Their music blended sharp, rhythmic post-punk drive with shimmering, melodic textures, drawing comparisons to Gang of Four and The Cure. The Birch brothers initially performed as Westown Quintet at the Queen’s Birthday Weekender in June 1980 before renaming themselves Beat Rhythm Fashion.

BRF emerged from Wellington’s first wave of punk and post-punk, centered at venues like Billy The Club, Last Resort and the so-called “Terrace Scene”, which appears in a Chris Knox produced documentary on the capital’s punk community. The Birch brothers appear for a short interview providing cryptic answers to Knox’s questions before declaring “Anarchy is the answer!” and then cutting to a performance of “Not Necessary” in one of the Terrace flat lounges on a sunny afternoon.

“Not Necessary” had been recorded at Sausage Studios in August with new recruit Glen Stewart on drums. Along with “None In The Universe” it was one of two songs by BRF included in Four Stars, a compilation which captured the zeitgeist of Wellington’s punk/post-punk scene, featuring BRF, Wallsockets, Life In The Fridge Exists and Naked Spots Dance. 

Beat Rhythm Fashion’s first public show came on April 3, 1981, at Wellingtonzone. A sold out town hall show organised by members of the Steroids and also featuring The Digits and The Mockers.

“Next up was the long awaited unveiling of Beat Rhythm Fashion. BRF go all out to paint aural pictures, musical evocations of mood and atmosphere, with no concessions to traditional notions of rock as good-time dance music. At last an avant-garde act with the musical chops to deliver the goods.”

Rip It Up, Issue 46, 1 May 1981, Page 18

The band were quickly signed to local label Bunk Records which over the following year released a trio of 7” singles and a live recording of the Wellingtonzone show. Their second single “Turn Of The Century”, released in October, 1981, showcased BRF’s distinctive, ethereal atmosphere with lyrics that tapped into New Zealand’s undercurrents of anxiety at a time of social upheaval. Critics hailed “Turn of the Century” as a masterpiece and BRF as a band to watch.

By late 1981 the band was going through its own disruption with Glen Stewart leaving and being replaced by Caroline Easther, with the new lineup touring the South Island in early 1982. However, Wellington and New Zealand were already looking a little too small to the cosmopolitan Birch brothers. Their final gig took place at Wellington’s Clyde Quay Tavern on July 31 with the band making an ill fated shift to Australia, marking the end of BRF’s initial era.

In 2007 the compilation Bring Real Freedom was released on Rob Mayes label Failsafe Records, bringing together the band’s singles and live recordings and reigniting interest in BRF’s legacy. Tragically, Dan Birch passed away in 2011 leaving Nino to resurrect Beat Rhythm Fashion with Caroline Easther and Rob Mayes on bass, releasing two critically acclaimed albums, Tenterhooks (2019) and Critical Mass (2024) that have continued the band’s tradition of thoughtful, melodic post-punk into a new century.