Kate Miller-Heidke- "Curiouser"

Most artists release a second album that's full of nowhere near as good songs. When Kate and (now husband) Keir Nuttall began writing for this album they had nothing to fall back on. What came from this creative outpouring is an eclectic bunch of songs that prove what an amazing storyteller Kate Miller-Heidke is. A change in producer has created a whole new sound for Kate. Sonically it's much more electronic than "Little Eve" but Kate uses this to her advantage and the result is twelve vastly different songs.

"The One Thing I Know" opens up the album but it's a deceptive feel- very techno-rock until the chorus kicks in and then it suddenly becomes upbeat reggae. It's wonderful love song with a bit of kick about it.

A slightly cynical song comes next in "God's Gift To Women". This side of Kate hasn't been seen since her first EP's classic date gone wrong song "Blah Blah". "If we were the last two people in the world/ the human race would face extinction/ before we'd get it on honey" is indicitive of the cleverness of Kate's putdowns.

From the cynical to the sorrowful. "Caught In The Crowd" is an absolute gem of a song. Detailing an incident from her childhood (I don't whether it was real or not) the simple song (only 3 chords) tells the tale of how when she was in school she befriended a loner kid but when push came to shove- literally- she left him to fend for himself. The chorus is her plea for forgiveness. The heartbreak in her voice as she reveals what happens is masterful.

The wonderful "Can't Shake It" brings out the humourous side of Kate. Again, it's something we haven't seen in a while. Detailing how hopeless her dancing skills are, this is an absolute cracker of a song that contains some of my favourite lyrics from her ("I execute the moonwalk like I stepped in s**t/ I can't take it). Set to a relentless techno beat, this is an amazing vocal work for her- although aided by keyboards on the album she performs the whole opening "au natural" when live. It's absolutely brilliant.

We chill out for "The Last Day On Earth"- a heartwarming song about wanting to be with someone until the end of the earth. Beautiful arrangements abound in this one. From simple piano and voice to full band.

One of my favourites on this album is the next one "I Like You Better When You're Not Around" details Kate's wish to take a break from one of her more bitchy friends. Just listen to the brilliant way she changes her voice to become the said bitchy friend. The lyrics are, ironically, almost as bitchy as the person she wants to see less of.

"Motorscooter" is about the love a woman has for a...you guessed it...motorscooter. Actually one that belongs to someone else. It's full of wonderful vehicle imagry including "beep beep" chorus. I really love the use of vibraphone in this- almost gives it a sort California surfing song feel- it's a great driving song and really captures the feel of those old tracks from the 60's without sounding dated.

Another journey back to school days with "The End Of School". It's an all to common feeling you get when you remember how so much easier life was back then. Kate captures that reflective mood well despite the heavy accompaniment.

I must admit that when I heard "Politics In Space" live earlier this year I didn't think much of it but the studio version is much more effective. It's about how our parent's generation left the planet in a mess and expect us to clean it up. Gotta love the line "The 60's were 50 years ago...GET OVER IT!!!!". The ending has a really weird "Strawberry Fields Forever" feel about it- this song also features Kate in full operatic flight (matching vocal lines with a glockenspiel no less!!).

"Supergirl" is probably the weirdest track on this album- it's hard to know whether this track is just a bit of nonsense about women being brilliant at everything or Kate's attempt at a superhero song. Either way it's got a keyboard feel throughout like a Japanese anime theme.

"Our Song" is the ballad for this album. Simple, elegant and pure. It comes from the heart and speaks to the romantic in all of us.

The final track- "No Truck"- is the final cynical, slightly angry song. With a quasi-pizzicato backing for the most part, it's about those guys that demand everybody's attention and want to be molly-coddled and primped all the time and finally the singer has gutful of it all and storms out. I love the way this track ends in almost complete anarchy like the world has fallen apart.

What makes this album so special is the unique environments Kate puts on each individual song. The sleeve art is of a dolls house with each song enclosed in a separate room and that is the perfect visual image for this album. Like "Little Eve" I am constantly finding new things in each track. It blows me away that this album was written so quickly and yet the songs sound like they have sitting around for ages. That, my friends, is the mark of a brilliant songwriter.

Here endeth the lesson.....

Kate Miller-Heidke- "Little Eve"

I rarely use the word "unique" when discussing an artist. But with Kate Miller-Heidke I'll happily make an exception. This young Brisbane-born singer has totally and utterly captured my musical imagination. Her combination of pop voice and soprano opera voice is something unheard of in the industry- add to the that an incredible knack for writing quirky, catchy and personal music make her an incredibly rare talent. I'd also love to add that seeing this woman perform live (which I have done on many occasions) is something to behold. Whether she's sitting behind her Roland keyboard or standing out front she commands attention from her audience, and her ability to communicate with them should be studied by artists everywhere.

Kate made three EP's before her initial album was released in 2007. Even with those EP's you could see that she was looking for a different focus on her music. Strange harmonic shifts, vast arrays of dynamics and vocal colours as well as exquisite orchestrations. If you can track those down I'd heartily recommend them.

"Little Eve" is a concept album of sorts (I daresay Kate would probably cringe at the thought) going through the various stages of a relationship from start to finish (with a few stops along the way). The first two songs ("I Got The Way" and "Make It Last") are about the giddy joys of discovering someone (the former) and then discovering the joys of life (the latter)- there's a freshness, youthfulness and general positivity about both these numbers. We then dive headfirst into "Words"- a dramatic song showcasing Kate's amazing vocal range. The lyrics are a little "out there" (I keep thinking she tried the David Bowie "pull a word out of a hat" method of songwriting) but as strange as the song is you somehow find yourself humming the chorus long after you've heard it (there is an excellent tribute to Doctor Who companion Donna Noble on YouTube set to this song, if you find it, give it a watch).
"Delay" brings us to the next step on the relationship road begun with track one. Now the cracks have started to appear. Already her vocals sound a little less energised than in the beginning. The lyrics are as clear as crystal- why do I do all the the work in this relationship and you don't? Its simple accompaniment brings home the rawness of this song. The next stop is "Mama", a song about aiming to please your parents and never quite getting there. The chorus is an emotional outburst and a cry for acceptance in stark contrast to the lighter, more humorous verses.
We return to our relationship with a re-recorded version of "Space They Cannot Touch" (the earlier, slightly rougher version can be found on her first EP "Telegram"). It's almost chant-like verses place you right in the action with the singer contemplating the time between night and dawn when she's lying next to the one she loves- that deep, personal time when the big, bad world can't invade you. The coup-de-gras in the this song is the climax. In an absolute genius stroke of arrangement (also from her original version) the guitar (which has been playing mainly lower string chords and rhythm) suddenly depicts the sun beginning to rise and you can almost here the sparkles of sunbeam and finally the whole band just explodes in a joyous outburst at the end (including Kate who does an almost full octave slide to reach that climax). It still sends chills up my spine to this day.

The title track (of sorts) follows. "Little Adam" is a bizaare conversation between God and Adam about how Adam has been...er...filling his time. It's punctuated by a syncopated violin pizzicato line that heightens the dramatic tension in the verses before exploding in the chorus with the full band. The incredible vocal skills of Kate are on full display here.
"Shoebox" sees the relationship move on to living together. I have always felt this song was a quasi-sequel to a song called "Apartment" from her "Circular Breathing" EP. The lyrics, again, are nothing short of genius. She goes from the physical confines of a small apartment (the said "Shoebox" of the title) to being a much more metaphorical shoebox- her life is basically all crammed in and she can't breathe. It's a sign of what is to come....
Two more "stops" come up now. "Don't Let Go", a beautiful ballad pieced together from an email sent to Kate's mother by a Belgian penpal is made so haunting by the incredible string arrangement that accompanies it. The second is "Ducks Don't Need Satellites"- a quirky little ditty contemplating how Ducks seem quite happy flying around doing what they do without ever having to worry about the crap us humans do. I think the title alone would make a great bumper sticker.
The last two songs on the album bring the "concept" part of this album- and indeed the whole album- to a close.
The first is an upbeat, jaunty song called "Thanks For Today". Don't be fooled by the brightness of the song. Its lyrics hide far more than first appears. She can sense this relationship is fast hitting the skids and is rapidly going downhill so she tries desperately to keep the energy going by paying a lot of compliments to her lover. Whilst the melody is certainly bright and cheerful the real intent is buried in the mix- listen to the backing vocals in the chorus and it almost sounds like weeping....it all leads us into the final, heartbreaking number "Bored With Me". It's all ended and our singer can no longer hide from the facts. She dissects the final days of the relationship and realises the signs that were there right in front of her which she chose to ignore. The end is poignant, yet quietly optimistic as the whole band cuts out leaving Kate to sing the final word ("sleep") all on her own. It's sung in such a way that you have no doubt that she will get to sleep and live to fight another day.
It's an emotionally challenging album covering so many emotions from giddy joy to heartbreak that it's hard to take in. Everytime I hear this album I find something new. Full credit to not only Kate but partner in music (and life) Keir Nuttall. Surely one of the most potent writing teams in Australia, if not the world.
So you would think that after that album- and with no leftover songs- there would be no way Kate could follow up that masterpiece with an equally impressive one, right? Wrong....

Series 2- Australian Made

It was such a long time since my last post that I decided I should start afresh with a new batch of albums- this time all from my wonderful country of Australia.
It's fair to say that Australia has bred, and is continuing to breed, great musicians and this next series of albums are a tribute to those bands and artists who have made an impact on their home turf.

Abba- Voulez-Vous

For many people, the music of Abba all blurs into one another. It isn't helped by the plethora of compilations that seems to come out on a regular basis. But delve into Abba's discography and you'll realise that there is a whole world of difference between their first album ("Ring Ring") and their final album ("The Visitors") released ten years apart.

Abba, like most artists, took care with what they what put out. They searched for a sound that would challenge them musically and creatively whilst still keeping the formula that won the hearts and minds of so many people. For the die-hard Abbamaniac the album "Arrival" is usually the one presented as their finest achievement- and it's hard to disagree. It contains the megahits "Money, Money, Money" and "Dancing Queen" (plus it was also the sessions for that album that yielded "Fernando"). In many ways, Abba was a major contributor to the surge of disco music and 1979's "Voulez-Vous" album was their tilt at that market. In almost every respect they landed a perfect blow. Utilising the recording techniques that had made them famous they hit the discofloor hard with an album of immensely hummable tunes- a number of which are considered "Abba classics".

For an album of disco music to begin with a string section chugging out the main tune by itself is a remarkably bold statement- yet it is exactly the way that the album opens before the band launch into "As Good As New". The title track was a massive chart topper and it's insistent grooves and pulsating rhythm make it hard to not tap your feet along to. The chant of "uh-huh" in the chorus is everything that disco epitomised.

Of course, it wouldn't be Abba without a couple ballads on the album (even a disco one) and "I Have A Dream" was their first attempt at an audience singalong song (something they would repeat on their subsequent albums). The masterstroke is using a children's chorus to sing the final section of the piece (something that led to countless young kids in 1979 getting the opportunity to sing with their idols on stage). "Angeleyes" is another mid-tempo number that carefully balances synths with guitars and uses both to remarkable effect- it's a real strong number for Agnetha who takes the lead for this one. Frida then then helps bring side one to a close with "The King Has Lost His Crown"- her smooth alto voice bringing out the simmering anger of the lyric.

Side two opens the second major hit for this album- the Bjorn-led "Does Your Mother Know?". it's hard to imagine but when Abba first started Bjorn was seen as the lead singer but as the girls grew in popularity Bjorn was happy to contribute only one vocal per album and just stick to guitar and composing. This one is a major highpoint of the album and not only utilises the vocal strengths of Bjorn but the ability of the girls to be the best backing singers in the world. "If It Wasn't For The Nights" follows and it has its sights set firmly back on the dancefloor with some tremendous singing and really good underscoring of strings (paired with the piano). The second ballad of the album (another Abba classic) comes next- "Chiquitita". I really love Benny's piano playing in this one. It's not the most virtuosic playing he has ever done but really brings out the flavour of this number and his little fills throughout the song shift it to another level along with the haunting vocals of Frida. A couple of more dancefloor oriented numbers finish off the album- "Lovers Live A Little Longer" and "Kisses Of Fire" which again make good use of the string section as well as the ability of the girls to convey the message of the song.

The remastered album also contains one of my absolute favourite numbers- "Summer Night City". This track is absolutely blazing hot. The drumming throughout this song is nothing short of amazing along with everything else. "Lovelight" is another track from those sessions and it too is a great use of the girls and keyboards.

Producer Michael Tretow and the boys from Abba have utilised their musical space well throughout. Absolutely nothing is unimportant and by this time their craft was finely honed. It was to be Abba's last major success album-wise. It's an album that captures the vibe and feel of the late 70's perfectly.

Chris De Burgh- The Storyman

All the albums I have spoken about I have been listening to for a long time. Some I have been listening to for nearly my entire life. But I first heard this one roughly two months ago.

Let's get this over with- yes, I do mean Chris "The Lady In Red" De Burgh. For many people that song (along with "Don't Pay the Ferryman") are the only things they will know about him. He is oh so much more.

I have been listening to Chris for nearly 20 years. His music is hard to come by down here in Australia- indeed most of his albums I had to get off ebay (including this one). Chris' ability to not only tell a story but sell a story go right back to when he first started making music in the mid-seventies. Whether he was telling stories about a Spanish Train, detailing the fall of Saladdin during the Crusades or simply about the pain of being separated from his loved ones through distance he always told it with a strength and belief that sucked you in.

In more recent years De Burgh struggled with a record company that wanted him to do "Lady In Red II" and many of his albums, though containing wonderful songs, never quite got that personal feeling and often the message seemed forced. Then in 2004 he released "Road To Freedom" on his own label. Whilst better than his more recent efforts, it it seemed like he was biding time until he could really tell the stories he wanted to tell. That was saved for "The Storyman".

It's not an autobiographical album but the stories he tells are as honest and heartfelt as they have ever been. Accompanying the cd is a booklet of stories outlining each song and reading them helps appreciate them even more. That being said, the music more than speaks for itself.

Accompanied by an orchestra on a number of tracks, the production values are second to none.

The album opens with an overture of what will eventually be the song "The Storyman" before lauching into the vibrant "One World". "Leningrad"-about an old Russian woman reflecting on the hardships of her life- perfectly captures the feel of Russia and a longing for a simpler time. We then move to the middle east for "My Father's Eyes" which tells the story of a young man trying to live up to his father's expectations. "The Grace Of A Dancer" tells the story of young man searching for his love who was driven out of town by a mob when they found out she was pregnant.

My absolute favourite comes next- "Spirit". Set against a backing of African music it tells of an African chief's final message to his people before he dies. I want that song played at my funeral. It's beautiful, poignant and uplifting. "The Shadow Of The Mountain" is a love story set against the backdrop of ancient Pompeii and then comes "Raging Storm"- a wonderful duet about a father bidding farewell to his adopted daughter. It's heartbreaking and truly beautifully sung by both De Burgh and Krystyna Myles. "The Mirror Of The Soul" is a 9 minute epic telling a tale about corrupt church officials who try to hoodwink a village with a crystal they pretend is holy. "The Sweetest Kiss Of All" is a wonderul song about a pair of actors playing in "Romeo And Juliet" who, like the characters they portray, fall in love despite their cultural differences. the ending is just beautiful. To bring the whole thing back home De Burgh finally turns the spotlight on himself with the title track. He mentions over 30 of his past songs and still manages to make a coherent narrative about the forces that drive him. However the story is not quite over as "My Father's Eyes" finishes the album- this time in a duet form with Hani Hussein singing the second verse in hebrew.

Throughout the whole album De Burgh is in absolute fine form singing like it was all on the line and always pushing himself to convey his message. It's something he succeeds at magnificently.

This is an album to listen to in the dark and just to imagine the stories being played out. It's a glorious tribute to 30 years in the business. Long may it continue.

Queen- The Works

In 1984 I saw an ad on TV advertising a double-lp set of Simon and Garfunkel in Central Park. Without my parents knowledge, I ordered it but in the process I subscribed to a record club that sent me albums every month. One of those was "The Works". I started playing it- and then played it again and again and again. This labum was BRILLIANT to my 10 year-old ears. To me this album (and the subsequent follow-up "A Kind Of Magic") was Queen at their absolute peak. Even now- 24 years later- knowing everything the band did I still maintain that belief. Freddie was in absolutely powerful voice and Brian, Roger and John were at the height of their playing and compositional powers. The fact that 4 singles from the original 9-track album were released is a pretty good testament to how well this album stands up.

Opening with the crowd anthem "Radio Ga-Ga", Queen immediately make a point that this album is going to be a rock album- not the experimental disco nonsense of "Hot Space". Although more synth-heavy than other songs it was propelled to the top of the charts thanks to an amazing video combining footage of the band and the old film "Metropolis". "Tear It Up" follows and that one is an out-out rocker with suitably grubby lyrics to match the grubby guitars and drums ("Give me your mind baby, give me your body" and "I love you for your mind, baby give me your body"). Then to swing things on a complete 180 comes the album's ballad "It's A Hard Life" (which includes Freddie's version of the climax from the aria "vesta la giubba" by Leoncavallo). The side finishes off with a 50s-esque rocker called "Man On The Prowl" (the ending of which made me think there was a problem with the record, but there wasn't). Side two begins with another pounding rock number about technology gone crazy called "Machines(or "Back To Humans")" and includes one of the most nonsensical lines around- "It's self-perpetuating a parahumanoidarianised...". The classic "I Want To Break Free" (with it's equally classic clip) follows and Freddie just sounds so comfortable with all the powerful vocals he's doing here. "Keep Passing The Open Windows" is another mid-tempo rocker about having faith in yourself and then climax of the album with the final pounding rocker "Hammer To Fall". It's a powerful anti-war statement accompanied by some brutal drumming and guitar playing. But as if to shock one more time the final piece is a slow, acoustic ballad (only Freddie on vocals and Brian on acoustic guitar) called "Is This The World We Created?". It was never more powerful than when the two performed it as part of "Live Aid" the following year.

When the album was re-issued in the early 90's they added a b-side called "I Go Crazy". In my view, it's right up there with anything on "The Works"- if you can find that version of the album- get it.

Queen's ability to write a powerful lyric and a catchy "hook" can never be underrated. Nor was it something that came about later on in their career. Right from their first album it was clear that this band was about "bigger and better"- to which Freddie might reply "In everything, dear!"

Hear, hear....

Billy Joel- The Nylon Curtain

It's fair to say that Billy Joel's music is very important to me. As a pianist (and occasional singer) myself I feel very drawn to his music. It's earthy, real and very American. He writes for the working class- reflecting his own upbringing on the hard streets of New York and the Bronx- and he makes no apologies for it.

In 1982 Joel was cruising with two successful albums in a row plus a live album of his earlier works recorded with his main band. So Billy decided to experiment (musically) by putting out an album of material that stretched his writing to the limit. It was his homage to The Beatles. Almost every song has an echo with the fab 4.

Opening with "Allentown"- a Joel classic- it tells the story of a town whos workforce is being put out of business by big business. It has a percussive feel all the way through (including hammer blows to portray the metal workers) and features some wonderful piano playing. "Laura"- about a girl that won't leave him alone- is sung with an almost Lennon-esque vocal line as well as bitterness. Then comes "Pressure"- another Billy smash. The clever use of synths as well as some powerful drumming heighten the tension really well. It also came with an amazing video. The anti-war song "Goodnight Saigon" brings side one to a close. Billy spoke to many vietnam vets about their time and used a number of their sentences as lyrics. It's an incredible song that starts from nothing and then builds up to a great climax.

Side two opens with "She's Right On Time"- one of my favourites on this album. The whole song is about the anticipation of seeing a love for the first time in a while at christmas. "A Room Of Our Own" echoes the early stuff of the Beatles and "Surprises" sees Billy mimicking George Harrison vocally. The whole album then goes avant-garde for the psychedelic "Scandinavian Skies"- again, echoing some of The Beatles weirder numbers from "Magical Mystery Tour" and beyond. All about an airline flight and the thoughts upon arriving in Scandanavia it captures, through the clever use of keyboards and a military drum pattern, this sense of awe and wonder at seeing a new country for the first time. Then Billy rounds off the album with "Where's The Orchestra?". Just him at the piano duetting with a solo saxophone and a very simple orchestral backing (in the style of George Martin) and then as he finishes singing he starts the play-out and in a final nod to his favourite band a clarinet plays the melody to "Allentown". A beautiful end to a wonderful album.