Strap yourself in for Joe Ghatt’s mystical journey.

Fresh from top of New Zealand’s North Island (nearly), Auckland based solo artist Joe Ghatt is today releasing his debut tune – and we’ve got to say it’s a strong introduction. Taken from his forthcoming debut record Banana Sludge, which will be out via Sydney’s guardians of indie-psych Third Eye Stimuli, ‘Farewell’ is a wash of twangy guitars, washed-out vocals, and delicious grooves.

Recorded to tape, the tune follows the lines of Allah-Lahs and The Babe Rainbow in the sense that it tips its hat to the swinging sounds of the ‘60s, whilst giving it a modern day slant. And It came about in something of a creative burst in the empty the house of collaborator and fellow Kiwi psych-rocker Arthur Ahbez.

“At the time I was living in the Ahbez abode. Everybody in the house had gone away and I had just picked up this big old 8 track tape machine and a secondhand reel of tape. I just hit record and went for it in a hot sweat before the moment was gone.”

The clip, which was shot on 8mm is a collage dreamlike sequences shot by Courtney Harper, Olive Jeffares and Joe himself. It sees Joe followed on something of a spiritual journey being guided (or taunted) by mysterious masked characters, and is a fittingly grainy accompaniment to the magical track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoGJDSgJTHk

No word on an Australian tour yet, but hopefully it won’t be long until the Third Eye Stimuli crew get him playing shows around the country – at least, that’s what we’re hoping! You can pre-order Banana Sludge here.