Cafe Beat – Music Reviews Winter 2007

Big City Life

We wander around the world that surrounds us with a small bubble of protection formed by friends, family and experiences. In this issue we have four releases that explore that protection and the vulnerability when we step outside bubble. These albums look at our interaction with our urban lives; big cities, family, lovers and strangers. 

Amos Lee
Australian Tour Edition

Amos Lee recently toured Australia as part the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival. This excellent value release packages his two existing albums into one Tour Edition. On Itunes, his debut self titled album rates as ‘Alternative’ and ‘Punk’ whilst his second comes up as ‘Blues’, which is an accurate description of his style. Some tracks like “Seen It All Before” charts the familiar territory of world weary love gone wrong and I don’t care, whilst the lyrics of “Night Train” cover his use of coffee and cocaine to keep up with big city life. Seen live his self-deprecating humour and simple arrangements shine. (EMI)

Mattafix
Signs of a Struggle

This debut album from the London duo came out last year but didn’t fit into the review pages until now. The single from the album, Big City Life, is catchy, radio friendly and foreboding. The album speaks of the alienation that big cities and introspection can bring, as well as the glimmers of hope in the eyes of strangers. Production is excellent and manages to assimilate the many influences without any one dominating. The overall feel is of a Caribbean steel pan dance-hall with a grungy inner London hip hop sensibility and beautiful vocals. (EMI)

Angus and Julia Stone
Heart Full Of Wine

Brother and sister duos seem to have a special something. When listening to this release The Carpenters and George come to mind; something about a shared history that allows an intimacy rarely achieved in any other relationship. Angus and Julia, from Sydney’s northern beaches, bring a laid back coastal approach to life’s excitements and sorrows. Further influences from the other band member, Mitchell Connelly, are unsurprising when you know he is part of The Beautiful Girls. The songs are simple, elegant, insightful and  often times funny, as the two alternate singing duties on the two discs. This is a sparse restrained and significant release; sounding a little bit folksy, bluesy and acoustic. (EMI)

Unkle Ho
Circus Maximus

A clashing, smashing and exuberant journey through a fictional landscape of gypsy peddlers, brooding divas, string quartets, harps and violins; all held together with a sensibility forged in the current electronica scene in Australia. Unkle Ho, a founding member of The Herd has produced a startlingly original album from a vast array of influences; which is engaging, danceable and great listening. (Elefant Traks)

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