A two-disc "Slice of Heaven"

When the spring sun streams through the budding trees, I want to listen to music from AUSTRALIA. That music just says "sun" to me.
When spring storms cast the skies in folds of dripping grey and people bundle up despite what the calendar says, I want to listen to music from AOTEAROA.
Yesterday definitely fell into that NEW ZEALAND-style, latter category.
I worked, and my family was stranded by snow at my sister-in-law's house, 208 miles away.
To brighten my dark mood, I listened to a great, two-disc compilation of NEW ZEALAND music -- "25 YEARS OF KIWI ROCK."
Here are some of just a few of the artists that highlight the compilation:
Ray Columbus & The Invaders – Pop group who scored a No. 1 hit in New Zealand and Australia with “She’s a Mod” in 1964.
Shane – England-born Trevor “Shane” Hales sang on the NZBC-TV show “C’Mon” in the 1960s. His song, “ Saint Paul ,” was based on rumors of Paul McCartney’s death.
Dragon – Auckland band who relocated to Sydney in 1975. ARIA Hall of Fame inductees with 15 Top-40 hits in Australia .
Jon Stevens – Singer with some solo success before he fronted Sydney band Noiseworks. He sang for INXS following the death of Michael Hutchence.
Coconut Rough – Band formed when singer Andrew Snoid left the Swingers. “ Sierra Leone ” reached the New Zealand Top 5 in 1983.
Netherworld Dancing Toys – Dunedin band whose single “For Today” reached No. 3 on the New Zealand charts in 1985 and entered popular culture when it was used in an advertisement for New Zealand Post.
Dave Dobbyn – Leader of Th’Dudes and DD Smash whose signature solo song “Slice of Heaven” featured in Australian television advertisements encouraging travel to New Zealand .
Fan Club – Band fronted by Malaysian singer Wan Aishah binti Wan Ariffin when she was studying in New Zealand during the late 1980s.
It's all great stuff, with some Split Enz songs thrown into the mix as well.
It couldn't compensate for a missing family and an A.W.O.L. sun, but it was fun listening.