Leonard Cohen - photograph by Jools

I was fortunate enough to be in the audience at one his recent Melbourne concerts and I must say that he is an artist who only gets better with the years. Ably supported by talented singers and musicians whose work lifted the performance to create a truly uplifting night’s entertainment.

Leonard Cohen’s music tends to polarize musical opinion. But love him or not he has influenced a couple of generations worth of musicians and having seen him live in concert I have become a convert. Up until the concert I was mostly ambivalent – afterwards- well that’s another story.

I suddenly discovered that I had been working with closet Leonard Cohen aficionados for years. Some people when asked will dismiss his music as being depressing, their problem is I suspect a question of perspective. Everybody should listen to his music after having lived through it.

He displayed a great sense of humour, humility and generosity.Wearing his heart on his sleeve, with an intimacy that burns like fire, his voice croons and caresses in turn. Sitting in that audience I felt he was singing for me and I felt, fleetingly like I understood what his words meant.

Enough of my take, Thatch will post his review about the concert in due course and no doubt he will also feature some of the musicians as well. Meanwhile I want you to enjoy a little of the Leonard Cohen magic here presented by CBS Radio 2 from Leonard Cohen’s Live in London Concert.

YouTube holds a plethora of his songs both old and new. Take a few minutes to listen and if you get a chance to see him – do. Highly recommended.

The Temper Trap

The Temper Trap fired up in 2006, released an Ep, got tons of airplay on Triple J and managed to be completely overlooked by me. BUT all that changed when I heard “Science Of Fear” over at www.myspace.com/thetempertrap, it’s a great piece of really commercial pop in the early U2, Coldplay, Radiohead vein. Lots of ringing guitars and swathes of keys, strings and choirs.

Video for “Science Of Fear”, it’s pretty…

Don’t miss the remixes over at MySpace, the one by Mistabishi

Websites at www.myspace.com/thetempertrap and thetempertrap.com/

They are from Austin, Texas and play a brand of American traditional music inspired by bluegrass mixed liberally with elements of European folk and the traditional American string band.

They are loose and lovely, raucous and rude; watch The Electric Mountain Rotten Apple Gang play Sally Ann live as they busk at the Maker’s Fair.

Their website is at www.myspace.com/electricmountainrottenapplegang where you can here more songs and view other videos by this band.

The Electric Mountain Rotten Apple Gang is Adam Kobetich- vocals, clawhammer banjo, three finger banjo, Amanda Kitchens- vocals, accordion, guitar, Patric Fitzsimons- vocals, mandolin, Daniel Edwards- flattop guitar, vocals and clawhammer banjo, Andrew Pressman- doghouse bass, vocals and Sick!- fiddle, backing vocals (Can’t work out if this last bit is a person or a comment, so we will leave it there – enjoy. Jools)

Sara Bareilles

Sara Bareilles is an American singer-songwriter and plays piano. I first heard her playing on the Live From Abbey Road series (which turns out to be a gem). On the show she explains how her 2007 Billboard topping “Love Song” came about. First have a listen to it over at www.myspace.com/sarabareilles, its a great little song.

Now lets not kid ourselves this is unselfconsciously slick and incredibly  commercial music. I don’t actually have a problem with that, mainly because it’s bloody good stuff. Have a listen to the video below.

Here is her take from her website…

“What kind of music is it?”
I write mostly on piano and I’m a girl, so lots of people say it’s Norah Jones, or Fiona Apple. That’s fine. I love Norah’s subtlety and Fiona’s fierce lyrical prowess. But I also have an affinity for the playful and intelligent-pop of people like Elton John and Ben Folds. And although I don’t necessarily write like them, Radiohead, the Police and Bjork changed my musical consciousness. Ben Gibbard writes better lyrics than I can even imagine up. Etta James and Sam Cooke make me wish I lived 50 years ago. Counting Crows recorded an album that I consider to be perfect, and Bob Marley created music that makes me want to be a better human being.

So there’s all that. And it’s all in there. In me. Somewhere. So do what you will with that information, I know it’s vague, but it’s the best I can do.

Treat yourself to the “Live from Abbey Road” video of Sara Bareilles playing “Love Song”, it’s brilliant …

Recommended

Websites at www.sarabmusic.com/ and www.myspace.com/sarabareilles

Wendy Ealey has a voice that takes me back to smoke filled folk venues of Melbourne 30 odd years ago. With good reason, she has been a performer on the folk scene both in Australia and in Britain since the 70′s.

Hers is a big beautiful voice that resonates with passion as she sings songs penned by herself and others accompanying herself on guitar. Political songs nestle comfortably with love songs to form a quilt of human experience.

A song written by Mary Caruana with Brent Parlane called “Bigger Than This” can be found on on her MySpace site, is a ballsy dig at the treatment of “illegal” immigrants. “Child of My Heart” is the story of grief felt by an infertile woman.

She also performs with friends in a quartette called Unsung. Here is the video for “Winter Sun” written by Moira Tyers performed by Unsung (Wendy Ealey, Leticia Maher, Neil Robertson and Moira Tyers) at the Darebin Songwriters Guild at 303, Northcote, Melbourne, Australia on June 8, 2008

A selection of MP3′s are available for download through her website, including “No RIght Way” another song that ponders the choices that people make.

If you aren’t lucky enough to catch her act live then a CD “out of the Shower” is available for purchase through IndieCDs.com.

Some hype from the Warner website:

Galvatrons are putting fun back into rock with their debut EP, When We Were Kids, which features the popular track of the same name.

When We Were Kids was recorded in Melbourne by Lindsay Gravina (The Living End, Shihad) and mixed in Hollywood by the legendary Tim Palmer (David Bowie, Pearl Jam, U2, The Cure).

The melody driven musicians Johnny Galvatron (lead singer), Manny Bourakis (drums), Pete and Pete (edifying isn’t it?) are set to take on the world with their up and coming debut album – due early in the new year. Head to MySpace for a few tracks and over to YouTube for another video.

Worth a listen.

Pearl and The Puppets

Bloody TV ads. First it was Sony and Jose Gonzalez, next up it was Apple with Feist, then it was Vodafone with  Charlie Parr and now it’s Vodafone again, this time with Pearl and the Puppets and “Because I Do”. (For those of you from overseas here is a link to the ad in question. It was shot here in Melbourne and I just discovered that it’s only being shown in Australia).

So from all this we learn two things

1. Some advertising companies have really good taste in pop songs and
2. Thatch really is a sucker for really infectious pop songs

From the Pearl website we have …

Pearl is the quietly rebellious leader of this alternative pop four-piece, which includes her backing band The Puppets. Her atmospheric, innocent and quirky songs capture the coming of age spirit while breaking through the barriers of expectation.

Well I don’t know about that but Katie Sutherland (Pearl) has a great line in simple arrangements, great lyrics, wonderful pop sensibilities and the music she writes is as infectious as all hell. If you don’t believe me head over to www.myspace.com/pearlandthepuppets and pick any of the songs on offer. Once again it won’t matter which one, they are all really good.

On one of the sites I read “watch Katie Sutherland, she is going to be huge”. They’re right. Here she is playing live accompanied by only a percussionist….

I 100% agree, she is going to be huge. I really look forward to what she will be doing next.

So are TV ads are the new radio? Probably not but I hope that they keep up the good work. It’s a lot of fun so far.

Highly Recommended

Websites at www.myspace.com/pearlandthepuppets and www.bebo.com/pearlandthepuppets

(And for the record. No. I don’t use any Vodafone products and no we didn’t get a cent from them)

There is evidence that they can make even the staples of popular folk music sound inspired. This is ably expressed in their rendition of the popular Irish and Scots ballad “The Parting Glass”. Its begins with the traditional tune and then accompanied by a pipe band segues into the version popularised by Shaun Davey in the movie “Waking Ned Devine”.

Their self titled debut album features such standards as Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore, Will Ye Go Lassie, Go? Black Velvet Band, Rocky Road to Dublin, Marie’s Wedding, Wild Rover [Live] and of course Parting Glass. “The Parting Glass” is by far and away the standout, raising the hairs on your arms, track from their studio album. Just goes to show that anything can be better with the addition of a little cup of piping.

Highly acclaimed composer and musical director David Downes (CELTIC WOMAN) brings intricate harmonies and driving rhythms to THE HIGH KINGS songbook, giving it a freshness and sparkle that is modern and exciting, without ever sacrificing the traditional melodies and lyrics.

Each track is arranged with the most delicious harmonies, the production is huge and while it is sanitised, they are bringing the traditional songs to another generation. Find High King videos on YouTube and wander over to the High Kings website to find out more about thejm.

Red Car Wire are one of those wonderful, one idea , one hit wonders from the States and my pick for the summer song. Have a listen to “Timing Just Isn’t Your Thing” and by the end of the song you will know the chorus backwards. Get comfortable with it, it’s going to be in your head for the next couple of months.

Listen carefully to the vocals and the guitars. They just ooze slick production, I am genuinely impressed by what they have done with the vocals, there is so much attention lavished on this song it’s scary. Still that’s the way the majors run up a bill on your account. (I digress).

Insidious, catchy as hell and Recommended

Website at www.myspace.com/redcarwire and www.redcarwire.com/

Oh dear, time for another Metal band, now don’t panic… they’re a good one. Bullet For My Valentine are from Wales over in the UK. They originally fired up playing  Metallica and Nirvana covers back in the late Nineties. The usual  rock band stuff follows, struggle for gigs, argue a lot, revolving door bass players and finally break-up.

But this is where it gets interesting, they get back together and find a new bassist, change their name from “Jeff Killed John” first to “Opportunity in Chicago”, then finally to “Bullet for My Valentine”. And then just to round it all off sign a deal with Sony Records via Visible Noise in October 2004.

It’s the rock and roll dream. Ten years to become an overnight success.

So what makes them stand out off the crowd? Well they lack the sheer “force of nature” drive that “Dragonforce” has but the lack of intensity is kind of refreshing. They give your brain a chance to absorb what the music is about. Have a listen to “Tears Don’t Fall” and you will see what I mean. Then check out the wonderfully incorrect “Scream, Aim, Fire“. This is so wrong but I can see it almost verging on parody (this would be me rather than anything intentional on the band’s part), I’m sure it’s the “Over the Top” line in the chorus. Some tasty guitar work though.

I like them, I have had them playing on the MP3 player alternating with Dragonforce and Linkin Park. They stack up pretty damn nicely.

Recommended

Websites at www.myspace.com/bulletformyvalentine and bulletformyvalentine1.com