SONGBROKER WELCOMES LOOK BLUE GO PURPLE
Songbroker are proud to welcome iconic Dunedin band Look Blue Go Purple to the fold.
Look Blue Go Purple were part of Flying Nun’s ‘second wave’ (along with Doublehappys, Straitjacket Fits and the Abel Tasmans). Formed in 1983, they honed their sound in a Dunedin practice room under a record shop, where they developed a distinctive style with layered vocal harmonies, keyboards (and even flute) over trademark Dunedin guitar strum and solid tribal beats.
They released three EPs before calling it a day.
Look Blue Go Purple comprised Canadian-born bass player, Kathy Bull (now Francisca Griffin) and keyboard player and vocalist, Norma O’Malley, who were both in the band Permanent Tourists with Martyn Bull (The Elevators, The Chills). Inspired by British bands such as The Slits and The Raincoats and wanting to play with other women, they drafted guitarists Denise Roughan and Kath Webster, and drummer Lesley Paris.
They released their debut EP Bewitched in 1985, which was recorded and produced by Terry Moore. It reached No.21 on New Zealand’s pop charts and remained in the Top 50 for eight weeks. Their second EP LBGPEP2 climbed to No.26 in January 1987, propelled by the infectious folk pop of “Cactus Cat” and stayed in the pop charts for five weeks. Their third EP, This is This, was released late 1987 around the time the band broke up.
Flying Nun Records have recently released a 2x LP Look Blue Go Purple compilation entitled Still Bewitched which is available here.
To listen to Look Blue Go Purple head to the Songbroker website.
