Able Tasmans were a New Zealand indie pop band formed 1983 in Auckland. Initially formed as a duo by Graeme Humphreys (vocals/keyboards) and Craig Baxter (drums), they soon added new members David Beniston (bass) and Peter Keen (vocals, guitar). Anthony Nevison (Keyboards, bass) played on a few songs on the band's first release, The Tired Sun EP (1985) on Flying Nun, before moving on to join the Headless Chickens. Organist Leslie Jonkers joined the band for the recording of their debut album A Cuppa Tea and a Lie Down (1987), also Stuart Greenway replacing Baxter on drums. The album received rave reviews, from sources such as Trouser Press, who described it as "one of the finest records ever to emerge from New Zealand", and Allmusic who dubbed it a great album filled with sweet and crafty pop songs". Humphreys, Keen, and Jonkers became the core of the band, and for the second album Hey Spinner! (1990) they were joined by former Verlaines and Chills bassist Jane Dodd, synth player Ronald Young, and former Chills drummer Craig Mason. In total they released four consistently good albums and two EPs on Flying Nun Records before splitting up in 1996. Standout releases include Hey Spinner!, Someone Ate my Planet and Store in a Cool Place. While the band's musical style is generally linked to the 'Dunedin Sound', Able Tasmans employed keyboards more prominently than most and their music had stronger folk and baroque/chamber pop influences than many other Flying Nun bands. Graeme Humphreys is now better known in New Zealand for his role as a radio talkback host, under the name Graeme Hill. Artist Website: wikipedia/Able_Tasmans Featured Albums: Able Tasmans Related Artists: The Verlaines, The Chills
