There's a list as long as a...long list...of things that Perth's Tired Lion have achieved in their career so far, including releasing quite an impressive debut EP All We Didn't Know, playing at Singapore's Music Matters and supporting a whole bunch of bands across this large country of ours, but I kinda think the most important thing is what happens when you hit play on their tracks, and the latest one; 'I Don't Think You Like Me', the first single from their second EP, is no exception to that thought. It's immediate nod inducing guitars, dirty harsh chords followed by the impressive take no prisoners voice of Sophie Hopes, which throws you straight into the angry sick of it all partly-grungy-partly-pop days of the 90s, which is always a great place to visit. With tracks like this, I'm not really sure how they could question anyone disliking them.
Jo Michelmore gives 'I Don't Think You Like Me' three and a half Alanis heads out of five...
There will be those times in your life where you hear a song for the first time and you just have to stop what you're doing, throw your hands in the air and scream, "YASSSS!" Now, I know I'm an old person who shouldn't even know about this whole YASSSS thing and I kind of even hate myself for going with it, but that's just the power of a song like 'Just A Story' by emerging Sydney music maker, OKENYO. There's only love (and a whole lot of it) for this track, which grabs you with a magical atmosphere from the get-go. An engaging, borderline-Japanese inspired musical arrangement leads into the introduction of OKENYO's oh-so-soulful vocal stylings and you're hooked. It's right here from the opening moments that you'll know this is an artist you'll be jumping on board with. It's right here that you'll know this is an artist destined for big things and a bright future.
"Walk down the path and slide down the slope, when this all passes it will be just a story." Described as, "a tongue-in-cheek comment on being suffocated by another's desire and the rituals of relationships," 'Just A Story' is the lead track from OKENYO's debut EP, Mirage. I'm pretty confident in already calling it one of my favourite EPs of the year. If the other tracks are even half as good as 'Just A Story', we're in for a delicious musical treat. I'm also thinking OKENYO can bust out a pretty powerful and soulful ballad, so fingers-crossed. I don't ask for too much, do I? Anyway, it continually blows my mind that Australia is home to such incredible talent and OKENYO will surely rise to the top in short order. Her music packs one mighty punch and it's only the start of her story. I can't wait to see how it plays out.
Matt Bond gives 'Just A Story' five Kanye heads out of five...
In 2015 we like to pretend Taylor Swift and Katy Perry have some kind of epic feud and Azealia hates Iggy and Kanye likes to argue with anyone at any award ceremony given the chance, but I have decided the best battles happened in the 80s. No, not Michael v Prince, not Tiffany v Debbie, not even Russia v the US of A, the best fights were fought with a soundtrack. Because everything was a lot simpler in the 80s. No poorly spelt apology tweets. In the 80s, there was only one way to resolve a fight. And that was by dance.
In 83, Michael Jackson was just chillin at home in his keyboard t shirt when the neighbourhood gangs had enough of each other’s toothpick chewing ways and decided to fight, by holding hands and knives. Thank goodness for Michael and his orange leather jacket or the constant spinning and ineffectual flailing of weapons may never have stopped.
It happened again in 87 when Michael was innocently prancing through the mysteriously empty subway with his pack of acid wash clad youths, when they stumbled across a ticket inspector demanding to see their proof of fare. No ticket no journey. Well they weren’t standing for that and a fight with the authorities turned into a dance battle involving the splits, roller skates and black leather. Thank goodness for MJ’s crotch grabbing talents, which put the inspectors off, or he would have faced a $30 fine. Except it was probably only $5.50 in the 80s.
Fighting must run in the Jackson family, because in 89 Janet was also pretty serious about her battles. She formed an entire army of dancers in ‘Rhythm Nation’ who were clearly pulled together to fight the common enemy…nations with no rhythm?
All Pat Benatar wanted to do in 83 was hang out with her underage boyfriend, cut her pretty dresses into rags, dance with her strumpet friends and wear every accessory in her wardrobe, at the same time. But sleazy white vest wearing men wanted to get in her way. As they did in the 80s. Thank goodness for Pat, her manic arm movements and boob waggling ways. No gold toothed man could stand in her way.
And in 87, one of the greatest musical genre fights of all time was fought. All Aerosmith wanted to do was rock and all Run DMC wanted to do was rap. Thank goodness for the hip swinging and somersaulting that Steven Tyler performed and the tricky double high-five above his head that Run DMC pulled off and the classic fight of hip hop vs rock was won. By music. Yes.
Do you like surprises? When it comes to music, I'm a big fan of listening to albums that take turns in some unexpected directions. Know Your Destiny, the debut album from Melbourne's Chris Cavill and The Prospectors is one of the nicest surprises I've been treated to in some time. It's a very personal album comprised of music jam packed with genuine emotion and stories of life, love and loss that we're all likely to have experienced at some point in our lives. But far from being the expected folky-Australian collection you might think you're stumbling into from the beginning with the instrumental 'Cooktown Sunrise', Know Your Destiny expands into territory that makes it largely unidentifiable as a single genre. It makes for a highly enjoyable listening experience as Cavill and principal Prospectors, Michael Maguire and Dave Cafarella, embrace elements of folk, country, reggae, rock and blues and roots. There's a lot of hats being worn here, but they're all stylishly pulled off and it makes for a timeless assembly of tracks you'll find yourself wanting to hear more and more.
While you wouldn't call Know Your Destiny easy-listening (which is apparently code for 'oldies' these days), the album is definitely easy to listen to. 'Across The Border' is enough to leave you completely relaxed. There's smooth harmonies in the vocal lines, driving percussion that finds the right balance to not be overbearing and strong lyricism in lines like, "all that we know is what keeps us alive." Cavill's skills as a songwriter are one of the album's major strengths throughout. You'll also find yourself loving the ukulele and harmonica more than you thought you were ever going to. This revelation will occur on the third track, 'Midnight Train' which features Ben Smith. Coming across as so much more than just a typical ballad, Melbourne itself becomes one of the song's leads, seedy lanes and all, on one of the Know Your Destiny highlights.
'Loretta' brings the bluesy guitars to the fore, as Cavill gets his croon on with the promise that, "most of all, yeah, I will be here 'til the end." If the Loretta in question is Cavill's wife, he's doing the whole husband thing better than you. We move from romance to straight up rock and roll with 'Out On the Water' and 'Lov'Em Til You Die'. These two would have to be major crowd-pleasers at a Prospectors live show, with that classic sounding guitar rock that you can't help but move to. Saving the best for last, we get two songs that are equally fantastic, but really couldn't be more different. At least in terms of story content. 'My Morning Grace' is from the perspective of someone so content, happy with their lot in life and of course it's happy... there's so much ukulele going on again. Cavill's literally singing about how all he sees is love and you? You're just going to have a big smile on your face and be happy for him, alright?
Compare that to 'San Diego', which is the low to the high of 'My Morning Grace'. "I'm only lost 'til I'm found, and right now seems so impossible, no one's going to find me now." Things do not seem to be going quite well, but it sure does make for a beautiful song. Top marks for the melody, lyrics and vocal performance. I say this a lot, I know, but the best way to end an album is with a memorable ballad and Chris Cavill and The Prospectors deliver that in spectacular fashion with 'San Diego'. For my money, it's the album's standout track. You're hearing someone pour their heart and soul into a track and you can actually feel that. There's a lot of debates about what makes 'real' music, but there's no doubt that this is real music. The same can be said about all of the tracks that make up Know Your Destiny.
Chris Cavill and The Prospectors left me more than pleasantly surprised with Know Your Destiny. It's a showcase for a group of talented artists that really know how to make that thing we all love (which is why you're here, right?), music. A highly recommended listen and I'll be looking forward to hearing more from the band and hopefully get a chance to see them live too. Go and give Know Your Destiny a listen.
Matt Bond gives Know Your Destiny four Beatles heads out of five...
Goddamn I like this song, from the very beginning. Would it be weird if I started my review like that, just declaring a love from the very beginning? Too late, done. I guess it’s because the love starts at the very start, with those guitars smashing their way out of the speakers in a totally inoffensive but oh so “listen to me” way. the drums delightfully pulling you through and Paul Donoughue’s voice offering a familiarity that comforts in the sweetest way. There is a beautiful sense of Australian in these sounds, a sense of subtle excitement and big, wide open spaces, the feeling of sun and blue skies and tiny white clouds and just the teeniest amount of bittersweet, with moments of life passing by that you desperately want to remember but can only feel instead, with just a little regret. The only regret I have is not discovering this song a little sooner. Oh well, I’ll just press play again and make up for lost time, starting now.
Jo Michelmore gives ‘Wedding Pages’ three and a half Kimbra heads out of five…
