STACK NZ Jan-Feb #59

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12 SUMMER EDITION 2015 JB Hi-Fi
Justin Townes
Earle
Absent Fathers
January 16
Getting to 33 is a great achievement
in itself for Justin Townes Earle
(above), the son of Steve Earle has
followed in his father’s footsteps –
in more ways than one. Having won
the battle with alcohol and drugs,
he’s continued to build himself a
successful career with his own blend
of soulful country, folk and blues.
Now sober and recently married,
there’s no stopping him. Following
the success of his fifth album Single
Mothers, released only four months
ago, Absent Fathers is the companion
piece. Both were recorded in the
same session, and were intended
for double album release. But Earle
ultimately decided the albums
needed their own specific identities.
The titles of both records reveal much
about Justin and his upbringing, and
he continues to tell his story, with
his sincere introspective songs.
Through truthful revelation lies a new
maturity, with every newly created
album. Along with his trademark
guitar pickin’ and straightforward
honest presentation, his touring band
appear to know and feel these songs
with great respect. A standout track,
not intended for this release, was
recorded while in Australia on his
recent visit, a beautiful cover of the
Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, added as
a bonus.
Denise Hylands
Public Service
Broadcasting
The Race For Space
February 23
When this London duo released
their debut album, Inform-Educate-
Entertain, it seemed risky to
predict a follow-up. A series of
archival film snippets, set to a
backdrop of modern soundscapes,
it felt like a fleeting gimmick. But
their sophomore effort sees the
twosome dusting off another set
of voiceovers, this time with a
distinct interplanetary theme. Tense
recordings from the Apollo 8 control
in Houston are sampled along with
several other news reports on the
race for space. “Ten minutes that
shook the world” plus other iconic
quotes are underscored by zappy
synths and ominous nuances.
Occasionally, the music overwhelms
an individual speaker and some of
it is, frankly, forgettable. But there’s
enough bombast in parts, almost
evoking Jeff Wayne’s War of the
Worlds, to cover these cracks.
“The greater our knowledge
increases, the greater our ignorance
unfolds,” declares one vintage
announcer. A timely nod to our
abuse of technology’s gifts, perhaps.
Or a reminder, like PSB’s albums,
of that eternally fine line between
propaganda and information.
GarethThompson
Enter Shikari
The Mindsweep
January 16
Enter Shikari have
always possessed a
mildly infuriating inflated sense of self
worth. They seem to approach every
album as though they’re bestowing
unparalleled musical genius onto their
audience. It can be terribly off-putting
at times, but the scale and grandeur
they lend their newest album
The Mindsweep admittedly lends
itself to some interesting output.
Sounding as though they’ve been
commissioned to pen the soundtrack
to a cheesy Channing Tatum scifi
screened exclusively in iMax in 3-D,
Enter Shikari are on an unrelenting
futuristic nu- metal bender here, with
production as slick as Tatum’s chest.
Emily Kelly
James Brown’s extraordinary career is vividly brought to life in
this colourful biopic anchored by a terrific turn from Chadwick
Boseman as the Godfather of Soul. Director Tate Taylor (The Help)
doesn’t shirk from highlighting the less savoury aspects of Brown’s
personality – the shameful way he treated his band (in particular
his long-time collaborator Bobby Byrd, brilliantly played here by
True Blood’sNelsan Ellis), the domestic abuse of his wives and his
battle with drugs – but Get On Up concentrates on the positives,
namely his ground-breaking working in R’n’B and funk. Wisely,
Boseman sticks to lip syncing to Brown’s original recordings, but
the singer’s incendiary live performances are superbly recreated,
making this a must for any music fan. John Ferguson
A biopic of the legendary guitarist was long overdue: unfortunately,
unlike Get On Up, Jimi: All Is By Side does not feature any of
Hendrix’s original music, as the makers were unable to strike a
deal with his estate (session man Waddy Wachtel instead handles
the axe work). However, director John Ridley turns that into a
positive, offering up instead a dreamy, impressionistic account of
a crucial year in Hendrix’s life which saw him move to London to
launch his career. Outkast’s André Benjamin brilliantly captures the
guitarist’s laidback charisma and there are fine performances from
the two British women in his life at the time: Imogen Poots as Keith
Richards’ ex-girlfriend Linda Keith, and Hayley Atwell as Hendrix’s girlfriend Kathy
Etchingham. John Ferguson
GET ON UP
JIMI: ALL IS BY MY SIDE
Format:
Format:
Release Date: 11/02/15
Release Date: 12/02/15
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