The Sampler's Nick Bollinger is on hiatus for six months while he writes a book, so RNZ Music has a brand new music podcast. Song Crush, hosted by audio obsessive Kirsten Johnstone, brings you the best new music every week.

In the final Sampler for 2018 Nick Bollinger revisits a few of the standout releases from the past 12 months.

Nick Bollinger surveys some of the outstanding international sounds of the past 12 months.

Nick Bollinger revisits some his favourite local sounds of 2018.

Nick Bollinger asseses the impact of new love, parenthood and a move to Nashville on the music of Phosphorescent's Matthew Houck.

Nick Bollinger lends an ear to the science-fiction, folk and electronica of Jane Weaver.

Nick Bollinger explores the space-fixated sounds of Alabama outsider artist Lonnie Holley.

This week in The Sampler Nick Bollinger explores the music of sci-fi folkie Jane Weaver, the cosmic obsessions of Alabama outsider artist Lonnie Holley, and asseses the impact of new love, parenthood and a move to Nashville on Phosphorescent's Matthew Houck.

Elliot Childs and Kirsten Johnstone discuss the dystopian second album from Auckland quartet Yoko-Zuna.

Elliott Childs reviews the new album from genre bending Canadian hardcore-punk band F'd Up

Elliott Childs reviews the new album from genre bending Canadian hardcore-punk band F'd Up, Kirsten Johnstone reviews I Need To Start A Garden by Portland-based songwriter Haley Heynderickx and Kirsten and Elliott discuss the second album from Auckland base quartet Yoko-Zuna.

Kirsten Johnstone reviews I Need To Start A Garden, the debut album from Portland-based songwriter Haley Heynderickx, who investigates self-doubt, religious doubt and existentialism, but with a good dose of wry humour, and plenty of creepy crawlies.

Chicago country stalwart Robbie Fulks and Louisiana piano pounder Linda Gail Lewis team up for a rambunctious set of duets.

Kentucky singer-songwriter Tyler Childers tours here next year with John Prine. Nick Bollinger caught up with him in a Minneapolis carpark.

Nick Bollinger discusses an album that looks at the state of American Dream, circa 1968.

Nick Bollinger discusses a fiery collision between Chicago country stalwart Robbie Fulks and Louisiana piano pounder Linda Gail Lewis, a set of songs that consider the state of the union circa 1968;, and speaks to Kenducky songwriter Tyler Childers about purgatory, pot and the POTUS.

The Beatles 'White Album' is 50 years old and there's a new 6-disc edition to mark the occasion. Nick Bollinger takes a deep dive.

Nick Bollinger discusses the spine-tingling harmonies and modern-day field recordings of vocal trio Mountain Man.

Bob Dylan's Blood On The Tracks is one of the most celebrated albums in popular music. An exhaustive new 6-disc set lets us sit in on its construction.

Nick Bollinger discusses the spine-tingling harmonies and modern-day field recordings of Mountain Man, and a revealing 6-disc document of the sessions that produced Bob Dylan's Blood On The Tracks.

Nick Bollinger finds something familiar and something different in the latest album from The Changing Same.

Connan Mockasin offers a companion album to his dodgy-sounding movie melodrama. Nick Bollinger has a listen.

Nick Bollinger reviews a dance set from Julien Dyne; a companion album to a dodgy-soundingmelodrama from Connan Mockasin; and the familiar-yet-different sound of The Changing Same.

Julien Dyne knows how to make the people dance, as Nick Bollinger discovers.

Nick Bollinger pays attention to an acoustic set from Kiwi bluesman Darren Watson.