STACK #143 Sept 2016

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MUSIC REVIEWS

PIXIES

Kylie Auldist Family Tree This is the year the world woke up to the vocal talents of Melbourne’s soul queen Kylie Auldist, who follows the international success of This Girl with her fourth solo set, which sparkles and shines. Written and produced with her Bamboos buddies Lance Ferguson and Graeme Pogson, Family Tree showcases a stack of ’80s synth sounds, reminiscent of The Pointer Sisters and Prince. Overall, Auldist comes across as a modern-day Renée Geyer – a genre-busting vocal powerhouse. She even successfully re-works Cold Chisel’s Saturday Night . The title of track one says it all: Sensational . (FamilyTree Records) Jeff Jenkins Various Back In Blue Back In Blue , a complete re- recording of AC/DC's Back In Black performed by a number of leading Australian blues artists, was created to promote Beyond Blue: an independent, non-profit organisation that offers help to people suffering issues associated with depression, anxiety and related mental disorders. Hells Bells featuring singer Jane Michele and guitarist Geoff Achison, Lachy Doley's rocking Hammond organ treatment of Back in Black, singer/ guitarist Genevieve Chadwick's acoustic Have A Drink On Me , Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution covered by Lloyd Spiegel and Cass Eager, and 8 Ball Aitken's seductive Shook Me All Night Long are among numerous standout performances. (Only Blues) Billy Pinnell

Drugdealer The End Of Comedy

The End Of Comedy is the latest release from multi-talented LA musician Michael Collins. He’s previously been known for his records under Run DMT and Salvia Plath, but the latest alias is Drugdealer. If you’re looking for an uplifting experience filled with psych-folk balladry, damaged West Coast glamour, subterranean East Coast jazz and high concept pop, Drugdealer has the goods. Collins doesn’t work alone, enlisting friends and collaborators Weyes Blood and Ariel Pink among a line-up of premier players from Mac DeMarco’s band and musicians from Mild High Club, Mr. Twin Sister and others. Filled with instant classics like the disarming lead-single Suddenly , The End Of Comedy is the beginning of something beautiful. (Domino/EMI) SimonWinkler

In 1986, the man known as Black Francis (and later Frank Black) gave up the idea of going to New Zealand to see Halley's Comet to form a band.That band was the Pixies, who inspired countless others in their first lifespan.They split in 1993, reformed in 2004 (although founding member/bassist Kim Deal quit in 2013) and have a new album, Head Carrier , due out on September 30. A long, if broken, life... but what are their essential albums?

Surfer Rosa (1988) The impressive debut produced by Steve Albini announced a very different-sounding band (with odd lyrics) and topped the US indie charts. Raw, influential (Cobain loved it and got Albini in for Nirvana's In Utero ) and often bruisingly melodic alongside the sonic aggression. Doolittle (1989) The 'hits' album produced by Gil Norton, which includes Monkey Gone to Heaven and the poppy Here Comes Your Man with indie radio favourites Debaser and Crackity Jones . The easy-entry album for sometimes uneasy listening, and the quiet/loud dynamic which became a grunge hallmark. Trompe Le Monde (1991) After the spacerock-cum-surf sound and themes of Bossanova the previous year, this was a return to their raw mix of power pop, alt-rock and melodic noise. Not the critics' favourite (too much sci-fi), but fans loved it. Indie Cindy (2014) A collection of the three EPs released over 2013-2014 (all produced by Norton), and the first release without Deal. The strong beginning of their second life.

Columbus Spring Forever Since when did sadness sound this fun? Like battling your way through a depressingly gloomy Melbourne winter to find out that the sun will shine again (Melbourne, we’re waiting) Spring Forever is the light at the end of a long dark tunnel. Opening track Summer Dress is a cup half full break-up story. There are light and heavy moments – musically and lyrically – on the record; Raindrop is classic pop-punk fun while frontman Alex Moses reflects deeply on what it is to love and lose, laying himself bare in tracks Daffodil and Hopeless. As far as debut albums go, Columbus couldn’t have done much better. They haven’t taken themselves too seriously while still creating something meaningful and relatable. (UNFD)Tim Lambert

And also... Black Francis' output as Frank Black has its many highlights in a pop-meets- noise way, notably 1994's Teenager of the Year and, for real fans, the curiosity Frank Black Francis double from 2004 which comprises one disc of pre-Pixies demos, and another disc on which he revisits some Pixies songs in a stripped-back manner. Deal's band The Breeders (with Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses) kicked off with the powerful Pod (1990) and peaked with Last Splash (1993).

For more interviews, reviews and overviews from Graham Reid visit www.elsewhere.co.nz

SEPTEMBER 2016

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