by Barney McAll
Barney McAll Mooroolbark (PBS Feature Record)
Barney McAll’s new album is both a homecoming and the story of a remarkable journey – a sonic reflection upon the distance in miles and in music he has travelled since leaving Mooroolbark, Victoria in 1989. Recorded shortly after McAll’s return to his home country after 17 years collaborating with New York’s finest, this album sees the composer-pianist joined by a superb band of Australian musicians and the legendary French percussionist Mino Cinélu. Mooroolbark is an evocative series of tales gathered over years of travel and research, and the works exhibit diverse colours and influences ranging from gospel to Afro Caribbean styles. But anchoring the music is a distinctive compositional approach that is all McAll’s.
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Quarters (Featured on The Breakfast Spread)
In the short time it took for us to secure King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s new album Quarters as a feature album, the vinyl had already sold out. You’ll quickly hear why, as this low-fi dreamy sound melts through your speakers and transports you to a hot summer afternoon. These prolific rockers continue to do things their own way, with Quarters made up of four songs, each 10 minutes and 10 seconds long, but within each song you can hear what could be two or even three. Whatever it is it works, and it’s hard to believe that it’s just seven months since we got our heads around I’m In Your Mind Fuzz (not to mention just over a year ago Oddments was released!) and this is by far the band’s most mellow offering to date. If you need a change of mood as the days get shorter this is the album to do it. Quarters is a top class album, and it’s frightening to think we probably won’t have to wait long for another one!
By Cat – The Breakfast Spread
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