Music reviews

Wherever The Wind Blows by Jonny Telafone

Friday 2 July 2010
Reviewed by Warwick Smith

Jonny Telafone is still in the hearts and minds of many Canberra folk, despite his move south to Melbourne, Canberra based label Dream Damage has released and launched his tape, Wherever The Wind Blows.

The cassette offers something different from Jonny's popular and recent titles like the Rainbow Genesis and The Death Posture that followed more of a psych drag and hip hop direction, to generalise.

This cohesive masterpiece opens and closes with a short punchy dose of good advice, the title track and it's concluding reprise, carefully packaged up in acoustic fashion, with extremely clever vocal harmonies.
 
Picking up his guitar and walking us through love and social decay issues, with All I Ever Want being a solid example of his strong musical direction. Honesty has been a big part of his song writing, and It's Only Ever You seems to contain traces of what it's like to be upset, defensive and infatuated with that special person.
 
The pace picks up with Pitter Patter, a fast paced thumping track. It's also beautiful track about long days, of longing, for loneliness to evaporate. Metaphorically expressed by the pitter patter of rain.
 
Telafone's tape explores not only good advice, love, social decay, infatuation and loneliness, but a common theme in JT's older music, death. My Heart Burns leads us to believe he's so overcome with feelings and love for others that it will destroy him, until his heart is smoking cinders.
 
When You Run Away has a really retrograde effect to it sounding like it's from several decades ago, with almost an Elliot Smith stroke of paint smudged over it. Taking a break from the casiotone drum beats of the previous tracks live drums fill the space between the warmth of the guitar.

Howl At The Moon demonstrates JT's ability to be vocal, I think a lot of his earlier work can sound layered and reverbed which has always been a great effect, but as I've seen the last few times at live shows his vocals have matured and are reaching a pleasant new height.

The second last track, before the ending reprise, The Ballad Of Samwise Gamgee is a hit, an audience pleaser that brings a smile to the face of anyone listening. A clever take on the Lord Of The Rings series, it homages the story of Samwise and turns it into one of the most amazing Jonny Telafone songs we've heard.

The limited edition tape is available from the Dream Damage online store, Smith's Alternative Bookshop (ACT), Repressed Records (Syd), Missing Link (Melb) and Vox Cyclops (Newcastle).

The Fever Fold by Red Steers

Friday 18 June 2010
Reviewed by Warwick Smith

Coming straight off New Zealand label A Low Hum records as a free download, or if you feel supportive, you have the optional purchase button - The Fever Fold by Red Steers.

The Red Steers is a one man act, Daniel Johnston, and as it seems all over the internet, this one is not to be confused with the other Daniel Johnston as he appears to be his own man and not just a confusing Google search.

Anyway, here is a song by song review probably lacking detail, however I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Dec the opening track of the release makes great use of what appears to be programmed synth human voice effects, mashed up with harmony of heavily reverb vocals from Daniel. I wasn't sure about this when it came through my stereo, however I soon found myself absorbed into the track as the 'drag' (courtesy Pitch Fork Media) beats came into play. On second listen around I was pretty stoked to be listening to this song.

The second track Canoe is awesome, filling up with jumping drum beats backed up by etherial vocal layers, reminiscent of older Caribou material. The song twitches out into an amazing synth jam, I love this song.

Track three, Night Hawks smacks out some wicked simulated beats and vocals, replaced by some smooth real vocal harmonies.

Swan Song is a twisted and darker doo-wap song that leaves me feeling a little ill, with warped synth and a less upbeat tempo, making me come down from the highs of the previous tracks.

The final track on the album Home is a collection of human voices layered over and over in a slow chant, with hints of soul music. It then washes out into a wild mess of layers.

All in all a great treat to hear and the opening three tracks are quite strong, and then finishes on a pretty wild note.

To download or purchase visit the A Low Hum website.