

The Mutton Birds are one of New Zealand's most underrated art-pop treasures. Led by master songwriter Don McGlashan (previously of Blam Blam Blam and The Front Lawn, and later a successful solo artist), the Auckland group derive remarkable power from jangly guitars, wry lyrical observations and effortless melodies couched within complex arrangements. From startling story-like narratives to clear-eyed love letters, they're especially gifted at tethering everyday lives to profound universal themes—all while making the listener cackle dryly along the way.