VHS pileup of upbeat boogie / yacht rock / jazz-funk / pop / dance / fusion and soul ingredients. ”
Listen to Album
The genre crossing artistic powerhouse thrills fans with a new (wave) direction, a celebration of the glittering world of the '80s – one of history’s most colourful musical eras – inspired by, ‘television theme songs and the superstars of the period such as Prince & Talking Heads, even the radio friendly sound of bands such as Tears for Fears, The Human League and Duran Duran’.
An album drenched in synths and bad hair – each instrument, amplifier, engineering technique used to create it was sourced from the period, leaving no stone unturned in the quest for authenticity.
There is a hidden underlying theme that intertwines each song, connecting them all through one common thread – Troy has chosen to withhold this information leaving the albums meaning up to the ear of the beholder, although he did say, if you look close enough the clues are in plain sight.
