Naked Spots Dance were a Wellington post-punk band formed in 1979 by Kate Walker (bass) and Stephen Norris (guitar, synth), with Jennifer Ward-Lealand on vocals, and Phil Harfield on drums. Emerging from the same creative energy that birthed Wellington’s first wave of punk, the group carved out a unique space with their improvisational style and ethereal vocals, drawing inspiration from UK acts like Delta 5 and Au Pairs.
Their first live show took place in August 1980 at a Cuba Mall Sunday session, and by December that year they had four tracks featured on the influential Four Stars compilation, a document of the early Wellington punk scene. During late 1980, they performed regularly alongside bands like Wallsockets, Condemned Sector, The Gordons, and Life in the Fridge Exists.
By the end of 1980, Jennifer had left the group, and in 1981 Matthew Fisher replaced Harfield on drums. As a trio, Naked Spots Dance became more rhythmically experimental. They played a Rock Against Racism show at Thistle Hall in July 1981, recorded four tracks in October, and released the “Certain Ways” EP that December. The record showcased the band’s distinctive mix of minimalism, dissonance, and hypnotic groove, with critics describing it as “dense Wellington art rock” and “depressed pop with a valium edge.”
In 1982, Katherine McRae joined as vocalist, adding a more melodic and enigmatic quality. That August they supported The Fall at Victoria University and recorded with Ian Morris and Chris Fleming at Marmalade Studios. The resulting 12” EP, “New,” released in November 1982, was praised for its clarity, restraint, and power “original progressive music… minimalist but powerful… equal in quality to the imports.” McRae departed later that year for drama school.
The band continued into 1983, performing at Sweetwaters Festival and even providing live music for a summer Shakespeare production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Frances Walsh (formerly of Wallsockets) joined briefly on vocals. Later that year, the group returned to Marmalade Studio to record what became their debut album, Falling, released in early 1984 by which time the band had already disbanded.
Jennifer Ward-Lealand went on to a celebrated 40 year career in New Zealand film and theatre. Frances Walsh has worked as a screen-writer with her partner Peter Jackson, winning three-academy awards for her work on Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
Links
- Audioculture: Naked Spots Dance
- Witchdoctor: Naked Spots Dance
- Flying Nun: THE STORY OF NAKED SPOTS DANCE 1983 EP, ‘NEW’
| Origin | Wellington |
| Genre | post-punk |
| Years Active | 1980 – 1983 |
| Labels | Flying Nun |
| Associated Acts | Wallsockets |
| Past Members | Stephen Norris (guitar, synth 1979-83) Kate Walker (bass 1979-83) Jennifer Lealand (vocals 1979-80) Phil Harfield (drums 1979-1981) Matthew Fisher (drums 1981-83) Katherine McRae (vocals 1982) Frances Walsh (vocals 1983) |
Releases
| Title | Date | Label | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Stars | 1980, Dec | Sausage Records | compilation | 12″ |
| Certain Ways | 1981, Dec | NSD 1 | EP | 12″ |
| New | 1982, Nov | NSD 2 | EP | 12″ |
| Falling | 1984 | NSD Records | album | 12″/ tape |
Timeline
1980, August, Cuba Mall
Naked Spots Dance’s first show, Sunday afternoon with Wallsockets, Androidss and Life In The Fridge Exists.
1980, August 22, Billy The Club
1980, September 26-28, Last Resort Cafe
1980, December, Four Stars
1980, December 5, St. John’s Hall, Vivian Street
Shoes This High, Naked Spots Dance, Condemned Sector
1981
1981, March 15, Last Resort
with Who Slapped John.
1981, July 2, Thistle Hall
1981, July, Wellington Zone II
Wellington Town Hall with Naked Spots Dance, Steroids, Mockers and The Digits.
1981, September 25-26, Rawa House
1981, October
Naked Spots Dance recording Certain Ways
1981, October 30-31, Rock Theatre
Naked Spots Dance
1981, December, Certain Ways
Four-track indie from dense Wellington art combo. ‘Third World’ is hypnotic, while ‘Never’ is tuneless. ‘About But Not Out’ is a flawed attempt to be funky, and “New Meaning’ is a depressed pop song. Take with valium.
Rip It Up, Issue 54, 1 January 1982, Page 8
1981, December 26, Rock Theatre
1982
1982, February 25-27, Reverb Room
1982, April 26-28, The Terminus
Ref: Eph-B-MUSIC-Popular-1982-20. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/49617514
1982, May 21-22, Rumba Bar
Naked Spots Dance are an inspired Wellington band. The steady stream of punters that experienced the new strength of the line-up and the material will testify to that. The new NSD is Martin Fisher (steady pounding drums), Stephen Norris (jangly, airy guitar funk), Kate Walker (3D loping bass lines and shared vocals) and Kathy McRae ( well-mannered’ vocals). The sound is not dissimilar to Delta 5 or Au Pairs. Initially the mix was undiscernible and bottom-biased. It was never satisfactorily rectified. Sad really, because the full effect of David and Allison’s violins, added periodically through the night, was never properly realised. The essence though was a wash of tautness, of stretched nerves a la Velvets, minus any obvious plagiarisms. Not until their fifth song, Secrets’, was true form and commitment shown. NSD music smouldered and smoked, with genuine concern. Considering their performance, their next recording should be a supreme offering. Stefan Morris
1982, July 3, Clyde Quay Tavern
1982, July 30, Cosgroves
Review: RIU, August 1982
1982, August, Marmalade Studios
Recording New.
1982, August 17-18, Cosgroves
1982, August 19, Victoria University Hall
Support for The Fall w/ Riot 111.
1982, November, Rip It Up
RIP IT UP, ISSUE 64, 1 NOVEMBER 1982, PAGE 8
1982, November, New
NSD 2, 12″ EP (Flying Nun) Release of the month. Original progressive music from a Wellington four piece. With a sympathetic production by lan Morris and Chris Fleming, everything is audible, distinct minimalist but powerful. Katherine McRae has a beautiful voice. On ‘Chacha’ her vocals are an enigmatic, almost breathless cipher, skipping over and hooking into dynamic rhythms. All five songs are compelling. This record is equal in quality to the imports you can pay $2O for. Invest.
Rip It Up, Issue 64, 1 November 1982, Page 30
1982, November 12-13, Windsor Castle
1982, December
Katherine McRae leaves NSD.
1983
1983, January
Sweetwaters Festival
1983, February, The Dell
Naked Spots Dance provides live music for Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
1983, March 5, Victoria Uni. Student Union Hall
Nocturnal Projections, Naked Spots Dance, Tin Syndrome
1983, April 2-4, Punikaiki Festival
Naked Spots Dance, Riot 111
1983, April 14-16, Rumba Bar
w/ The Squirm
Flawed this night by loudness and the absence of vocalist Fran Walsh, Naked Spots Dance are still the most original and contemporary band on the New Zealand circuit. Their seamless, sensual songs are composed of instinctive, economic, rhythmic structures. All extraneous matter is left out. The shimmering skeletal form shifts and alters, it’s sort of like listening to a mirage – if beauty is consciousness NSD is the heightened state of.
Rip It Up, Issue 70, 1 May 1983, Page 24
1983, June 30-July 2, Cricketers Arms
Naked Spots Dance +?
1983, July 9, Rock Theatre
Real Quick, Naked Spots Dance, Janet Potiki, John McLeary, Molle Manne
1983, July 16, Cosgroves
Naked Spots Dance, Sleaze with Ease
1983, August, Marmalade Studios
Naked Spots Dance record Falling.
1983, September 10, Majestic Cabaret
Ritz 2 with Miltown Stowaways, Verlaines and Floorman Shuffle.
1983, September 17, Victoria Uni Hall
Rock Against Racism dance. Naked Spots Dance, Ray Mercer Band, Pelicans, Reggae Rockers
1984
1984, Falling
