Unnatural Immunity, released 6 December, 2024, leans heavily into the post-punk/new wave era (think 1978 to 1984), mixing Anecdata’s usual razor-sharp fuzz guitars and satirical lyrics with pulsing basses, vocoders and analogue synths.

The title track sticks the needle into antivaxxers, with lyrics that could be mistaken for prophecy – written entirely *before* the pandemic was declared, in February 2020.

‘Book of Facts’ melds ’90s power-chord guitars and a Manics-sized chorus with driving ’80s drums and Ultravox/New Order keys; ‘Light of the Moon’ takes Pulp’s ‘Disco 2000’ back in time 20 years, and forward just as many; while ‘Pepsi Helicopter’ is the true story of an X-Files era UFO sighting in Hamilton, New Zealand. 

‘Smart Deco’ (originally titled ‘Art Devo’ until the legendary band released a box set of the same name, no joke) is about a timely trip to Napier before the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle.