Books to read, television to bingewatch, music to dance to and podcasts to fill your spare time this month.

Bingewatching

The New Look: Ben Mendelsohn and Juliette Binoche star as Christian Dior and Coco Chanel in this Apple TV series examining the advent of modern fashion in a Europe still scarred by the horrors of World War 2. While the series centres on Dior and the genesis of his famous "New Look", the lives and work of Coco Chanel, Pierre Balmain and Cristóbal Balenciaga also feature. A must for you fashionistas out there.

One Day: Based on the 2011 film of the same name, each episode of this Netflix series revisits Emma and Dexter on the same day every year from 1998 to the early 2000s. “By turns giddy and sombre but always swooningly romantic” is the consensus of the critics. Best viewed with friends and a box of tissues.

Curb Your Enthusiasm: This is it, the last series from HBO of Larry David’s always excruciating vignettes of the interactions and social norms of Los Angeles’ smart set. If you haven’t seen it before, expect toe-curling embarrassment and a feeling your life is OK after all. As for Larry, he’s looking forward to releasing his inner ‘nice’.

Listening

Thunder In Fall – Greg Johnson: The L.A-based Kiwi singer-songwriter returns with his 13^th studio album, this one built around five main elements – an old piano, an analogue synth, a classic 808 drum machine, trumpet and voices. Greg is touring the new album in March and will perform at The Piano in Christchurch on 22 March.

King Perry – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry: Death was never going to silence the irrepressible King of Dub and to prove it, here is his first posthumous album. The collection of songs, pieced together by producer Daniel Boyle, captures the broad range of Perry’s dub and trip-hop magic. You don’t need to be a Lee Perry completist to want this in your ears. A fitting part of the master’s legacy.

Coming Home – Usher: Released two days before his Super Bowl half-time gig, this is Usher’s first studio album in six years and marks something of a comeback for the R&B star. Tapping into a stream of new talent, the album features collabs with Burna Boy, Summer Walker, 21 Savage, Latto, The-Dream, H.E.R., Pheelz, and Jungkook.

Reading

Still Standing: A memoir – Anna Crighton: A staunch defender of what Gerry Brownlee labelled the city’s “old dungers”, Dame Anna Crighton has been at the forefront of heritage protection in Christchurch long before the earthquakes struck. Here is the story behind Anna’s public persona, of a loveless childhood, a wild adolescence, a violent marriage and the enduring spirit that enabled her to rise above all that.

Continuous Ferment: A History of Beer and Brewing in New Zealand – Greg Ryan: Historian Greg Ryan has turned away from his previous rugby focus to examine the story of beer in Aotearoa. Will he complete the Kiwi cultural trifecta with racing as his next subject? This book is a treasure trove for everyone from lovers of social history to those with a taste for the golden suds. Best read with a pint of IPA on the side.

Pounamu Treasures – Russell Beck, Maika Mason & Andris Apse: In this celebration of New Zealand jade, pounamu specialists Russell Beck and Maika Mason provide detailed descriptions of both historical and contemporary objects, including information on varieties and source, Māori names, size and age, usage and history – all complemented by the exquisite photography of Andris Apse.

Podcasts

NZ Electric Vehicle Podcast: The home of everything EV in NZ – cars, solar power, e-bikes, autonomous vehicles and sustainability. EV enthusiasts Dee West and Theo Gibson bring you the latest news, rumours and more.

Lore: Love a good urban myth, unsolved murder or slice of real-life horror? This one’s for you. Be warned though – some of these are genuinely scary and not recommended before bedtime.