Fronted by singer-songwriter Lauren Tate, Hands Off Gretel’s 2016 full length ‘Burn The Beauty Queen’ is unashamed in borrowing a lot of influence from the 90s. With elements of Nirvana, Hole and occasionally the more tuneful edge of various other alt-rock and grunge sources, its tracks take a trip through a world of big riffs on songs with a very female perspective. Almost like the missing link between Hole’s classic ‘Live Through This’ and their far more commercial ‘Celebrity Skin’, it’s an album that’s very well put together – the production is excellent, the playing very good, the songwriting often possessing a spirited quality – but it’s also sometimes a bit too calculated, like experiencing the riot grrrl movement through a Tim Burton filter. For all of their talent, Hands Off Gretel appear as a garish, stripy legginged, teen goth fantasy of what the grunge fuelled early-mid 90s were like, had there been no surviving archival references. The album in turn almost presenting the past as if Courtney Love were only remembered via folk tales passed down through a generation.
Monthly Archives: September 2016
KURT SHANKS – Blood Line Heart
In the autumn of 2011, Kurt Shanks released his solo debut EP ‘Seven Flights Up‘, a short mixed bag of styles that gave a fair overview of his broad talent. Ranging from thoughtful acoustic twiddles to solid singer-songwriter fare to the title cut’s rhythmically heavy workout, it promised good things for the full-length which was due to follow at some point in the coming year. It felt like a long wait – almost exactly a year, in fact – but it was ultimately worth it, since the eleven tunes on ‘Blood Line Heart’ provide a much better look into the workings of a gifted songwriter…and in lead single ‘Shake Shake Shake’, the world gets an immediate power pop classic.
BULLET PROOF LOVERS – Bullet Proof Lovers
Since the release of his 2012 full-length ‘Brand New Beat’, Kurt Baker’s career has gone from strength to strength. Having gained a rabid following in Europe, he attracted the attention of various Spanish musicians and, it’s with them, he formed the Bullet Proof Lovers in 2014. Not only a brand new beat for Baker, but almost a brand new suit, as here he (mostly) ditches the skinny ties and eighties fuelled power pop for something more hard hitting.
Billy Bragg – Life’s a Riot With Spy vs. Spy, Live in Sydney, 13th September 2013
In 2013, Billy Bragg’s debut release ‘Life’s a Riot With Spy vs. Spy’ celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. Due to the lo-fi nature of the recording – one man, an electric guitar, no overdubs – it could have been recorded at any point during that time. With the younger Bragg possessing an angry voice, a barrage of social commentary and a knack for a lyric, there was always a feeling that he represented every one of us with a left leaning political voice, just one of many reasons why its seven tracks continue to endure.
KASEY-MICHELLE – Young & Reckless EP
Australia isn’t necessarily the first place you think of when it comes to country music. Aside from Keith Urban, the antipodeans haven’t necessarily had many country music exports since the 60s, but over the years they’ve constantly nurtured their own homegrown scene. Queensland native Kasey Curwen – professionally known as Kasey-Michelle – really grabs a hold of the poppier end of the genre to provide the core sound for her debut EP ‘Young & Reckless’. It isn’t the work of a country purist but, that said, most of this release is still going to be far too country for those who come out in hives at the merest hint of a knee-high boot, and run for the desert plains screaming at the threat of a newer country music and it’s shiny pop fusions. Those who like a bit of a country influence, on the other hand, are likely to find at least two unpolished diamonds within this EP’s five songs.