Feedback keeps coming in from the last couple of weeks' columns, from the backslappingly supportive to the entertainingly abusive.

Which is great! Nothing like a bit of healthy debate about the nature of Tauranga's music scene, although it does remind me of a conversation I once had with Don McLashan. It was after the Muttonbirds returned from their several year hiatus in the UK. I asked him how he found the New Zealand music business on returning. 'What music business?” he said.

Ha! Couldn't resist that.

All this stems from my assertion that the steady flow of albums released from here in the past six months are all fairly conservative beasts. I had meant it more as an observation than a criticism but it turns out that the worst thing you can call a musician is ‘conservative'.

Perhaps there is an implicit insult lurking in there. Everyone thinks what they're doing is new and exciting, and it usually is... for them. Most musicians don't get into a studio that often, so the process always seems that way, but in the big scheme of things perhaps they're not exactly breaking new ground.

Here's a question for musicians who have recorded: when you're in the studio are you looking for the ‘best' sound, or are you looking for a new sound that you've never heard before? How many people strive to create a guitar (or keyboard, or drum, or vocal) sound that they've never ever previously come across?

That, of course, is not the measure of great music. You need something genuinely great first. But I suspect much of the music these same musicians admire and listen to aspires to do exactly that – to create something totally unlike other stuff.

Again, it's not an essential thing. Great music is made in well-honed genres all the time. But it's a thought.

My comments about the conservative nature of music here though, were aimed specifically at the various albums released recently. There are also many bands, singers, songwriters and musicians out there making interesting individual music, but not putting it on CD. Luckily, with the internet, we now have access – for better or worse – to their outpourings. So, if you want to go online to check out some Tauranga music, here's a couple you could try...

Justin Bradford is a singer/songwriter who records mostly at home. After an early foray into home recording with 2009's Better Days he has launched a veritable flood of music this year on the Bandcamp website starting with an album, The Positive Outlook, in February. That was followed by an EP, Evening Light, in June. August saw the arrival of a live acoustic version of The Positive Outlook called The Acoustic Outlook. Last month he added to those with another EP, called Dearest Readers.

That latest one he describes as, 'an EP outlining some previously unreleased back catalogue and some new material. Underlying themes include social commentary on relationships, dependence on television and religion, the absurdity of the concept of time, and putting others on pedestals they don't deserve to sit on.”

It's mainly solo acoustic stuff with added vocal harmonies. Justin has a pleasant, if occasionally ‘quirky', voice and writes a good song. There's a quite entertaining ukulele tune called ‘Fun'. Many people would regard these as demos, but what is a demo really? Find Justin at www.justinbradfordmusic.bandcamp.com.

If your tastes run a bit heavier (and for the slightly more ‘professionally' recorded) then there's Molly Gun. The female-fronted four-piece comprise: Absynthia (vocals) Verne Bigwood (drums), Jamie Herkins (bass) and Lance Talstra (guitar). They play something very close to rockabilly, though with influences from the likes of psychobilly pioneers The Cramps and others seeping through occasionally.

It's very good stuff and makes you yearn to see them live. Their appearance on Soundtreelive (the Tauranga internet TV show) suggested that a full gig would be spectacular. Best way to find them is via www.facebook.com/MollyGunBand where there are links to the four songs they have on-line. They're well worth listening to.

You may well point out that neither of these artists is really breaking new ground. Fair enough. This was a fairly gentle trip to the underground. Wait till we get to Rotate The Completor...