Tim Mahon is a true musical pioneer – and he's not one to stay still for long.

As the former bass player of The Plague (1978-1979), The Whizz Kids (1979-1980), and Blam Blam Blam (1980-1982), he's been an integral part of these highly influential Aotearoa bands.

Behind the scenes, Mahon has also been involved with a number of initiatives which have had a long-lasting impact. He became the project manager at the Otara Music Arts Centre (OMAC) in 1987, where he got local band Bamboo signed to PolyGram, and to open the BB King/U2 show at Western Springs.

While at OMAC, another enterprise of Mahon's was setting up a Performing Arts Award (now known as Stand Up Stand Out or “Suso”) while making the connections that would lead to the release of the groundbreaking compilation Proud: An Urban Pacific Streetsoul Compilation, and its follow-up national tour. (There's so much more to tell, you can read Alan Perrott's story about OMAC on AudioCulture).

Now Tim Mahon is about to release an album, The Great Kerfuffle, with a great team around him, also known as The Great Kerfuffle. His top-notch band features members of Ardijah and Bamboo, O.M.C., Newmatics and Blam Blam Blam.

'Vote' is the first single from The Great Kerfuffle, and it comes at a good time, being 6 months (minus 5 days) from the General Election.

At a time where every man and his dog are reforming and providing nostalgia, Mahon is presenting new music, with relevance to the interesting times we live in.

From plucking the bass harmonics on the seminal track 'There is No Depression' in New Zealand, his new music is in keeping with the anarchistic revolutionary themes he has long espoused. The lyrics will challenge you, but the music will hug you like an old friend you danced with at The Gluepot, The Windsor Castle, Mainstreet, The Gladstone, or The Cook.

Tim Mahon says, "This record was composed and tracked on a Korg 3200, 32 track digital hard drive – old technology but very functional. The wave files were then exported for Michael Nielsen to mix using Logic. Paul Streekstra produced two tracks in this way also. Fresh Northerly and I’m OK. RIP Paul…"

This is Mahon's second solo album. His first, Music From a Lightbulb, was recorded under the name The Moth. Released in 2002, and written with Peter Van Gent, it featured Mark Bell, Ivan Zagni and Don McGlashan.

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Listen to Vote here

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The Great Kerfuffle Band:

Tim Mahon: Bass, Guitar, Voice.

Sina Saipaia (O.M.C.): Backing vocals

Teina Benioni (Ardijah, Bamboo): Guitar on various tracks

Mark Bell (Blam Blam Blam): Guitar on 'Quite Nice'

Brent Pasley (Newmatics): Guitar on 'Quite Nice'

Engineered and Produced by Paul Streekstra (R.I.P.) on 'Fresh Northerly' and 'I’m Ok'.

Mike Nielsen all other tracks.