STACK #167 Sept 2018

MUSIC REVIEWS

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Emma Louise Lilac Everything: A Project By Emma Louise You can’t accuse Emma Louise of making the same album three times. The Australian singer- songwriter teamed up with Canada’s Tobias Jesso Jr (who has written hits with Sia, Adele and Florence + the Machine) to create this album, which showcases her new vocal sound. It’s sultry, soulful and almost androgynous, and the result is deep and dark – just check out Falling Apart and Shadowman . Emma Louise tells the tale of the album’s genesis in Mexico: “If I could paint a picture of myself tonight, it would be the deepest shade of blue … So I took a flight to Mexico because I just felt so lost.” Lost and found. Lilac Everything is stunning. (Liberation) Jeff Jenkins

Thundamentals I Love Songs

If you’ve been following the Thundamentals for as long as we have, you’ll be well aware that underneath those fresh hip hop beats they’ve been laying down for 10 years now, it’s really all about love. The group are embracing that motif to its fullest with new album I Love Songs – and the title is pretty self-explanatory. Tuka and his pals love music; they live and breathe it, and through this 12-track journey they’re hoping to share some of their experiences, with camaraderie and companionship. With radio fave I Miss You , as well as party-starter Payroll and the more laid-back Eyes On Me , you can tell they’ve been waiting to release something like this for a long time. (Universal) Alesha Kolbe

DREAMS No One Defeats Us DREAMS’ debut album features a song called Odd Party , which is perhaps a good description of the record. This is a party where you never feel entirely comfortable; the DJ doesn’t allow you to get into a groove, refusing to play it safe, eschewing crowd-pleasing bangers in favour of challenging the dancefloor with some

unpredictable electro fare. DREAMS is, of course, the long-awaited collaboration between Silverchair’s Daniel Johns and Empire Of The Sun’s Luke Steele, who met when Steele’s previous band, The Sleepy Jackson, supported Silverchair in 2004. In many ways, this is Johns’ Max Q – the sound of a rocker hooking up with an electronic adventurer: “I just want a new kind of life,” he declares in Young Minds . The result is a cosmic trip; call it electro punk (not-so-sweet DREAMS). Prince is an obvious touchpoint, but more his weirder later work than his hit-making days in the ’80s. I’m sure that Steele’s followers will enjoy the ride, while Silverchair fans will probably go, “Huh?” But it does confirm that Daniel Johns is a great artist – one who’s not afraid to take chances and push his boundaries. (EMI) Jeff Jenkins

The Paper Kites On The Corner Where You Live On The Corner Where You Live is a companion to The Paper Kites’ On The Train Ride Home , which was released in April this year. The new album opens with the sound of a train and some mournful piano and sax, setting the scene for a record that invites you in, and refuses to let you leave. There’s a touching simplicity to The Paper Kites’ work, but it’s a sophisticated sound, too, with co-producer Peter Katis (The National, Interpol) adding the subtle layers that create a masterful mood. The result is a record that oozes class. Atmospheric and assured. There’s no other Australian

Darren Middleton Tides Since the demise of Powderfinger, guitarist Darren Middleton has been just as prolific as singer Bernard Fanning. Middleton’s third solo album opens with a song called In The End : “It’s a fine line living this way,” he sings, “playing chords, singing stories day by day, hoping to connect with you.” Co-produced by You Am I’s Davey Lane, Tides showcases some magical melodies, delightful twists and turns, and exquisite backing vocals (courtesy of Vika and Linda Bull and Kelly Lane) – check out Some People , After All and Return . File next to Bob Evans and Josh Pyke; Middleton’s emotive pop deserves a bigger audience. (Ditto) Jeff Jenkins

Paces ZAG At some point in everyone’s life they will come to the realisation that nothing stays the same – you can embrace the changes or resist them, but either way they’re still going to happen. When everyone expected Gold Coast producer and perennial nice guy Paces (Mikey Perry) to zig, that’s when he zagged, binch. The tropical

electronic foundations on which Perry built his sound continue on ZAG , but with more considered pop sensibility. His bread and butter (vegan obviously) is in his female-led vocal collaborations: the good vibes in Act My Age , the wild Savage and the crescendo-to-drop on Don’t Run – featuring Sydnee Carter, NYNE and Doolie, respectively – emphasise Perry’s love of emerging local talent. EDM lord Shockone adds his touch to banger Going Mad featuring Raven Felix and Clypso, who completely stars on the track. (Give me a whole album with this team! It’s like M.I.A dipping her toes into techno.) Meanwhile, an ever-growing hip hop influence is a welcome addition to Perry’s palette, with Midas.Gold and Jeida Woods providing the hardest verses on the record. For an album that comes from a transition period in the producer’s life, ZAG is full of infectious positivity, confident experimentation, cute samples of the artist's dog Chilli and son Koa, and an overwhelming sense that this nice guy isn’t going to finish last. (Etcetc)Tim Lambert

band quite like them. (Wonderlick/Sony) Jeff Jenkins

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SEPTEMBER 2018

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