STACK #145 Nov 2016

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MUSIC REVIEWS

Paul Kelly and Charlie Owen Death's Dateless Night Paul Kelly is not afraid to mix things up. Six months after his Shakespeare album, Seven Sonnets & A Song , Kelly joins forces with guitarist Charlie Owen to deliver a collection of funeral songs. The album – which takes its title from a Shakespeare sonnet – sees them tackle tracks such as Townes Van Zandt’s To Live Is to Fly , The Beatles’ Let It Be and Maurice Frawley’s Good Things . “They’re not always sad, of course,” Kelly says. “They tend towards the philosophical, wide and deep in scope.” Strangely uplifting, the album also shows what a fine singer Kelly is. His wonderfully expressive yet understated voice is capable of

Agnes Obel Citizen of Glass Agnes Obel is an artist who paints whole worlds with sound. Layers and layers of instruments and manipulated, tones are sung, performed, recorded and arranged. The vistas that Obel builds are immense, full of ideas and imagination; for the string parts, 250 tracks were combined, and Agnes' own vocals are altered and harmonised into multi-part choruses. To press play on this record is to be immersed in Agnes' vision, a place inspired by glass, literal and metaphorical. Songs and lyrics are designed to be clear, smooth and strong, yet also fragile with dangerous edges. A resilient sadness shines beneath the surface, reflected in the themes of loss and passage of time. The resulting record is a playground for the listener: crystalline ballads and sharp orchestral pop suites tower as if landmarks to explore. (PIAS) SimonWinkler

Jeff Rosenstock WORRY.

Never has an album about mental illness and unrest felt more pertinent and necessary. Forever with his finger on the punk rock pulse, Jeff Rosenstock has dedicated an entire album to worry; or more specifically anxiety, depression and their many moody bedfellows.

In just over 35 minutes, WORRY. feels like a particularly well-timed album as it addresses the crippling social anxiety felt by his peers on any given day, or in some more specific instances, in the lead up to the 2016 US presidential election. Iced with Rosenstock’s signature punk rock renegade attitude, WORRY. is an important time and place album. (CookingVinyl) Emily Kelly

conveying every emotion. (Gawdaggie/Universal) Jeff Jenkins

Empire of the Sun Two Vines

Heart Beach Kiss Your Face Waves roll heavy with ancient emotions into the peaceful harbour of Heart Beach. The Hobart band are keen observers of the tides, harnessing their power to create affecting and effective guitar pop. Listen carefully and you can hear sonar blasts from the past, the plaintive melodies and moods of '80s post punk and scuzzy '90s garage new wave reach the surface, but Heart Beach follow their own currents into new oceans of feeling. Sometimes songs are sunlit and shimmering, other times grey and shivering in the cold. The 'kiss' of the title could be a gentle breeze, or the sting of wind-borne sand. Brittle, for instance reflects on the debris of love lost, the lines carried by rough rock guitars and aching harmonies. (Spunk) SimonWinkler

Big Smoke Time Is Golden It’s a hell of a story. While

Lady Gaga Joanne Mother Monster has evolved into a grand goddess, and she has us all on our knees worshipping Joanne . The theatrics are stripped back; Gaga's rough but silvery voice gives us a surprising folky/ country vibe with a kick of Fame . If her previous albums were tasked with getting our attention, then Joanne ’s purpose is to give Gaga’s crazy soul a voice. Working with accomplished producer Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse), Gaga proves she’s incapable of being pigeonholed – and for those hoping for wild antics, have no fear. Give Dancin’ In Circles and Just Another Day a few listens and you’ll be fawning. (Universal) Savannah Douglas

Two Vines is the anomaly of a Dali exhibition come to life in the form of two heavenly music angels. As expected, Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore’s third album is nothing short of magical. What their previous albums were to futurisim and icy wonderlands is what Two Vines is to a gorgeous Tarzan-ian forest overtaking the modern world. While their spacy and synth-y sound may seem like it would be a step backwards from earthiness, it’s easy to feel well connected to the planet while breathing in the life essence of every song. May the breezy wind from Before , the soothing crash of cold waves in To Her Door, and the fiery single High and Low bring you much needed peace. (EMI) Savannah Douglas

working on Big Smoke’s debut album, singer Adrian Slattery was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. Between bouts of chemotherapy and brain surgery, he recorded the album. “We can’t stop now,” Slattery sings in the opening cut. “We’re gonna find out how we can turn it into something good.” Sadly, Slattery died in May, aged 30. His mates rallied, raising the funds to mix the album. The result is an excellent record, showcasing a fine singer who knew how to write a nifty alt-country tune. It’s a life-affirming record, and a bittersweet triumph. Time is golden, indeed. (Barely Dressed/Remote Control) Jeff Jenkins

NOVEMBER 2016

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