The Clean's Boodle Boodle Boodle

In this critical appraisal of The Clean's landmark release, Boodle Boodle Boodle, Geoff Stahl explores how the album impacted the emergence of a new DIY scene alongside a retrospective on the role The Clean played in shaping New Zealand's independent music industry.

The Clean's 1981 album was a catalyst for independent music in Aotearoa/New Zealand and served as an anchor for the "Dunedin Sound" phenomenon. Willingly or not, The Clean became ambassadors for a burgeoning independent music culture, drawing upon the DIY spirit of punk and post-punk that was centred around Dunedin, on New Zealand's South Island. Geoff Stahl considers the influence and impact of the EP and band on the music industry as seen through local and international musicians, with a focus on Flying Nun Record. He also examines of how their legendary appeal has more recently informed various archival initiatives that aim to preserve its legacy.