The Bats are back.
After five long years, the iconic Dunedin indie rockers have released “Loline”, their first official single since 2020’s Foothills.
Robert Scott, Kaye Woodward, Paul Kean, and Malcolm Grant – still the same lineup after a remarkable four decades – bring “Loline” to life, an homage to the beloved New Zealand-made bicycle of the same name.
Directed, filmed, and edited by Martin Sagadin (with support from NZ On Air), the accompanying video features the band cycling through sunny Ōtautahi, including a tandem ride, mixed with live concert footage from the James Hay Theatre. You can check it out below.
Recorded at Chicks Studio in Port Chalmers by Tex Houston, the song comes to life with extra keyboards from local Christchurch instrumentalist Ryan Fisherman.
From the heart of the Dunedin Sound alongside bands like The Chills and The Clean, The Bats’ influence is undeniable. Spanning 40 years, The Bats have released ten albums, packed with Robert Scott’s prolific songwriting. Add in countless singles, b-sides, EPs, and compilations, and they’ve solidified their place as one of Aotearoa’s finest indie acts.
Their last album, Foothills, was recorded in a pop-up studio at Kowai Bush, near Springfield, in the Canterbury foothills. Reflecting on the process, Scott recalled: “Time marches on… finally, we found a gap in our busy lives and chose a week to convene. We found a house that is usually inhabited by ski field workers — Kowai Bush, near Springfield about an hour west of Christchurch and of course nestled in the foothills of the mighty Southern Alps.
“The songs had been written, demo’d and arranged for some time, but still with a little room for trying things out in the studio. Many carloads arrived at the house, full of amps guitars and recording gear, we set up camp and soon made it feel like home; coloured lights, a log fire, and home cooked meals in the kitchen. We worked fast, and within a few days had all the basic backing tracks done, live together in one room, the way we like to do it – it’s all about ‘the feel’ for songs like ours.”
And with the promise of “album number 11 in the pipeline,” there’s plenty more new music on the way.
The Bats’ “Loline” is out now via Flying Nun.
