Category: Album Reviews

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.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“One Thousand Origami Birds” – Jack Carty

I’ve been a Jack Carty fan ever since his debut EP Wine & Consequence passed across my desk. So I’m thrilled to see the artist he’s grown in to, as showcased by his stunning first long player, One Thousand Origami Birds.

Opening up the cardboard sleeve, you know you’re in for something special. It’s beautifully illustrated with those titular origami birds swarming over landscapes. With the rise of digital media cover art has all but been forgotten, but my inner vinylphile laps up this sort of effort. It really sets the tone for an album that’s a cut above.

The laidback folky sound I fell in love with has been built upon here. It’s still driven by the gentle plucking of an acoustic guitar, but the clever use of strings and brass adds fullness and life. “Grey Sky” is the sort of soaring epic that I can imagine hearing on a Damien Rice disc. “Them There Hills” was another stand-out for me. It seems so simple with its acoustic guitar picking and foot stomping, but it stirred me like an old blues song. The soundscapes Jack paints are matched by earnest, poetic lyrics.

Anyone who’s been reading my blog for a while knows I have a soft spot for acoustic guitar loving songwriting folky musicians. But even I can admit there’s a glut of them. With One Thousand Origami Birds Jack Carty’s proven he has the stuff to stand out from the pack. This album is truly something special.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“When the Lights are Low” – Earl Cole

Mothers Day mustn’t be too far away, as we’re starting to be bombarded with the kind of mellow music designed to make mums everywhere swoon. Adding his voice to the mix is Perth crooner Earl Cole with his third album When the Lights are Low.

The album follows the tried and true formula followed by so many artists these days; take a collection of time honored classics and remind your listeners why these songs are so special. Michael Buble, David Campbell, and Rod Stewart have all done it many times, so why should we listen to Earl?

Happily there are a few reasons to give this local version a spin. The collection of tracks here is something special, with a few well known classics sitting alongside those that may be unfamiliar to modern audiences. It’s not the same old thing that we’ve heard on every disc of this ilk, and that variety is refreshing. Clearly Earl is a man who really knows this music, rather than one who chooses to sing what has become popular.

He’s also someone who has a real passion for the material. He’s performed these songs for years, and the confidence that comes from that intimate knowledge of the music really shines through. He sings with a real reverence for the originals, never pushing the envelope or attempting to make them hip. Some may argue that you shouldn’t cover a song if you can’t bring something new to it, but I’m not so sure.

Ballads are clearly Earl’s strength, but so many of them strung together makes the album a bit sleepy in places. I wish there were more upbeat numbers like the standouts, “Orange Colored Sky” and “I’ve Got the World on a String,” to bring a bit more lightness to the disc.

If you’ve never warmed to the music celebrated by Michael Buble, David Campbell, and performers of their ilk, there’s probably little on When the Lights are Low to change your mind. But then again, I don’t think Earl made the album for you. He knows his market, and he knows the mums of Australia are going to love this.

You can listen to samples of the album and order it through Earl Cole’s website.

Image source: Earl Cole website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Circus Girl” – Susanna Carman

After listening to Susanna Carman’s new album Circus Girl several times, I’m thrilled the New Yorker decided to settle here in Australia. She creates folk music that is truly stunning, with touches of Joni Mitchell and Shawn Colvin, along with her own sweet, unique voice.

The album is beautiful in its simplicity. Most tracks only need an acoustic guitar to propel them, and even when a few more instruments are added to the mix they never overpower the tunes. There’s a time and place for a wall of sound, but these songs don’t need the extra embellishment.

With such organic presentation we can really focus on the lyrics and the stories Susanna Carman tells. “Half Of You” may be the most profound song I’ve heard about the love that flows between a woman, her partner, and her new child. The imagery of songs like “Magdalena’s Lover” and the title track is also gorgeous. As someone who gets revved by beautiful lyrics, this album really excited me.

Circus Girl is the kind of album you could easily put on as a dinner party wears down. It has just the right mellow feel, and could so easily slip into the background if you weren’t paying attention. However the more I listen to it the more I appreciate its layers and depth. Susanna Carman has created something truly special here. Look for it in stores on April 2 or preorder your copy from her website.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Into The Eyes of Those Who Sleep” – The Ovals

Over the last four years Melbourne band The Ovals has built a steady following for their brand of psychedelic rock. That attention is only bound to intensify with the release of the band’s new EP Into The Eyes of Those Who Sleep.

The band is clearly comfortable in this genre; they create the kind of kaleidoscopic atmosphere that takes us back to the mid-60s. They understand about light and shade, they know how to build and song and move us just where they want us.

But I can’t help feeling like I’ve heard it all before, like I’m listening to a band that spent too much time listening to early Pink Floyd records. Perhaps I’m a bit biased as I always found those early Syd Barrett recordings lacking, but I hear the same aimlessness in The Ovals music. It’s almost as if they’re also trying to figure out exactly who they want to be, just like Pink Floyd were all those years ago.

And similarly, I can hear great potential there. In places there’s the magic that comes from four musicians that really know how to play. I can imagine that’s only heightened when the Melbourne act takes to the stage. Into The Eyes of Those Who Sleep is a good stepping stone for a band that could be something special.

The Ovals will launch their new EP at The Cherry Bar before taking it to the other East Coast capitals. You can see them at the following venues.

25 March 2011 – Cherry Bar, Melbourne
1 April 2011 – X&Y Bar, Brisbane
8 April 2011 – Oxford Arts Gallery, Sydney

Image used with permission from Show Off Services