One thing I love about music, and the music scene, is that it exists simultaneously in so many different guises.

Case in point: from several recent and upcoming local releases, the two I have for you this week are from almost opposite styles and genres. And surely that's the universal beauty of music – that there is something for everyone…

First up is an album by Katikati folk duo Two's Company. They are what you'd call a jobbing middle-of-the-road musical outfit and have played from Whangarei to Invercargill at corporate functions, festivals, house concerts, outdoor concerts, restaurants, clubs, you name it.

They are husband-and-wife team Peter and Jacquie Faulkner, who use acoustic guitar, keyboard, percussion and vocals – but not, I'm pleased to say, backing tracks – and whose musical offerings range from folk to blues, popular jazz standards to opera arias, pop songs to originals.

The album ‘Where I Belong', their third, reflects most of those musical styles. There are 14 songs in all, exactly half of which are Peter's. The others range from Sarah McClachlan's ‘Angel', beautifully sung to piano backing with some nice harmonies, a folky take on Bonnie Raitt's ‘Something To Talk About', and a splendid leap into French for Edith Piaf's ‘La Vie En Rose'. The only possibly misjudged moment is an overly-operatic treatment of the Leonard Cohen classic ‘Dance Me To The End Of Love'.

Originals

Peter's original songs are an interesting bunch, personal and heartfelt with a smattering of tongue in cheek humour. ‘Face To Face' and ‘She's So Good To Me' tick along nicely to jazzy piano grooves, the former benefiting from the addition of Pat Hawkins on bass. The title track is an ode to mountain living while ‘Goin' Fishing' celebrates the beach.

‘How Does She Do It' was recorded at Parachute Studio and its story of Peter first meeting Jacquie sits well over a Latin groove. Throughout the album the instrumentation is simple but effective, with some clever guitar and vocal arrangements adding interest, and a very effective occasional saxophone.

‘Where I Belong' is, or will be, available on the usual digital platforms but if you want a CD, contact Jacquie – at: rodewaldj@gmail.com – or visit their Facebook page. The album, and their previous ones are also available on a memory stick. Again, Jacquie can tell you the details.

Rome reborn

Moving right along, also released this week is a new single from singer-songwriter Michael Walker, his first under his new name ‘Rome'.

The name is important since until now Michael, along with his brother, songwriter-producer Caleb Walker, known as ‘Phlimingo', has been creating music under the name ‘Rosegang'. And it's been hugely successful. Recent releases I've heard are mid-tempo hip-hop sitting on a solid-yet-subtle musical backing often including piano. Their songs have been watched in massive numbers on YouTube.

Phlimingo and Rome

The change of name is more than just an affectation though. It reflects a change in direction, a desire to cast off the 'gangsta rap” trappings of his earlier songs, and it's a signal of a broadening of lyrical horizons. In fact his most recent releases as Rosegang already reflect that. Have a look at the music videos for ‘Jesus in My Eyes' and ‘My Best Life', his two most recent songs, both thoughtful pieces, and with great music videos showing off the beautiful Bay we live in.

The new single ‘Beautiful To Me' is even better, smooth, melodic and punchy, and obviously a deeply-felt rumination on previous life choices.

'In order for my music to get to the next level I had to let go of a few things,” Rome says. 'Old habits, old friends, old ways. But that's okay. I knew for myself and my music I wanted to grow and do more, and that's what this song is about.”

The video finds Rome and Phlimingo fooling around off the Desert Road and the song even features a dramatic ‘In The Air Tonight' drum explosion two-thirds of the way through. Cool stuff and well worth checking out; it's on all digital platforms from July 8 but I'd go to YouTube because the video is a bit like a car commercial and a lot of fun.