Bringing sunny power pop all the way from Sydney, Matthew Shacallis fronts a three piece band on his 2014 EP ‘Reach The Stars’. It’s a record that conveys a natural sound while still retaining the kind of well-crafted production value you’d expect from his chosen musical niche.
Category Archives: Album & EP Reviews
THE ROOM – Beyond The Gates Of Bedlam
At the end of 2012, UK melodic prog rockers The Room released their debut album ‘Open Fire’. Its mix of pompy melodic rock with proggy flourishes really struck a chord with some listeners and in the live setting, the band really excelled. Their level of professionalism was hardly surprising given the seasoned musicians involved (vocalist Martin Wilson and guitarist Steve Anderson had previous links with Grey Lady Down), but it was also good to hear a bigger focus on chorus based material, even if the band sometimes insisted on keeping a strong hold onto epic track lengths.
DAVID MYHR – Record Collection EP
In 2012 singer-songwriter David Myhr (one time of The Merrymakers) released his solo debut ‘Soundshine’. That album was one of the best power pop releases of the decade – possibly even ever – with Myhr celebrating pop’s past, his love of McCartney and myriad 70s pop bands cutting through the core of each track. This follow up EP (issued in early 2014) rounds up a few extra tunes, each one delivered with a broad smile designed for that maximum feel-good factor.
CHARLOTTE CARPENTER – The Fault Line EP
On her fifth EP ‘The Fault Line’, singer-songwriter Charlotte Carpenter serves up four tunes which owe as much to atmospheres as hooks, her natural and plain voice weaving in and out of some fairly downbeat soundscapes. Of the EP, she says herself: “I wrote this during a time where a lot of what I loved stopped feeling perfect.” It shows, too. The bulk of the material comes with a dark heart, but this is juxtaposed with a near-perfect production value, resulting in four songs with a real sense of emotional depth.
ALL THAT’S LEFT – All That’s Left EP
From Ontario, All That’s Left are a five piece rock band who clearly carry within them a restless spirit. The three songs on their debut EP present the work of a very talented band, while simultaneously sounding like a bunch of guys whom haven’t quite found their niche. That said, all three songs are enjoyable if listened to in isolation – they just don’t necessarily belong together.