Category: 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

Hairspray at The Lyric Theatre, Sydney

I figured I’d change pace a little to tell you about the musical Hairspray, which I was lucky enough to see at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre last weekend. I talk about rock concerts on here all the time, so why not a bit of musical theatre?

I came to Hairspray a little late in the game I suppose, on the release of the John Travolta movie in 2007. I instantly fell in love with the sweet but often naughty John Waters penned songs and the unwavering optimism of the story, so when I heard it was heading to the Sydney stage I couldn’t refuse.

I had high expectations, which were happily met. In many cases the performances were better than the ones we saw on the big screen. I guess that’s what happens when you can choose your players based on talent rather than their box office power. Esther Hannaford definitely outperformed Amanda Bynes’ insipid Penny, and while Queen Latifah was no slouch I think Cle Morgan brought added soul to Motormouth Maybelle. I’d also take the all-singing, all-dancing Jack Chambers over Zac Effron’s Link Larkin any day, and my inner teenager went nuts for Tevin Campbell’s Seaweed. I thought Nikki Blonsky was a wonderful Tracy Turnblad, but the Sydney star Jaz Flowers was every bit her equal.

The stars were standouts, but the clever lighting and staging was what really made the show for me. Images projected on plain screens created the Technicolor world of the 60s in a way that no old-fashioned stage scenery ever could. Elevating platforms added to the fun, giving more depth to the relatively small Lyric Theatre stage. I was swept up in the world created as you should be in any musical, and I relished it.

Hairspray will stay in Sydney until September 11, unless the season is extended. If you’ve been considering getting yourself along, I would highly recommend it. This musical is a whole lot of fun.

Image source: Hairspray The Musical Australia 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

Joshua Radin @ Enmore Theatre, 21 June 2011

After a fairly busy few weeks, I really needed a bit of R and R. I found it this week at the performance of one of my favourite singers, Joshua Radin.

Unfortunately the slow dinner service at the delicious Italian restaurant we found meant that I missed all but the final song of Jim Bianco’s set. I’m really disappointed by that. He had an awesome folky pirate thing going on that I would have loved to hear more of.

Thankfully we were all settled in for Andy Bull. I’d enjoyed the music I’d heard from Andy before, but experiencing it in a live setting brought it to another level. This is probably one of the larger venues he’s played, but he made it feel so intimate with his stories about the songs and sweet, self conscious manner. It takes a very special performer to fill a theatre with just a voice and some keyboards. Despite being excited about Joshua’s appearance, I was a little sad to see him leave the stage.

The last time I saw Joshua he was playing at the uni bar, acoustic and solo for the most part. This show was a bit of a step up, in the hallowed halls of the Enmore Theatre with plugged in band mates in tow. One of the things I’ve always loved about Joshua Radin’s music was its intimacy. These are really small songs made for minimalist treatments. We didn’t always get that at this week’s show. Some songs received frenetic finishes they didn’t really need, particularly by the Danish drummer who seemed he was just waiting to join a big rock band. But for the most part the musical treatments were understated enough to keep me happy.

My favourite moments saw Joshua on his own though, acoustic guitar in hand creating music that was stripped back enough to let his lyrics shine through. Few artists could get away with leaving us with something as mellow as “Winter,” from his first album, but for me this encore was a clear highlight. I also loved hearing “Today,” the song that made me fall for him all those years ago, and my personal favourite “You’ve Got Growing Up To Do.”

Just like Andy Bull, Joshua is one of those special singers who shares himself with his audience. Hearing the way the songs took shape helped me see them in a whole new light, and listening to him speak of his fondness for our country endeared him to me even more.

It had its flaws, but a night with Joshua Radin is always a night well spent. Whether he brings the full band or not, I’ll be queuing up for tickets on his inevitable return.

Image source: Stephen Katulka

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

David Campbell @ West Leagues Club, Newcastle – 21 May 2011

Let me take you back to last Saturday night. It was a night where the end of the world was nigh, or at least we were told that it was. I was pretty sure there’d be no Rapture, but I figured if there was at least I’d go out seeing one of my favorite Australian performers, David Campbell.

Clearly the rest of Newcastle had the same idea, as the showroom at West Leagues Club was packed to capacity. Our enthusiasm was rewarded, as David played as if it may be the last time he’d grace the stage. He was incredibly animated, the result of several coffees we were told. Whatever the cause, I felt as if we were treated to a comedy act as well as a musical one. David’s always funny, but the Rapture and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent scandal gave him a bit more material to play with. And play he did, memorably telling us he would sing a song by his famous father before launching into Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy.” It’s not a tune I’d ever expected him to play, but even singing country he was bloody good.

But laughs are only half of the David Campbell story. He can turn the show on a dime, bringing the entire audience in to a tender moment on a whim. Those special moments came in the always breathtaking “Begin the Beguine,” the romantic “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” and my personal live favourite “Mr Bojangles.”

So there was no Rapture, but if there was that’s the show I’d want to go out on. Happily though we go on, and I know I can enjoy something just as good next time David hits town.

Image source: Stephen Katulka

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