Category: Album Reviews

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Home Movies” – Kevin Dolan

After hearing Kevin Dolan’s song “Modern Times” a week ago, I couldn’t wait to listen to EP it was lifted from, Home Movies. I’ve played it twice this morning, and it’s proven to be just the music I needed to hear to wind down on a Friday.

Actually, it’s just the sort of music I like to hear at any time. This six-track collection has everything I loved about the single but that bit more. You can enjoy a song on its own for what it is, but when you hear an EP like this you start feeling like you’re getting to know the artist.

As you might expect from an EP penned by an Irishman living in Australia, themes of displacement and longing run through Home Movies. Beautiful songs like “Gone” and the EP’s closer “The Station,” in which Kevin sings with only his acoustic guitar as support, really resonated with me. But there’s a much cheekier side to his music too which he showcases on the Gaelic blues track “Fairytale Blues #3.” I’m not quite sure how the musical influences of this song marry so well, but he manages to pull it off.

Home Movies is real, raw, and beautiful. Kevin Dolan’s husky voice isn’t perfect, but his flaws make this recording feel that much more honest and compelling. He’s a storyteller, the kind of artist we don’t hear enough of these days. Home Movies is a wonderful introduction to his music.

Home Movies is available on November 1. Kevin Dolan will support it with a show at Melbourne’s Bar Open on November 15.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Preparing for Flight” – Dan Flynn and the State of Things

Melbourne singer-songwriter Dan Flynn has shed the Major Chord moniker behind and joined new outfit, the State of Things. They’ve just released a new album called Preparing for Flight.

From the opening number “Heavy Lies the Crown,” where he sings “Come walk with me,” Dan Flynn invites listeners into his world, and I followed gladly. I felt hypnotised by his rich soothing voice and the gentle acoustic guitars that anchored each song. I loved the organic arrangements, and fell for the way his voice harmonises with Meabh Friel. The gentle, folky sounds of this album were just what I needed to hear on this lazy Sunday.

But then I realised there was a little more going on that I’d first thought. While listening to sweet songs where Dan compares someone’s love to a “Blanket in the Snow” and creates beautiful mental images of “Sunny Autumn Weather,” it’s easy to miss the darker underbelly of much of Dan’s music. It’s not long before the sunny autumn weather turns stormy. “Apocalyptic Love Song” might sound as sweet and tender as any romantic ditty, but the end of days setting makes it very different from any other love song. “The State of Things” takes us out of our immediate frustrations to explore some of today’s most pressing social and environmental issues.

Preparing for Flight might sound on the surface like so much mellow folk music, but delve a little deeper and you’ll find songs which aren’t afraid to explore the shadows. It gets richer with each and every listen.

Preparing for Flight is available now from most digital outlets. If you’d prefer a physical copy, you can order yours through Dan Flynn’s Bandcamp page.

Image used with permission from Dan Flynn

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Chords” – Tim Guy

Tim Guy’s fifth studio album has been a long time coming. I reviewed one of its singles, “St Petersburg” way back in June. However the album Chords drops today and it’s been worth the wait.

The first thing that struck me was how easy Chords is to listen to. On my first listen I didn’t even take any notes because I was too busy enjoying it. The Soundcloud link I received tagged it as pop, country rock, and folk rock, which gives you an idea of the album’s diversity. But there’s a lovely warm organic quality to all the songs that helps unify them.

It was so great to hear “St Petersburg” again. I enjoy it as much as I did when I wrote about it all those months ago. The alt-country feel and story behind the lyrics of “The Rambler” really sucked me in. “Electric Heart” is another highlight, with its slide guitar and clap-along rhythm. The retro feel of “Mixed Up Mind” and funky disco-esque groove of “It’s the Weekend!” add more colour to an already eclectic album.

As I mentioned, this is Tim’s fifth studio effort, and that experience anchors this recording. He approaches every song with confidence, no matter what genre he’s flirting with. This is an accomplished effort from one of Australia’s real unsung talents.

Chords is available now from Tim Guy’s Bandcamp page. He’ll play the following launch shows to support its release.

11 November 2015 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
25 November 2015 – Crown & Sceptre, Adelaide
5 December 2015 – Bearded Tit, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Limbo” – Bad Pony

I’ve had one of those mornings where I’ve spent time chasing my tail answering emails which forced me to go back to work that I thought was behind me. It’s only just gone 9, but I feel like I’ve lost the head start I needed to get the mountain of work I have waiting for me under control.

In amongst the frustration, I thought it would be the perfect time to listen to Bad Pony’s Limbo EP. Every one of the singles I’d listened to put a smile on my face, so I hoped it might temper some of the aggravation I felt.

This five-track EP showed me that Bad Pony are much more than the party band I’d pegged them as. The EP leads with the singles, “Michael Moore,” “Down to You,” and “White Russian.” Listening to them all together like this was a wonderful reminder of just how much I’m digging this band. But then the EP takes a turn and shows Bad Pony can do darkness just as well. The title track “Limbo” is so poignant. The delicate first verse, before the guitars kick in, took my breath away, but it builds beautifully after that. This is a song that packs a real emotional punch. The desperation of closing track “Guard Down” really struck a nerve on this morning where I’m feeling less than chipper.

I liked what I knew of Bad Pony, but the Limbo EP has turned that like to love. It’s a lovely little taster of what this band is all about that has me hanging out for more.

Bad Pony are currently touring the EP all around the East Coast. Here are the places you can still see them play.

16 October 2015 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
17 October 2015 – The Farm, Byron Bay
18 October 2015 – Sounds of Sunday @ Broadbeach Tavern, Gold Coast
6 November 2015 – Moonshine Bar, Manly
19-22 November 2015 – Australian Music Week, Cronulla
28 November 2015 – The Roxbury Hotel, Glebe
4 December 2015 – The Pier, Port Macquarie
5 December 2015 – The Small Ballroom, Newcastle
31 December 2015 – New Year’s Eve, Sydney Harbour

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“That Low and Lonesome Sound” – Garrett Kato

I’d hoped with the unseasonally warm weather we’ve been experiencing, I might have seen the last of the colds that have plagued me this winter. However, it seems there was one left in the season, as I’m sitting here congested, achy, and generally feeling miserable. When I feel this way, I look for the musical equivalent of chicken soup. Something nourishing, soothing, and mellow. I found just what I was looking for in That Low and Lonesome Sound, the latest album from Garrett Kato.

Garrett was born in Canada, but he relocated to Byron Bay when he was 23 so I think we can officially claim him as our own now. That’s a good thing too, because his album is one of those ones I really want to write about.

It couldn’t help but note similarities between the music Garrett makes and that of his current touring mate and fellow Byron resident Pete Murray. Perhaps there’s something in the water, because both artists have a similar low-key grooviness about them, and husky, hypnotic vocals. Garrett seems a little more willing to play with genre though, which I find really exciting. I loved the psychedelic touch in “Trouble Will Find Me,” and the folky stillness of “Arkansas.” The intimacy of “More Than Love” really struck me. The closing track “I Wonder Why,” a poignant duet, was the cherry on top of a stunning album.

I listened to That Low and Lonesome Sound in my lounge room, but I really want to take it outside my home and whack it on my car stereo. It feels like the perfect driving soundtrack, a collection of songs that are mellow, organic, with driving drum beats designed to get you to your destination.

That Low and Lonesome Sound is available now. You can see Garrett Kato supporting Pete Murray at venues all around Australia through October, November, and December.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Inner Western” – Dan Lethbridge

When I receive an album for review, I always try to give the whole thing at least one spin. I know that it might take time for the music to gel with me, and that the first songs aren’t always the ones I connect with. This morning, while listening to Inner Western, the new album from Dan Lethbridge, I was really glad of the policy.

The album opens with a single, “It All Will Start To Splinter.” Opening with a single is usually a great way to hook a listener in. However, while I appreciated the poetry of the lyrics, it just didn’t click for me. I enjoyed the more melodic alt-country tracks that followed, but I still wasn’t hooked. Then I heard “Wait Another Day.” It’s one of those songs that stops you in your tracks. With gentle violins and such tenderness, that was the song that got me.

After hearing “Wait Another Day” I figured it was worth giving Inner Western another listen. I found I appreciated the tracks that much more. I responded to the romantic warmth of “I Want You With Me.” “Everybody Says,” a dreamy duet with The Audreys’ Taasha Coates is another standout. The old school jazz club vibe of the closing track “Do No Harm” is also really special.

Dan has a real knack for storytelling through his songs. They’re not the most polished pieces, and his voice isn’t the strongest, but there’s a great beauty in his words that really resonated with me. The simple music arrangements punctuated by a slide guitar here, some strings there, support the songs beautifully.

Inner Western might be a slow burner, but it’s an album which rewards the patient listener. Dan Lethbridge will treat hometown fans to its songs at the Melbourne launch at Shadow Electric on October 10.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Change Colours” – Reece Mastin

I’ve watched the career of Reece Mastin with some interest since he burst onto the music scene through The X Factor in 2011. I always regarded him as one of our more interesting winners, a kid who seemed more at home taking on the classic rock of Aerosmith or subverting modern pop gems like “I Kissed a Girl” than making music for the masses. Yet when he took out the title he started to release the musical equivalent of McDonalds. It sold well – you can’t deny the appeal of his number one singles – but it was ultimately unsatisfying. I couldn’t help but wonder whether Reece was making the music he wanted to make or what the record company wanted him to do to appeal to tweens and teens.

2015 seems to be the dawn of a new age for Reece Mastin. He split with Sony and signed a deal with independent label Social Family Records. He enlisted soulful singer Mahalia Barnes as his manager and began hanging out with her dad and Aussie music royalty Jimmy Barnes. And he recorded Change Colours, which is the album I always knew he had in him.

The opening track “Lockdown” announces the new direction beautifully. The music hits hard; it’s an epic, emotional rock number with an old-school soul twist. Jimmy’s influence is obvious in songs like this, “Right Out of Me,” and “You Gotta Go,” which features Mr Barnes doing “backup vocals” as only Barnesy can. Songs like “You Could Be Wild” and “I Don’t Love You Anymore” show Reece still has a snack for creating a hit, but his heartfelt delivery gives them more emotional punch than his other commercial hits. You can tell he really believes in these songs. The sexy blues influenced “Caged Paradise” is another highlight. “Even Angels Cry” shows Reece at his most stripped back, and it’s wonderful. It’s already become a fan favourite, after being voted the next single by Reece’s Twitter fans. The final number and title track “Change Colours” is one of the album’s darkest songs and one of its quietest, but perhaps its most powerful.

Change Colours isn’t like the other Reece Mastin albums, and that’s exactly why it’s so special. It showcases the work of a young artist that is releasing music he believes in, perhaps for the first time. If you’ve dismissed him as just another reality show winner, it’s probably time to rethink your stance.

Change Colours hits stores on October 9. Reece will support its release with the following instores all around the country.

9 October 2015 – World Square, Sydney (5 pm)
10 October 2015 – Stockland Wetherill Park, Sydney (11 am)
11 October 2015 – The Pines, Doncaster East, Melbourne (10:30 am)
11 October 2015 – Stockland Wendouree, Ballarat (2 pm)
13 October 2015 – Brookfield Place, Perth (4 pm)
14 October 2015 – St Mary’s Sound, St Mary’s (4 pm)
15 October 2015 – Stockland Shellharbour, Wollongong (6 pm)
17 October 2015 – Stockland Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast (10:30 am)
17 October 2015 – Brookside Centre, Brisbane (2 pm)
18 October 2015 – Sanity Hinkler Central, Bundaberg (2:30 pm)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Til Night Meets the Sun” – Loren Kate

After being so impressed with “When You Leave” last week, I couldn’t wait to hear the rest of Loren Kate’s EP Til Night Meets the Sun. My expectations were high considering the strength of the single, but this recording is truly something special.

The opening track “Silver and Gold” sets the scene a deeply personal country-folk number that shares memories of Loren’s childhood. The stories continue with “This Heart of Mine,” a poignant song about moving on after heartache. “Rollin’ Wheel” is a powerful glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes of a relationship on the brink of separation. Its emotions are palpable. “When You Leave” was already familiar to me, and I’m still in love with it. It feels like it belongs here. So often singles stand head and shoulders above the other tracks; they’re the obviously commercial choice that everyone loves. But that doesn’t happen here, due to the strength of this entire EP. After remembering the past on “Silver and Gold,” it makes sense to look forward with the EP’s title track and its closing number, “Til Night Meets the Sun.” It’s got a real quiet strength about it as Loren talks about her resolve for the future.

I love the organic arrangements of these songs. With acoustic guitars and violins the songs sound warm but understated. They give the tracks space to breathe, ensuring we can hear every lyric. As we should when an artist spins such gorgeous stories. There are no frills or tricks here. I imagine the songs would sound the same if we heard Loren jamming with friends at a party, or on the stage of some intimate Australian pub. Remember, you can do just that when she travels around the country on her EP tour next month.

Til Night Meets the Sun will be available on October 9.

Image source: Soundcloud

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“In Purple” – Ocean Alley

I hear an awful lot of music in my line of work, so when something different hits my inbox my ears prick up. That’s why I’m really responding to Ocean Alley and their sophomore EP In Purple.

They first caught my attention with the recent single “Muddy Water,” the final track of the EP. This strong track makes the ideal closer to this six-track collection, but there’s plenty to delight before it hits.

“Muddy Water” had a surf rock sound which only hinted at reggae and psychedelic sounds. They’re much more prominent on the other tracks, and I don’t just mean because one’s called “Space Goat” (despite seemingly having little to do with livestock). The songs are full of sexy grooves and infectious hooks. I appreciate party songs like “Twisted” and “Those Daze” most, but couldn’t help appreciating the daring of the epic “Sleepwalking.”

In Purple is a little rough around the edges, but I think its rawness is endearing. It adds a sense of authenticity that’s missing in many more polished recordings. Ocean Alley are currently touring the EP around the country. You can catch them at the following venues.

17 September 2015 – The Brightside, Brisbane
19 September 2015 – Great Northern, Byron Bay (FREE)
20 September 2015 – Sounds of Sunday, Gold Coast (FREE)
25 September 2015 – Uni Bar, Wollongong
2 October 2015 – The Evelyn, Melbourne
15 October 2015 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Stories” – At the Dakota

I rarely hear music coming out of the Northern Territory. I’m not sure whether that’s because there aren’t enough musicians up there, or because they just don’t filter down to us here in the southern states. But either way, I’m really glad I have been able to listen to one of the few bands bucking the trend, At the Dakota. This Northern Territory outfit have just released their debut EP Stories, and it’s one of the coolest recordings I’ve heard in some time.

It opens with “Peach Hat,” a summery, breezy song with rapid-fire vocals. I instantly warmed to its cool quirkiness. “Jonestown” showcases a mellower side of At the Dakota. I love its sexy blues groove. The title track “Stories” is another solid indie pop ditty, with some of the EP’s best lyrics. The EP closes with “Stumptail,” which won the People’s Choice – NT Song of the Year 2015. I can understand why. It’s got some of the most impassioned vocals on the EP, and a great sing-along chorus.

At the Dakota have a great energy, with a fantastic pop sensibility that never strays into the predictable. In just four songs they’ve won me over.

Stories is out now. To celebrate its release, At the Dakota are touring around the country next month. Catch them at the following venues.

1 October 2015 – Darwin Railway Club, Darwin
2 October 2015 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane
3 October 2015 – Shamrock Hotel, Toowoomba
9 October 2015 – Grace Darling Hotel, Melbourne
17 October 2015 – Hotel Metropolitan, Adelaide
23 October 2015 – Four5Nine Bar, Perth
24 October 2015 – The Prince of Wales, Bunbury
31 October 2015 – Epilogue Lounge, Alice Springs
13 November 2015 – Discovery Darwin, Darwin (supporting The Rubens)

Image used with permission from RISH Publicity