Kora
Brothers Francis, Laughton, Stuart and Brad Kora formed Kora in 2002, with "token white dude" Dan McGruer. Originally from Whakatāne, some of the Koras had played with high school band Aunty Beatrice, which won Rockquest in 1991. Melding reggae, rock, dub, roots, funk and vocal harmonies, Kora released an EP in 2004. Their self-titled debut album entered the charts at number 1 in 2007; 2012's Light Years won acclaim. UK electronic act Cabaret Voltaire released an EP of remixes. Brad and Laughton left Kora in 2013, and formed L.A.B; later Laughton joined Kinetic. Francis also sings in the Modern Māori Quartet.
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Skankenstein
Martial arts, levitating heroes and mysterious asteroids all feature in this animated mini-epic. The superhero stylings meld well with this keyboard-driven Kora track, which has been sweetened with a range of sound effects to help its superheroes take flight. The band of heroes — far-flung brothers, not unlike Kora — join forces to face off against an approaching asteroid. Though various hands are in the mix, the look of the heroes was originated by local artists Damon and Kieran Oats, who created a special comic book to accompany the chart-topping Kora CD.
Flow
Kora’s formation in Wellington in 2002 saw them associated with the city’s burgeoning dub-roots scene, but the Whakatāne brothers’ music mix also extends to elements of funk, soul, rock, house and metal. That genre-defying diversity is in evidence on this track from their debut album, as a relaxed reggae intro gives way to stomping electronica-tinged funk rock. This performance video shot in Auckland at AUT’s Vesbar captures the band in their live element, complete with a crowd-pleasing freeze that turns them into a 3D tableau, and strobe-lit climax.