Category: Album Reviews

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“I Know This Now” – Timothy Nelson & The Infidels

After being impressed by several singles, I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into I Know This Now, the debut album from Timothy Nelson and The Infidels. It’s been a disc I’ve anticipated for several months, so I can only but imagine how folks in the outfit’s home state of Western Australia have felt. However thankfully for us all, it’s been worth the wait.

Timothy Nelson is far from a household name, but he’s been carving out a solid career in WA over the past five years. There he sells out venues, he earns top support slots, and he’s even won the WAMi for song of the year twice. Not bad for an artist who’s only just turned 21.

Given his tender years, I think this album has been worth waiting for. It’s given the long player a very accomplished feel. There’s an easiness to it, an awareness of craft, that we don’t often see in a debut. Don’t mistake that skill for artificial polish though. It’s folk with a little bit of rock edge that comes from Tim’s earnest vocals. The lyrics are also exceptional, as we might expect in an artist lauded for his songwriting. The songs are approachable, but the use of harmonicas and lap steel guitars ensures the music still feels unique.

I wrote more notes about this collection of songs than I think I’ve done all year. That’s a testimony to their quality. There really are no filler tracks here, and just when I thought I’d found my favourite I heard another determined to change my mind. At this point I think “All For the Good of Love” might have the title. Its lyrics were amazing, and these words and the fairly minimal instrumentation helped me feel this song to the core. That sort of connection is pretty special. But I also loved the Whitlam-esque piano driven quirk of “You Don’t Know What You’re Waiting For,” the romantic modern waltz “Speak The Truth in Love,” and the irresistibly hooky “Let Her Go,” which had me singing along with the chorus well before the end of the song.

Timothy Nelson & the Infidels may just be one of Western Australia’s best kept secrets. Thank goodness the rest of Australia is finally able to discover this talented band.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Blood Thinner” – Jordie Lane

I’ve been enjoying a lot of back-to-basics music lately, but few artists strip things back as much as Jordie Lane on his sophomore effort, Blood Thinner.

Jordie recorded the disc in hotel rooms and basements on a four-track machine, with whatever instruments he could get his hands upon. His acoustic guitar and harmonica drive these tracks, but they’re complemented by all manner of unusual music makers, including wine glasses and Tupperware containers. It sounds quirky in principle, but the result is an album that feels far from gimmicky.

With this release Jordie presents himself as a troubadour in the vein of the dearly departed Tim Buckley. There’s a similar emotional core to this music, but I also hear overtones of Neil Young and Bob Dylan in there. He’s an old soul, whether he’s writing music that feels wiser than his years or separating his CD into sides A and B.

The songs are an easy marriage of folk and blues, gentle and unadorned. The simple recording process captures a moment in time, and you really hear that immediacy in the tunes. “Thin My Blood” takes me to an open desert highway, a scene where the world whizzes by from a car window. The title of “On the Net Till Morn” seems very modern, but the track itself takes its sound right back to the birth of blues. I also loved “Not From Round Here,” a gorgeous tale of isolation exquisitely told with just a little finger-picking on the guitar and some plaintive lyrics.

There’s a real beauty to Blood Thinner that I think might only be realised after a few listens. But from that first spin there’s a truth and a talent to what Jordie Lane does. If you’re impressed by this disc, or just keen to discover what it’s all about, you can see Jordie in the flesh on his upcoming tour. It kicks off in Ararat on Thursday and travels all the way around the country.

21 July 2011 – Ararat Hotel Red Room, Ararat
22 July 2011 – Harvester Moon, Bellarine
23 July 2011 – Baby Black Café, Bacchus Marsh
24 July 2011 – Lot 19, Castlemaine
27 July 2011 – Front Gallery, Canberra
28 July 2011 – Wickham Park Hotel, Newcastle
29 July 2011 – The Vanguard, Sydney
30 July 2011 – Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland
31 July 2011 – Lizottes, Kincumber
4 August 2011 – Beetle Bar, Brisbane
5 August 2011 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi
6 August 2011 – Mullum Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
11 August 2011 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
12 August 2011 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
13 August 2011 – Barwon Heads Bowling Club, Barwon Heads
14 August 2011 – Old Hepburn Hotel, Daylesford
17 August 2011 – The Loft, Warrnambool
18 August 2011 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide
19 August 2011 – Indi Bar, Scarborough
20 August 2011 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
21 August 2011 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
7 September 2011 – Deck Bar, Darwin
8 September 2011 – Mindle Beach Markets, Mindle Beach
9 September 2011 – Darwin Railway Club, Somerville Gardens
10 Setember 2011 – Jabiru Mahbilil Festival, Jabiru
11 September 2011 – Darwin Sailing Club, Darwin

Image source: JB Hi-Fi website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Traitor” – Inland Sea

It took just five tracks for Brisbane’s Inland Sea to make a massive impression on me. Their debut EP Traitor is truly something special.

The gorgeous harmonies are what struck me first. Perhaps that’s not surprising, as more than half of the band of ten (yes, I said ten) are vocalists. Their voices come together beautifully, creating a wall of sound the likes of which aren’t often heard.

I was also impressed that a band of ten could create music which didn’t sound cluttered or overdone. Everyone in Inland Sea seems to know their place, and they ensure the mix never gets too complicated.

This feels like the sort of music that hippies might have made while they were communing with nature in some rural setting. Rather than feeling dated, it has that organic and joyful quality to it that I associate with that time period. It’s pure and innocent, with its uplifting lyrics about hearts beating together and jangly folk sound. It feels spontaneous too, as if it came about in a jam session rather than a hard slog in the studio.

Every song is a standout, a tune that draws you in and speaks to the heart. I must have played this disc five or six times today, and I’m still not ready to take it out of my stereo. This EP will be a hard act to follow, but I’m really psyched to see what Inland Sea can create next.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Busby Marou” – Busby Marou

The charming music just keeps finding its way onto my desk. Busby Marou wowed me with their version of “Better Be Home Soon” on He Will Have His Way, and I was impressed when I heard my first taste of their original material with the single “Biding My Time.” So my expectations were high when Busby Marou’s self-titled album album crossed my desk. Perhaps not so surprisingly, this Queensland-based duo has delivered just what I hoped they would.

This is really is back to basics music, without frills or gimmicks. In a world where Lady Gaga reigns supreme, that organic approach to music is really like a breath of fresh air. It makes this disc feel instantly familiar. It uses elements we know but don’t hear enough of these days; simple but beautiful harmonies, the driving force of an acoustic guitar, and honest lyrics that paint moving stories.

It’s a really assured debut album. Busby Marou may not have recorded a full-length disc before, but they know their craft and their instruments. It’s very polished, but not in the artificial way we see so often in the music industry. It’s just really good.

Ordinarily I have instant favourites when I listen to a disc, but it hasn’t worked that way for me this time around. I found myself appreciating the way the voices melded together in one song, the faultless guitar picking in another, but it really all works as a cohesive collection of music rather than a series of obvious singles.

Busby Marou’s self-titled album is quite simply one of the best recordings I’ve heard all year. Seek it out; I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Busby Marou hits record stores today.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Talk The Night Away” – Daniel Lee Kendall

Daniel Lee Kendall impressed me with his debut EP Lost in the Moment, so I had high hopes for his follow-up, Talk The Night Away. Happily, the Central Coast singer-songwriter didn’t disappoint.

Again Daniel charms us with his folky organic music, but it’s better the second time around. He’s grown as an artist. Where some of the pleasantly soothing tunes got a little sleepy in his first EP, here we see more focus on hooks and melody.

I adore the acoustic rhythms of “My Love to Be.” The driving beat is perfect for road trips. It could be Mondayitis talking, but it makes jumping in my car, taking off down the freeway, and seeing where I end up sound pretty tempting. “Gone” is one of the most heartbreakingly honest songs about love gone wrong that I’ve heard. When a musician can create something so powerful with only his acoustic guitar and his words, it’s something special. “Never Changing” is a perfect closer, a playful, laidback musing on life that is reminiscent of Ben Harper or early Jack Johnson.

With Talk The Night Away, Daniel Lee Kendall has made good on the promise he showed with that first EP. Bring on the long-player; five tracks just isn’t enough to satisfy!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Little Love” EP – Leone Western/Foragers

Leone Western and Foragers have come together for the split EP Little Love.

Each band was given just three tracks to showcase their talents and perhaps win over the fans of the other artist. Honestly, as the EP opened with “Golden Girl” I thought Leone Western may have wasted their opportunity. The song felt aimless, dragging along without any real purpose. Happily though the band was back with the promise I heard on their Hearts Still Beating EP with their following material. “Make Believe” is super catchy, and while the guitars overwhelm the vocals at times there’s a lot to like about it. Everything came together with “Make Believe” though. I couldn’t help thinking of one of my favourite singers, Howie Day, as I listened to this tune. The vocals had a similar raw, emotive quality, and the soundscape was every bit as epic. They may not have had the strongest start, but Leone Western certainly left an impression with this stand out tune.

With Foragers portion of the EP the recording takes a sharp left turn. While both acts happily use retro sounding synthesizers in their music, Foragers is more unashamedly 80s influenced. As a child of that decade, I didn’t mind that electro-pop influence one bit. This is music that sounds so sugary and sweet, with Simone Gustafsson’s reedy vocals and the melodic electro choruses. However there’s a darkness to the lyrics that makes this music more than just throwaway Take 40 fodder. “Can’t Stop Counting” made me want to get out of my chair and dance, and “Take a Chance” is as close to a retro pop gem as I’ve heard in recent years.

As the EP wound down I was left believing that Foragers are a band that knows themselves, with a clear creative vision, while Leone Western are still figuring it out. That’s not a bad thing though, as I’m enjoying their journey. Little Love showcases some great new music from some really promising new Aussie talent.

Image source: Foragers Bandcamp page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Go With the River” – Owls of the Swamp

Ordinarily when I set about reviewing an album I listen to it with a notepad beside me. I take copious notes about my thoughts as the music washes over me, and then I somehow piece them all together to create my review. But not this time. As I listened to Go With River, the brand new album from Owls of the Swamp, my notepad lay untouched.

Perhaps that’s going to make reviewing the album a bit harder, but I know why it happened. This is a CD that demands to be listened to. Its music was too beautiful for me to be distracted by analysis and dissection. I was just too busy enjoying it.

I shouldn’t be surprised. I was bowled over by the song “So Far Away” on its release, and I’m just as impressed by this recording. It’s more of that organic, honest music driven by gorgeous lyrics, acoustic guitars and a few well-placed strings. “Skywaters” is my current favorite tune; Aluka’s ethereal voice is the ideal foil for Owls sf the Swamp’s own, and the combination is bittersweet and incredibly moving. But this isn’t an album of obvious singles. Its tunes are much subtler, gently woven together to create an album of real beauty.

Sadly that means Go With River will be overlooked by many people. They won’t hear the songs on the radio or see Owls of the Swamp featured in their favorite magazines, and so they’ll never come across it. But I implore you to seek it out. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Image source: Owls of the Swamp Bandcamp page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Wings” – The Bloodpoets

The Bloodpoets WingsThe Bloodpoets impressed me with their album Polarity last year, so I was excited to see what they’d serve up with their latest effort, the EP Wings.

The Queensland outfit has always been eclectic, playing with light and shade, standing somewhere between indie rock and commercial pop. The gulf between these two extremes seems more pronounced on Wings, a disc that starts with sweetness and ends with real grit.

When I first slipped it in I mused that this didn’t sound like The Bloodpoets I’d first met. They weren’t rocking quite as hard, and instead were focusing on the melodies and pop hooks. That could easily sound like a criticism, but the band still wasn’t bowing to the demands of top 40 radio. They hadn’t lost any of their individuality; they were just taking a lighter touch. “Sunny Day” really excited me with its playful bass groove and irresistible brass strains. I also loved its follow up track “Next Year,” which I can imagine sounding right at home on radio. It feels familiar from the first listen, not predictable but warm. I adored the depth that the ringing bells gave this pop gem.

“She Feels It” marks a shift in the EP, a move away from the sunshine and into darker territory. It felt more like The Bloodpoets of old to me, although it has an epic quality that I haven’t heard from the band before. The remaining tracks also show the band’s grittier side, almost as if they want to remind us that they’re never going to completely lose their edge.

Wings feels like The Bloodpoets are checking in with us, showing the directions they’re taking and giving us a teaser before the next full length recording. It’s exciting to see them stretching out every which way and evolving as a band. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Image source: The Bloodpoets Facebook page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Until Morning Comes” – Cilla Jane

Suffering from a bad case of Mondayitis, I needed something to ease me back into my working week. I found it in Until Morning Comes, the delightful sophomore effort from Melbourne singer-songwriter Cilla Jane.

The follow-up to her acclaimed debut When the Night Falls is like a fine wine, the sort of music that will appeal to discerning ears and only gets better on each listen. Cilla gets to the heart of the song, refusing to muddy it with too many instruments or too much studio trickery. This is an organic recording, where Cilla Jane’s lyrics and sweet, ethereal vocals are allowed to speak for themselves.

I loved the honesty of her words, the pictures she paints and the universality of her lyrics. I was also impressed by her musicianship. Looking through the CD sleeve I realized she wasn’t just the words and voice behind this recording; she was there strumming away on acoustic and electric guitars, playing the piano and glockenspiel too. This album is clearly her baby, and that commitment to the songs and the recording that houses them shines through. This isn’t about fulfilling record company obligations or selling volumes; it’s about making music that touches the listener.

It’s hard to pick highlights on an album that fits together so cohesively, but a few tracks made my heart beat a little faster. I loved the playful keyboard backbeat and optimistic longing of “Back to Me” and the gentle bluegrass notes of “Pot of Gold.” “Made of Glass” is also just beautiful, with its stunning imagery and genuinely affecting vocals mixed so sweetly with brass tones.

Cilla Jane has created a stunning album in Until Morning Comes, one that goes against the grain with exquisite lyrics, breathtaking vocals, and real heart. She’s currently touring it around the country. You’re in for a special night if you attend the following shows.

21 May 2011 – The Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
4 June 2011 – The Venue @ Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart
11 June 2011 – The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide
25 June – Bar 303 , Northcote
6 July 2011 – The Vanguard, Sydney
9 July 2011 – The Front, Canberra

Image source: The Dwarf

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Living Undesigned” – Trial Kennedy

You might remember me talking about Trial Kennedy’s new single “Best of Tomorrow,” and getting excited about the release of their latest album Living Undesigned. When I turned up in my mailbox I couldn’t get it into my stereo fast enough.

However as the new tracks washed over me I started to feel a bit let down. The energy I loved was there, thanks to the driving drum beats and squealing guitars. But the tunes felt a bit samey, almost like indie rock by the numbers. It seemed as if lead singer Tim Morrison felt it too, as his vocals didn’t quite seem to match the passion of the music.

Things took a turn for the better once “Best of Tomorrow” started. It reminded me of why I was so excited to hear this album. It had the hooks and melodic focus I was craving, and I was thrilled when the following track “My Own” also grabbed me. Finally there was some light and shade, with the band experimenting with strings and showing their softer side. More highlights came later, including the raw passionate vocals of “Arrest Room” and the upbeat closer “Two Dogs.”

Ultimately Living Undesigned wasn’t the stunner I hoped it would be. It’s uneven, with solid songs and some not so triumphant numbers. Those great songs make this album worth a listen, but you may want to wait until your mate buys it.

Living Undesigned hits record stores on May 13.