Tag Archives: Review

Nick Batterham [Self Titled] – Single Review

Review: Victoria Nugent

 


Second Lovers
This unnamed single is intended as a taste of Nick Batterham’s debut solo album Second Lovers due out in October, and it shows a skilled collection of laidback folk from the singer songwriter.

Batterham is a former member of Blindside and The Earthmen, and in more recent years has been doing sound design, producing music for film and TV and playing guitar for Cordrazine.

The disc kicks off with ‘Dragonfly’, a melodic folk tune with simplistic lyrics and gentle acoustic guitar. ‘From Now On’ starts with a slow piano intro, with husky,

slightly gravelly vocals giving the song a melancholic feel. The occasional chime of bells adds to the atmosphere, as does the addition of slightly seventies sounding electric guitar.
Continue reading Nick Batterham [Self Titled] – Single Review

Nicholas Roy “In A Shoebox Under The Bed” – LP Review

Review: Ben Connolly


In a Shoebox Under the Bed - Nicholas RoyNicholas Roy
  It’s a great romantic ideal, isn’t it? A fresh-faced boy with a heart of gold, a far-away stare and a modicum of musical ability notches up a home recording completed in his dreary Melbourne abode. Everything about it screams eyes-rolling type cliche, that we’ve read the story a million times to know it backwards and that nothing new or exciting can ever come out of that set up again. But that’s exactly what Melbourne lad Nicholas Roy has attempted in his first long player Nicholas Roy, released in August through indie label Little Tribe. And it’s a solid effort which manages to take a slightly different route than the troubled singer-songwriter path, but has it worked?

Continue reading Nicholas Roy “In A Shoebox Under The Bed” – LP Review

Blame Ringo “In A Hurricane” – Single Review

Review: Ben Connolly
Brisbane band Blame Ringo is a band steeped in its own curio past, to the point of it almost being written off as a comic band. The name itself, and the mileage the group got over the official rebuke from Ringo Starr over its previous name, set it up early on as a tongue-in-cheek piss-take. They followed that through with curious film clip for single “Garble Arch” off its first long player – which became a bona fide Youtube viral phenomena – and then a cute tour concept of playing in laundromats; an audience would be forgiven for thinking this band’s interest was firmly in taking the mickey, rather than solid songwriting. And there would be nothing wrong with that; there are plenty of decent and long-lived acts in this land and abroad who could stake their claim firmly in piss-takery, whilst still holding credible assertions of musicianship (think The Fauves, TISM or, further afield, The Duckworth Lewis Method).
Continue reading Blame Ringo “In A Hurricane” – Single Review

Filter “The Trouble with Angels” – CD Review

Review: Ben Hosking

  At least in this country, Filter has never attained the level of success that they deserve. Besides a couple of chart-bothering flirtations with tracks like ‘Hey Man, Nice Shot’ and ‘Take a Picture’ way back in the mid-to-late 1990s, Richard Patrick and company have travelled unfairly under the radar. Hopefully the Cleveland, Ohio group’s luck will change with the release of their fifth studio album, The Trouble with Angels.

For those not familiar with Richard Patrick’s talent, take note: he began his professional career with industrial genius Trent Reznor as a touring guitarist

with Nine inch Nails between 1989 and 1993. After this he started Filter in 1995; Patrick’s bread and butter ever since – although certainly not his only musical preoccupation.
Continue reading Filter “The Trouble with Angels” – CD Review

Soilwork “The Panic Broadcast” – LP Review

Review: Lana Harris


SoilworkSoilwork
  Helsingborg? Where the Helsingborg is that? Turns out this Swedish town is the fertile ground where Soilwork first plied their craft. Soilwork (both the name and the band’s philosophy) represents commitment and determination. Building from the roots of things and seeing them through to fruition via a lot of hard work. More of a biologically based metaphor than the grave digging that initially came to mind when the name ‘Soilwork’ is heard in connection with the words ‘death metal’.

The Panic Broadcast represents Soilwork’s eighth album and is a lesson to others in how to keep the momentum up after several releases. The energy presented could have it confused with an early career offering but the song structure and quality belies the truth: this is a band with extensive

experience in song craft, especially from singer and founding member Bjorn ‘Speed’ Strid.
Continue reading Soilwork “The Panic Broadcast” – LP Review

Amanda Palmer Performs the Popular Hits of Radiohead on Her Magical Ukulele – EP Review

Review: Natalie Salvo

There are some people out there who’d readily agree that the words “Radiohead” and ukulele should never be uttered in the same sentence. Not so if you’re Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls and Evelyn Evelyn fame. There was the potential for Palmer’s covers EP to be career suicide or simply oh-so-bad as diehard purists murmur things about sacred cows and masterpieces best left untouched but in her hands it is simply a collection reflecting her own effervescent personality – it’s full of theatrics, a DIY attitude and is brimming with creativity.

It is fitting that this is also Palmer’s first release after a less than amicable split with her record label. She adopted a Radiohead-esque user-pays-what-they-like system (save the 84 cent donation to cover administrative costs like filling Radiohead and PayPal’s coffers). But ultimately Palmer is the one that’s laughing after selling $15,000 worth of merchandise in the first three minutes of sale, in what was a perfect way to stick it to the former label and celebrate her newfound freedom and independence.
Continue reading Amanda Palmer Performs the Popular Hits of Radiohead on Her Magical Ukulele – EP Review

Regurgitator supported by DJ Krush @ The Tivoli, Brisbane – 18 September 2010 – Live Review

Review: Jose Eduardo Cruz.

Click image for photo gallery

[Photo: Matt Palmer]
  So once again Regurgitator had decided to hit the road for a run of shows. I have to confess that I grew up with this band; all through high school “the gurge” always made the playing list at our parties. So to see them live again was quite nostalgic for it brought back many memories of years gone by. DJ Krush had been brought along for the ride.

For the second time this week I saw DJ Krush warming up a crowd. I managed to see him on Friday at Valentino Up Late while I looked at art pieces and thought “hmmm that sounds pretty good can’t wait to hear him play his set tomorrow”.

I always found it fascinating that one person can control the energy of an entire room. The beginning of his set seemed a bit messy and you could tell by the response in the crowd. It appeared as if everyone was wondering around aimlessly trying to figure out what was being played on the stage.

Continue reading Regurgitator supported by DJ Krush @ The Tivoli, Brisbane – 18 September 2010 – Live Review

The Magic Numbers “The Runaway” – Album Review

Review: Natalie Salvo

  They say you can pick your friends but you can’t choose your family, so where does that leave a group like The Magic Numbers? The band is made of two lots of brother and sister pairings (Sean & Angela Gannon and Romeo & Michele Stodart for those playing along). They first entered the limelight back in 2005 when they released a successful eponymous debut. The following year would see “Those The Brokes” dropped with breakneck speed but it would also cause the group friction, both familial and otherwise. Now at album number three, “The Runaway”, the quartet initially had to take some time out (read: pursue side projects and make guest appearances) before they could regroup refreshed and ready.

Continue reading The Magic Numbers “The Runaway” – Album Review

Danza Contemporanea De Cuba @ The Playhouse (Brisbane Festival), 15th September 2010 – Live Review


[Image courtesy Brisbane Festival]
  Review: Lana Harris

Young and old wait in the shadows for the outsiders. Excited and unsure about what to expect from these strangers, from this contemporary dance troupe from the other side of the world, the other side of governance. Their entrance: a few members trickle onto the stage, in silence and unadorned.

Continue reading Danza Contemporanea De Cuba @ The Playhouse (Brisbane Festival), 15th September 2010 – Live Review

Polarity @ The Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane 13th September 2010 – Live Review

Review: Lana Harris

  The performance starts in enmeshed innocence, dancer wrapped around dancer, cheek to cheek, limb to limb, ebbing and flowing into one another. Behind these demonstrations of closeness sits a man alone in a chair. Far away from him is a woman in a lounge room setting – flickering lamp, thick rug, and a lonely expression. They both ignore the blatant yet playful seduction occurring in front of them. The dancers too, are oblivious to these others: wrapped up in the intensity of their unfolding romance, their focus remains themselves and their explorations. There is no question we are watching the beginnings of love.

Continue reading Polarity @ The Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane 13th September 2010 – Live Review

Sylvia by A.R. Gurney – Brisbane Arts Theatre, 11th September 2010 – Live Review

Review: Pepa Wolfe

  Sylvia By A.R. Gurney
Directed by David Bell

With: Karla Deane, Michael Civitano, Natasha Kapper, Jill Brocklebank, Kate Hawkins.

There was a decidedly pleasant mood at the Brisbane Arts Theatre on Saturday, as people gathered for the opening night performance of A.R. Gurney’s Sylvia. Promoted as a comedy about the relationship between Man and “Man’s best friend”, the play’s title character is in fact a dog – a precocious little mut, played by Karla Deane.

Continue reading Sylvia by A.R. Gurney – Brisbane Arts Theatre, 11th September 2010 – Live Review

Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon, Cancer Bats @ Brisbane Riverstage – 11 September 2010 – Live Review

Review: Hannah Collins


Click image to view Photo Gallery

[Photos: Stuart Blythe]
  Summer’s on the way, the festival season is almost upon us. Beginning September 11 2010, the first of many Soundwave Touring showcases hits Brisbane’s Riverstage on a perfectly tempered spring eve. The temporary fences are up, the box office open, lights are on and 1000’s of patrons begin the seemingly endless walk up the gardens path toward the peak of gardens hill. A most anticipated entry. In conjunction with announcements of Side Waves; the world’s most sought after bands to be frequenting our shores over the next few months, Soundwave Touring paint a new metal face on 9/11.

What will tonight bring? Could these hardcore brethren breathe the fire of the riff across so many receptive faces? An audience of youth seeps out of the shadows, girthing the ever familiar grassy knolls of Riverstage and creeping toward the stage front where the grass gives way to stone.

Glancing left and right there’s nothing abnormal about the sea of black that rises and falls beneath us. The odd white shirt is ever-present and distracting like a pseudo rose in a field of poppies. Poppies that if you plucked from the soil, stripped of their seeds and ground to a pulp; would taste like a smoky blended tea called Bring Me Cancer Bullets.


Click image to view Photo Gallery

[Photos: Stuart Blythe] Continue reading Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon, Cancer Bats @ Brisbane Riverstage – 11 September 2010 – Live Review

Jeff Lang @ East Brunswick Club, Melbourne – 11 September 2010 – Live Review

Review: Ben Connolly
Photo: Amy Skinder
Jeff Lang was not always the teller of disturbed tales accompanied by face-melting blues guitar shredding. There was time – in the heady post-grunge days – way back at the beginning of this 15-year-long and counting career, that Lang appeared to fancy himself as a bit of a fringe-rock crooner. His then long locks and fresh face even graced morning television and he seemed always just on the verge of tipping into the mainstream proper.

While his blues-folk-roots-rock brethren (The John Butler Trio, Xavier Rudd, et al) watered down their origins after initially making the cross-over and opting for the high-exposure, high- sales paths, Lang instead maintained a steady personal path of discovery through the back alleyways which make up his self-described ‘disturbed folk’.

Along the way there have been excursions into deep south blues, rousing sea shanties, psychedelic-laden folk-pop and, more recently, ‘world music’ (with a collaboration with Malian kora player Mamadou Diabante and Indian tabla player Bobby Singh). His latest album, Chimeradour, stayed true to its Greek- mythology based namesake and married them together, but with subtle nod back to the earlier straight-rock days with some crunchy numbers laying a solid base layer.
Continue reading Jeff Lang @ East Brunswick Club, Melbourne – 11 September 2010 – Live Review

Crow “Arcane” – LP Review

Review: Lana Harris

  Deep in the American south, legends about crossroads abound. It is said that if you stand at a crossroads and wait there until midnight, a man (or the devil in the guise of a man) will appear who will imbibe you with phenomenal guitar playing abilities (and the women, money and fame that come with it). All that for the rather reasonable cost of your soul. Nowadays we know that’s not true, because there are plenty of people who have immense amounts of money, sex and fame that got gypped on the talented part.

Continue reading Crow “Arcane” – LP Review

Sutra @ The Playhouse (Brisbane Festival), 8th September 2010 – Live Review

Review: Lana Harris

[Image courtesy Brisbane Festival – Photo Credit: Hugo Glendinning]

Bodies twirling through the air, gravity defying leaps and rod straight limbs in perfect turns: the Shaolin monks have come to town. Part of a new contemporary dance performance, their fighting skills are being used to story tell and entertain in another’s vision.

Artist Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is the man who has married the martial with the contemporary, travelling to China to live with and learn from the monks. His involvement in the temple life must have been deep and overwhelmingly positive: not only has Cherkaoui managed to capture the monks centuries old, tradition honed skills and use them effectively in a modern, western performance style, he convinced them to leave their Buddhist temple and to perform as part of the Brisbane Festival.
Continue reading Sutra @ The Playhouse (Brisbane Festival), 8th September 2010 – Live Review