duggup

As you drive through the suburbs or towns in the bush there are all these people and communities you can see through the window, you cant help but wonder what they do, how they live, it’s like driving through a huge art gallery full of snapshots and portraits and the odd performance piece. Fortunately for us Ian spends his time travelling between the suburbs and the bush and his CD Drifter has captured some observations that he has written down that will help us all out. This is a very good first album by a very good songwriter. Good songwriters in this country are on the rise, eloquence and good music is ubiquitous, but Ian is differently good.

Drifter requires you to invest some time and thought (fortunately not as much time as it took to create) – he’s not out to steal three minutes of your time with a pretty pop song. He wants to stop you dead in your tracks and get your attention for some important things he has to say and, guess what, he says them without sounding in the least smug or self important. It helps that the melodies and tunes are excellent. Head over to http://myspace.com/ianblanddrifter and have a listen.

There are songs that invite you to share a secret and others that are on their way to anthemic in their clarity and obviousness. The stories where pain isn’t apparent, it’s just below the surface. This isn’t a criticism of Bland’s work. As Richard Thompson has shown time and again, his best work just isn’t jolly. It’s good to have such a fine new talent around who is both interesting and provocative.

Mark Stanley (the producer and engineer) has done a sterling job wrangling the best performances out of an array of talented musicians from Melbourne’s eclectic music scene who have contributed to the album. For me personally I will always prefer hearing Ian perform solo accompanying himself just on guitar, it’s obvious that he can do well with or without a band. The album’s highlights are “Kilcunda Wind” which has one of the best lines I never wrote in it (bastard). The title track “Drifter” is a story that is still being played out every day somewhere in Australia and “Love Is A Thief” is just wonderful.

This album isn’t a bush/country album although it has a strong country feel but is a mixture of folk, rock, and country, is deceptively simple,with its combination of brilliant melody, fantastic and pointed lyrics and Ian’s unpretentious vocal delivery.

To sum up, if a picture is worth a thousand words – these songs are worth a thousand pictures. Seriously Highly Recommended.

Websites can be found at http://www.ianbland.com.au and http://myspace.com/ianblanddrifter

If you are in Melbourne, Ian is having a CD launch at at the Emerald Lounge, Clifton Hill Hotel on Saturday the 3rd of May. Tickets are available at the website.

DISCLAIMER: Ian and I have known each other over 30 years, and have played in bands together. I have waited for a long time for this album to be made. Jools did the CD cover and booklet and I have a devil’s advocate credit on the album. Am I biased? Yep, I only write up good music. Ian is also an occasional contributor to duggup.