RNZ: New Horizons

William Dart listens to sister acts: Rosemary and Betty Clooney, The Shangri-Las, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, The Roches, and especially a new album from Tegan and Sara.

It’s not only what you sing but whom you sing with. William Dart tests out that hypothesis using new highly collaborative albums by Sheryl Crow and Iggy Pop.

William Dart travels to the moon and beyond, charting two decades of Tom Ludvigson and Trevor Reekie's Trip to the Moon albums, and looking at their new two-man improv album, Roto.

William Dart goes globe-trotting, sampling ska from Melbourne, the almost indescribable Korean band SsingSsing, punk from Russia, and ending up in Scotland for folk-singer Karine Polwart's gorgeous new album.

William Dart indulges himself in the back catalogue of Rickie Lee Jones - all 40 years of it. Plus there's a new album called Kicks.

William Dart listens to Bruce Springsteen … on movie soundtrack, from the Broadway stage, and in a new studio album, Western Stars.

William Dart listens to the new album from British band The Leisure Society, Arrivals and Departures. Songwriter Nick Hemming is the master of melancholia in his lyrics, but the band clothes it all in exquisite alt-pop finery.

The Bird and The Bee's new album in their Interpreting the Masters series reveals that Greg Kurstin and Inara George are closet fans of Van Halen. A surprised William Dart takes a listen.

William Dart sizes up two local releases: the ear-catching miniatures of SJD and the expansive ballads of Eyreton Hall.

Rebecca Pidgeon is perhaps best known as an actor (The Winslow Boy, Red) but she's also a consummate singer-songwriter. After some releases that have been rather tough listening, her tenth album, Sudden Exposure to Light, is music that will woo you.