Category: Album Reviews

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"The Last Party" – The Hampdens

They say every day deserves a soundtrack. If that’s true then I’d pick The Hampdens’ debut album The Last Party for my Sundays. This isn’t your dance til your feet hurt and drink til you puke kind of party. Instead it evokes chilled-out cocktail parties, with some mellow jazz in the background and some good conversation.

It’s one of those sleeper albums, which may not immediately grab you on the first listen. Instead, it wraps around you slowly, and becomes richer with each and every listen.

Susannah Legge’s voice is exquisite, ethereal and warm all at the same time. Her lush vocals sit nestled in the mix of synthesizers and strings, a strange blend but one that somehow works.

“Asleep on the Lawn” and “Croupier” are standouts, but this album is really bigger than its parts. The tracks are sewn together to create something rare and beautiful which begs to be played again and again.

Image source: JB Hi-Fi

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"Lessons to be Learned" – Gabriella Cilmi

After falling in love with Gabriella Cilmi’s playful debut single “Sweet About Me,” I couldn’t wait to hear more. Thankfully her album Lessons to be Learned doesn’t disappoint.

While listening to the album it’s easy to forget that Gabriella is just 16 years old. Her soulful voice sounds so much older, and the tunes she’s penned show a maturity beyond her years. The comparisons to Amy Winehouse are inevitable. Vocally they do sound very similar and they both share the same penchant for quirky soul numbers. But while Ms Winehouse’s songs speak of sadness and tragedy, Gabriella’s songs are brimming with youthful optimism and joy.

The album opens with a burst of energy in the form of “Save the Lies,” an upbeat lead in to her popular first single. Then the album changes pace a little, with the introspective ballad “Sanctuary.” The bubbly rhythms of “Got No Place to Go” are infectious, and the vintage charm of “Cigarettes and Lies” is loads of fun.

Lessons to be Learned is essentially a pop album but it enjoys flirting with genres, and therein lies its strength. Gabriella dabbles with jazz, adds a dash of blues, and spices it up with a good dose of soul, yet this CD is never alienating. Instead this eclectic mix allows Lessons to be Learned to stand up to repeated listens. Every song is strong, and these days that’s a very rare thing indeed.

Image supplied by Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"Wish it All Away" – Dave Anderson

One of the things I love most about writing this blog is that it allows me to discover some fantastic new music. The most recent disc to rev me is Dave Anderson’s soon-to-be-released debut album Wish it All Away.

It’s an album with all the right ingredients. The songs are original, yet accessible. Dave’s voice is warm and rich, like an old friend drawing you in from the first listen. And fans of organic music will love the soothing acoustic guitar chords that draw it all together.

It opens with “Sing Me a Song,” a tongue-in-cheek track chiding the punters who only want to hear cover versions. Its melody is radio friendly, but the lyrics reveal a darker criticism of the bar scene. We hear more contradictions in “Love is a Fairytale.” The music is upbeat and on first listen it appears like any traditional love song, but take a listen to the lyrics and you’ll hear something sadder and more unique.

The bubbly opening tunes give way to softer sounds as the album progresses. Dave crafts a clever pop song, and he proves equally adept at creating moving ballads. The final cut, “Promise I Made” utterly floored me.

Wish it All Away is even more impressive when you consider it is entirely self-funded. I’m not sure the major labels could have made it sound any more professional.

Dave Anderson is a real find. This Perth-born, Sydney-based singer-songwriter may have drawn comparisons to Pete Murray and Something for Kate, but I believe his songs have a much wider appeal.

The album is scheduled to hit shelves on 1 June, and will be available through iTunes on 1 July. Dave Anderson will play the following venues in support of its release. If you want to hear some great tunes, I suggest checking out this amazing talent at the following venues.

6 June 2008 – Hyde Park Hotel, Perth
8 June 2008 – Dunsborough Hotel, Western Australia
19 June 2008 – The Vanguard, Sydney
21 June 2008 – Fix Bar, Melbourne

Image supplied by the artist

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"The Fall and Rise of King Curly 1998-2008" – King Curly

I’ve been doing a lot of travelling this week. I only need one thing for my journeys up and down the highway: good music. Thankfully I recently received King Curly’s newie, The Fall and Rise of King Curly 1998-2008, and it’s taken up permanent residence in my car stereo.

It’s the perfect album for travelling really. It’s the kind of recording that needs your attention. It’s not the sort of music you’d put on at home when you were busy, because you’d miss the nuances that make it so rich.

King Curly’s tunes are eclectic, with lashings of country, soul, jazz, and old school rock and roll. They’re fleshed out with sublime harmonies, and a rich blend of instruments. A casual listener might think the songs sound pretty, and they’d be right.

But the casual listener probably wouldn’t catch the lyrics, which would be a real shame. They’re quirky, darkly funny, and absolutely fantastic. I love the rollicking zombie tune, “I’m Coming Back (In a Revenge Song),” and the strangely sweet love song “I Wish I Was a Girl.”

The Fall and Rise of King Curly 1998-2008 is a best of recording, documenting their best songs from the last 10 years. It provides a great introduction to this brilliant band that somehow has managed to fly underneath the radar. Long may they reign!

Image source: supplied by promoter

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"6th Perception" – Nelson Clemente

Last week a new CD passed across my desk 6th Perception, the debut EP from Perth artist Nelson Clemente. His handsome face, with piercing dark eyes and full sensuous lips is sure to set hearts fluttering. But when I scanned the track list and noticed a song called “You Want Me Don’t You?” I wondered whether he might be too arrogant to win over an Aussie audience.

Slipping the disc in my stereo I realized this early concern was unfounded. The track in question was more playful than sleazy, and irresistibly catchy. “It’s All My Fault” shows a more aggressive side, while the award-winning song “You Me Us We” is sweet and delicate.

It’s rare to hear such eclectic tracks on an EP, but this diversity is never isolating. The use of old-style electronics and synthesizers and Nelson’s pure vocals unifies the songs, making the transition between these different moods easy.

All the songs on 6th Perception have a pop-dance flavour, but this is amplified in the remixed versions. While I enjoyed the original takes, I think these remixes give added depth to these songs. I can definitely imagine these tracks pumping out loud in the clubs.

Browsing through Nelson’s bio, I realised just amazing this EP is. He’s an independent artist breaking into the pop-dance genre, something that’s virtually unheard of in this country. Yet he’s plugging away at it, writing, singing, and even helping to produce 6th Perception. He’s making his mark under his own steam, and it seems to be working. Nelson’s heading to London later this year to appear in the Popshow charity event. This Western Australian musician is definitely one to watch.

Image source: artist supplied

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Win Guy Sebastian’s "The Memphis Album"

Guy Sebastian’s latest release, The Memphis Album, has been the former Australian Idol winner’s most successful album to date. Listening to this nostalgia-filled tribute to the past, it’s not hard to see why.

Guy’s reverence for these original Stax recordings is obvious. Not only did Guy make a pilgrimage to Memphis to create the record. He also enlisted the likes of Steve Cropper and Donald “Duck” Dunn to ensure these cover versions had all the life of the originals. And they do. There’s a real energy to this recording that makes it easy to forget these songs are around forty years old.

While Motown produced sweet soul music, Stax’s songs were always a little edgier. Guy’s voice is a natural fit for these sexy tracks. “Hold On I’m Coming,” “Let’s Stay Together,” and “In The Midnight Hour” are real standouts.

I believe the secret to this album’s success is its broad appeal. Mums and Dads can happily listen to these beloved songs which never stray too far from the originals. And with Guy Sebastian in fine voice, his teenage fans will lap it up too. It’s just good music, and good fun.

I have one copy of Guy Sebastian’s The Memphis Album to give away to a lucky Oz Music Scene reader. To be in with a chance to win it, simply leave me a comment and tell me why you love Guy Sebastian. Please remember to include your e-mail address when you comment so I can contact you if you win. The competition will close at 5 pm (AEST) next Tuesday 26 February, and I’ll announce the winner the following day. Good luck!

Image source: Bigpond Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Live & Cookin’ @ Lizotte’s Restaurant – Various

The Live & Cookin’ @ Lizotte’s Restaurant CD has been permanently lodged in my stereo since I picked it up at the Rick Price/Jackie Bristow show a few weeks ago. The disc features an all-Australian cast, with big names like Daryl Braithwaite, Christine Anu, Rick Price, and Richard Clapton appearing alongside Central Coast locals Mike McCarthy and Sarah Humphries.

The songs are stripped back and raw. We all know the words to just about every track, but their acoustic treatments breathe new life into these songs, giving the familiar tunes new meaning. To hear Diesel and Jon Stevens jamming on “Dock of the Bay” is truly something special.

I’ve often gushed about my time at Lizotte’s. I feel so blessed to live on the Central Coast, where we have such an intimate venue serving the simple pleasures of good food, good wine, and good music. We aren’t all so lucky. But this album allows all of us to experience a little bit of Lizotte’s. The CD slick even features some recipes so we can recreate the experience at home.

Just like a night out at my favourite venue, Live & Cookin’ @ Lizotte’s is a satisfying and indulgent experience to be enjoyed again and again.

Image source: Lizotte’s website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"Get Ready" – Human Nature

Human Nature have been doing their Motown thing for so long it’s easy to forget they used to be a boy band. But all that is coming to an end with the release of their final Motown experience, Get Ready.

After pumping out a few of these soulful nostalgia trips, there was always the risk the third album would become stale. To prevent this, The Nature headed to Detroit and enlisted the help of some of Motown’s finest artists: Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Martha Reeves, The Temptations, and Smokey Robinson.

The result is an album that’s full of energy and loads of fun. You might think that by the third album, Human Nature would have already covered all the good tracks. The wonderful thing about Motown music is that no matter how many albums come before it, there are still great songs to record. “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” “Tears of a Clown,” “It’s The Same Old Song,” and the title track “Get Ready” all benefit from the Human Nature treatment. I could have done without the inclusion of a Motown-style “Jingle Bells,” but that’s what I get for buying the album around Christmas time.

There’s nothing earth-shattering or revolutionary about this recording. If you didn’t like the first couple of Motown albums, this one probably won’t rev you either. But there’s a reason why Human Nature have sold millions of Motown records around this country. Quite simply, these lads have four of the finest voices in Australia. And when you get them singing some of the greatest songs ever written, the result is always going to be sublime.

Image sources: Human Nature website and jeaneeem @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"Bigger Better Power Ballads II" – Various

I’ve just arrived home after five days road-tripping. As every seasoned traveller knows, you need two things for a good road trip: good company and good music. My husband took care of the former, but after about 15 hours in the car, we started to tire of the CDs I’d packed. Thankfully while buying petrol in Bairnsdale I stumbled across EMI Australia’s massive compilation album, Bigger Better Power Ballads II.

I’ve heard a few compilation albums in my time, but none have impressed me as much as this one. Power ballad veterans like Journey and Queen sit comfortably alongside newer artists like Nickelback and The Fray. Power ballad enthusiasts have long overlooked the contributions of women, but this compilation doesn’t forget female masters like Pat Benatar and Tina Turner. But unfortunately the Australian content is a little light on, with only Moving Pictures and Youth Group flying the flag.

You’ve heard all the songs before, which makes it excellent for a long car trip. My husband I loved singing along to Toto’s “Africa” and Mr. Big’s “Be With You.” At three discs it’s also the perfect length, because once you reach the end of the third disc you’re ready to hear disc one again.

If you’re road tripping these summer holidays, and even if you’re not, Bigger Better Power Ballads II is a lot of fun. It’s so good it’s inspired me to track down the original.

Image source: Chaos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"Rock-Bottom Jackpot" – Dé Jah Groove

Dé Jah Groove’s debut release Rock-Bottom Jackpot may just be the perfect soundtrack for the summer.

The Melbourne outfit has earned a reputation as one of the most explosive bands on the live circuit, and they’ve managed to bring that energy to this album. Their combination of jazz, funk, roots, rock, and hip-hop reminds me of early Cat Empire recordings, which is a good thing.

With six band members, it’s little wonder that Dé Jah Groove has a really big sound. The horns are loud, layered over the percussion of the drums and bass. It’s also refreshing to hear the Australian accent in Harley Stewart’s vocals.

Standouts include the easy grooves of the first single, “Mellow Stages,” the far from lazy opening track “Lazy Sundays,” and the fantastically fun “One Drop High.”

Rock-Bottom Jackpot is in stores now. Dé Jah Groove is currently on the road to support its release. Check their MySpace page for all the dates.

Image source: Dé Jah Groove MySpace