Album Reviews
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Singers John Farnham and Olivia Newton John perform together as part of the Two Strong Hearts Live tour.
Source: Supplied
TWO STRONG HEARTS LIVE
JOHN FARNHAM & OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN
(SONY)
****
Singers John Farnham and Olivia Newton John together as part of the Two Strong Hearts Live tour. CD cover
Source: Supplied
John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John have a chemistry and friendship you just can’t fake. And zero egos.
Some stars wouldn’t let their signature hits and show-stopping anthems become duets.
But on this live souvenir of their recent joint tour you have Farnham getting Physical and ONJ even starts national anthem You’re the Voice.
The fact these two were having serious fun is not lost in the recorded translation. You also see new sides, like Farnham blitzing Over the Rainbow and Livvie cutting loose with rock wailing on Hit the Road Jack.
That’s another one of the joys here, we rarely get to hear Olivia live and from the divine thrills of Xanadu to the spine chills of I Honestly Love You it’s our loss. And both know they’re privileged to be singing Peter Allen’s Tenterfield Saddler.
On the actual duets, Grease favourites Summer Nights and You’re the One That I Want, Farnham slips into Travolta mode. You just wish there was a DVD to see the full effect of him in leather pants and dancing.
There’s the underrated NoOne Comes Close, Farnham sings Suddenly better than ONJ’s original duet partner Cliff Richard and Burn For You works as a duet (it’d probably work as death metal track).
As AC/DC don’t play it any more, Farnham ends with It’s a Long Way To the Top If You Wanna Rock and Roll. Even Livvie discovers there’s a touch of Bon Scott deep, deep inside as she does stadium pub rock work amid all the bagpipes and the audible joy of The Voice singing his favourite song. Welcome to double happiness. / CAMERON ADAMS
sounds like: a place where nobody dared to go
in a word: physical
Singers John Farnham and Olivia Newton John perform together as part of the Two Strong Hearts Live tour.
Source: Supplied
KODO
WAY OF THE EAGLE
(SONY)
*
KODO – Way of The Eagle (Sony)
Source: Supplied
Bloody collaborative albums. Invariably, the scope outweighs the songs and gun local producer Jan Skubiszewski’s debut album veers wildly between OK and dumb. Opening with Kodo, it’s like we’ve fallen into a vortex from ‘98, “frantic” rave vocals, splashy “setting the scene” high-hats ‘n’ bleeps. Gross. Shadows feat. Harry James Angus is as subtle as Mike Carlton’s tweets, soul slammer Sweet Addiction feat. Bobby Saint struts hard, knees rising with the horn stabs and falling with the backing vocals. This is WOTE’s blueprint. 1,2,3,4,5 feat. Illy is not. Rock When I Go is a violin-led, breakbeat jam that would clear any self-respecting dancefloor. Broken Paradise feat. Samm T is a La Roux-y glider. The eagle has blanded. /MIKEY CAHILL
SOUNDS LIKE:manufactured soul, lifeless, limp.
IN A WORD: overblown
Jan Skubiszewski in his Melbourne studio. Jan is the composer, producer behind Way of the Eagle
Source: News Limited
SORRY I LET IT COME BETWEEN US
SASKWATCH
(NORTHSIDE/REMOTE CONTROL)
****
Sorry I Let It Come Between Us – Saskwatch (Northside/Remote Control)
Source: Supplied
Melbourne has generated credible nu-soul acts, from The Bamboos to Hiatus Kaiyote – but what of the still-cult Saskwatch? The soul fusionists shrank from a nine to six-piece ahead of this third album, recorded in Philadelphia. But, happily, they’ve retained crystalline singer Nkechi Anele, who evokes Kate Ceberano, circa I’m Talking. Saskwatch not only whip through divergent genres (rock, indie, synth-pop) but also decade-hop. The squiggly funk-rock single I’ll Be Fine could be Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings soundtracking a ‘60s space-travel TV show. Yet nothing surpasses the sublime New Jill Swing ballad Time To Let You Go. Could this be the moment the cult goes overground? /CYCLONE WEHNER
SOUNDS LIKE:soul-fi
IN A WORD: adventurous
The band Saskwatch were born to break your heart.
Source: Supplied
HOLY WAR
THY ART IS MURDER
(UNFD)
***1/2
Holy War – Thy Art Is Murder (UNFD)
Source: Supplied
A clear progression since 2012’s Hate, Blacktown’s black-hearted deathcore masters will soon be masters of the universe. This confident 10-track offering clocks in at 38 minutes and barely wastes a riff, igniting the torch on Light Bearer. Chris “CJ” McMahon’s growl has a universal appeal now, the relentless European tours have given him a worldly inflection; judicious not jaded. Thy Art’s melodies and speedmetal tempo changes on Fur and Claw show they’re ahead of the pack too. Original members Sean Delander and Lee Stanton are a foreboding duo, the rhythm section helps the band work with a hive mind. Coffin Dragger is only let down when CJ sings high ‘n’ histrionic. Holy hellfire. / MIKEY CAHILL
SOUNDS LIKE: crunchier than a Snickers bar
IN A WORD: contagious
The charming lads from Thy Art is Murder. Lovely music that is. For Hit, Sept 16, 2013.
Source: Supplied
FREEDOM
REFUSED
(EPITAPH)
****
Freedom – Refused (Epitaph)
Source: Supplied
It’s great to hear Swedish hardcore heroes Refused haven’t lost their edge after almost two decades. After leaving a legacy that was seemingly untouchable with The Shape Of Punk To Come, the four-piece show that age nor time shall weary them. Freedom is a blistering and oft rollicking statement. Opener Elektra is a powerful statement on capitalism behind timing structures that would make Tool fans sharpen up and look to the hardcore side of the fence. It’s been a long wait for the Swedes, who were written off before becoming an accidental cult band. Now, with all eyes on them, the attention will help Freedom become a new staple for the hardcore fans who like harsh and intricate. / SAM KELTON
SOUNDS LIKE:the fire still burns
IN A WORD: incendiary
Swedish hardcore punk band Refused for National Hit
Source: Supplied
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