The Bats have been at this for decades, and Corner Coming Up sounds like a band that knows exactly what it does well. Recorded at Chicks Studio in Port Chalmers with Tex Houston, the album carries that classic Flying Nun jangle, clean guitars that chime and interlock, steady rhythms, melodies that stick without trying too hard. Robert Scott's voice still has that understated warmth, and the interplay between his guitar and Kaye Woodward's feels lived-in, intuitive.
There's no reinvention here, just eleven songs that move between brisk indie pop and quieter moments without much fuss. "Lucky Day" and "A Line to the Stars" lean into the band's knack for bright, propulsive tracks, while "Nature's Time" and "Smallest Falls" pull back into something more reflective. The production is uncluttered, bass and drums sit where they should, guitars are given space to breathe, and nothing is overworked. It's the kind of record that rewards familiarity rather than demanding it.
If you've followed the New Zealand indie lineage or just want guitar pop that doesn't oversell itself, this delivers. Not flashy, not trying to be.
