Blab Music
Office Dog Releases Prime Corner on Flying Nun, Announces New Zealand Tour
Office Dog’s second full‑length album, Prime Corner, was released on 19 June 2026 through Flying Nun Records. The New Zealand trio—Kane Strang (vocals, guitar), Rassani Tolovaa (bass), and Mitchell Innes (drums)—recorded the 11‑track set at Roundhead Studios in Auckland, with production, engineering and mixing handled by De Stevens.
The album blends the band’s signature indie‑alternative sound with elements of post‑punk, noise pop and a touch of lo‑fi sparkle. Reviewers note that Prime Corner contains both the heaviest and the softest material the group has produced to date, and that the songs explore the tension between everyday routine and the hesitation that can hold people back.
According to the track‑by‑track write‑up on the band’s website, the opening track, “Front Row Seat,” was conceived as a fast, fun song that mirrors the energy of the band’s earlier single “Big Air.” The second track, “Futures,” features discordant chords that the band struggled to balance with vocal melodies, a process that took several hours of rehearsal.
“Reins” was initially considered an outlier because of its big chorus, but the band grew to favour it and it became a single. The track’s video was produced by Sophie Black and Pepe De Hoyos, who assembled a crew of stunt performers and actors.
“Permanent Day” began as a voice memo titled “ice skating” that Strang recorded while house‑sitting in West Auckland. The song captures the memory of skating on ice and the feeling of staying present in a fleeting moment.
“Slowing to a Walk” was written after the band’s drummer, Mitchell Innes, stepped in for a friend’s piano shop in Dunedin. The track’s heavier sound was a deliberate contrast to the lighter material recorded earlier in the album.
“Lesson” reflects the chaotic atmosphere of Dunedin after a gig, while “Homemade Canyon” explores the idea of being alone together. The band kept the arrangement minimal, staying true to their rule of adding extra instrumentation only when it was essential.
“Dirt” was recorded in an Elliot Smith‑style approach, with Strang playing and singing simultaneously. De Stevens joined him on keys for the first take, a first for the trio.
“Gold Things” was written in Central Otago and features open tunings inspired by Thurston Moore’s album Demolished Thought. The track’s title reflects the idea of finally achieving something that had been desired for a long time.
“Everywhere Song” is an instrumental that the band created while Strang was working on a short film soundtrack for Sophie Black.
The title track, “Prime Corner,” was named after a real‑estate sign Strang saw in the United States. He described the phrase as a place of clarity and acceptance, and the song’s arrangement reflects that sense of calm.
The album was made available on multiple platforms, including Bandcamp, Apple Music and Spotify. It has been highlighted by several local media outlets: Muzic.NZ called it a “mixed bag” that showcases the band’s range, while 95 bFM named it its Breakfast Album of the Week.
Following the release, Office Dog will tour New Zealand in September. The dates are:
4 September – Double Whammy, Auckland 5 September – Great Sounds Great festival, Wellington 11 September – The Crown Hotel, Dunedin 12 September – Lyttelton Coffee Company, Christchurch
Tickets are sold through UTR and the festival’s own site.
The album’s release and tour come after the band’s busy European run, which included appearances at The Great Escape, Dot to Dot Festival and headline dates in Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Paris, Berlin and London.
Prime Corner adds to Flying Nun’s catalog of influential New Zealand releases and reinforces the label’s reputation for supporting artists that push the boundaries of indie rock. The band’s continued collaboration with Roundhead Studios and producer De Stevens suggests a strong creative partnership that will likely shape future releases.
As of now, the album has not entered any major international charts, but it has already received positive coverage from local critics and a growing fan base on streaming platforms. The upcoming tour will provide the band with a chance to perform the new material live and to strengthen their presence across the country.
The next step for Office Dog will be to monitor streaming performance and to engage with audiences during the September tour. No further releases or label announcements have been confirmed beyond the tour schedule.
The album blends the band’s signature indie‑alternative sound with elements of post‑punk, noise pop and a touch of lo‑fi sparkle. Reviewers note that Prime Corner contains both the heaviest and the softest material the group has produced to date, and that the songs explore the tension between everyday routine and the hesitation that can hold people back.
According to the track‑by‑track write‑up on the band’s website, the opening track, “Front Row Seat,” was conceived as a fast, fun song that mirrors the energy of the band’s earlier single “Big Air.” The second track, “Futures,” features discordant chords that the band struggled to balance with vocal melodies, a process that took several hours of rehearsal.
“Reins” was initially considered an outlier because of its big chorus, but the band grew to favour it and it became a single. The track’s video was produced by Sophie Black and Pepe De Hoyos, who assembled a crew of stunt performers and actors.
“Permanent Day” began as a voice memo titled “ice skating” that Strang recorded while house‑sitting in West Auckland. The song captures the memory of skating on ice and the feeling of staying present in a fleeting moment.
“Slowing to a Walk” was written after the band’s drummer, Mitchell Innes, stepped in for a friend’s piano shop in Dunedin. The track’s heavier sound was a deliberate contrast to the lighter material recorded earlier in the album.
“Lesson” reflects the chaotic atmosphere of Dunedin after a gig, while “Homemade Canyon” explores the idea of being alone together. The band kept the arrangement minimal, staying true to their rule of adding extra instrumentation only when it was essential.
“Dirt” was recorded in an Elliot Smith‑style approach, with Strang playing and singing simultaneously. De Stevens joined him on keys for the first take, a first for the trio.
“Gold Things” was written in Central Otago and features open tunings inspired by Thurston Moore’s album Demolished Thought. The track’s title reflects the idea of finally achieving something that had been desired for a long time.
“Everywhere Song” is an instrumental that the band created while Strang was working on a short film soundtrack for Sophie Black.
The title track, “Prime Corner,” was named after a real‑estate sign Strang saw in the United States. He described the phrase as a place of clarity and acceptance, and the song’s arrangement reflects that sense of calm.
The album was made available on multiple platforms, including Bandcamp, Apple Music and Spotify. It has been highlighted by several local media outlets: Muzic.NZ called it a “mixed bag” that showcases the band’s range, while 95 bFM named it its Breakfast Album of the Week.
Following the release, Office Dog will tour New Zealand in September. The dates are:
4 September – Double Whammy, Auckland 5 September – Great Sounds Great festival, Wellington 11 September – The Crown Hotel, Dunedin 12 September – Lyttelton Coffee Company, Christchurch
Tickets are sold through UTR and the festival’s own site.
The album’s release and tour come after the band’s busy European run, which included appearances at The Great Escape, Dot to Dot Festival and headline dates in Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Paris, Berlin and London.
Prime Corner adds to Flying Nun’s catalog of influential New Zealand releases and reinforces the label’s reputation for supporting artists that push the boundaries of indie rock. The band’s continued collaboration with Roundhead Studios and producer De Stevens suggests a strong creative partnership that will likely shape future releases.
As of now, the album has not entered any major international charts, but it has already received positive coverage from local critics and a growing fan base on streaming platforms. The upcoming tour will provide the band with a chance to perform the new material live and to strengthen their presence across the country.
The next step for Office Dog will be to monitor streaming performance and to engage with audiences during the September tour. No further releases or label announcements have been confirmed beyond the tour schedule.
