Daddy's Highway

The Bats' first full album continues the early promise of their EPs and, with only the slightest deviations and changes since, established their sound for just about everything that followed. Scott and company may not be the most willfully experimental of musicians, but when they're on- more often the case than not- their lovely, melancholic songs simply hit the spot. A Flying Nun classic.

One of the great New Zealand albums from the 1980s, from the low-key pop hook of‚ North by North to the serene hum of‚ Tragedy, Daddys Highway showcases a subtly impactful sound that immediately draws you in. There is a unique liveliness present - as seen in 'Block of Wood' - that glistens with gleaming harmonies, hushed vocals, swirling basslines, and a bittersweet feeling of hopelessness that is both infectious and contemplative.