Space Waltz (LP)

Originally released in 1975, this ground-breaking New Zealand album is reissued on CD and vinyl.

Head of Otago University's Performing Arts Programme, Dr Ian Chapman (aka Dr Glam) will simultaneously release his book on Space Waltz, commissioned by Bloomsbury Publishers in London as part of their notable '33 1/3' series on 'significant albums'.

Chapman writes, "to this day Riddell and Space Waltz epitomize the mid-1970's heyday of glam rock in New Zealand. But in truth their impact went far beyond this. Their generationally divisive nation-wide debut on the hugely popular television talent quest Studio One/New Faces demonstrated the power of mass media exposure - they were instantly signed to a record deal with industry giant EMI - while Riddell's controversial gender bending image provided a cultural crossroads that greatly impacted the wider youth culture of Aotearoa…Watching at home, every pair of eyes in the country grew wide and remained firmly focused upon Riddell. They were confronted by a flamboyantly dressed glam-esque rocker who primped, preened, strutted, and posed with a performative style never before seen from a local lad. More akin to the theatrical performance style of Marc Bolan (T Rex) and David Bowie (well before his Ziggy Stardust era), this was a culture-shock moment in the extreme. Truly, things would never be the same".