by Billy Bragg and Joe Henry
Billy Bragg and Joe Henry Shine A Light (PBS Feature Record)
In 2013, Billy Bragg released the album Tooth & Nail, produced by singer/songwriter Joe Henry. It was a wonderful album which showed Billy in a more plaintive, introspective fashion, no doubt influenced by Joe's production. Obviously, they developed a good rapport as they've released this album as a duo. It's an interesting concept where they decided to spend 4 days traveling parts of America by train, getting off at stations, setting up their minimal recording equipment, recording a song or two before packing up and boarding the next train. You can often hear background noises of the train station which provides a great atmosphere too. They have classified all of the songs as railroad songs and most of them feature trains and train traveling in one way or another and all are covers from days gone past. There are some obvious choices such as the traditional tune, The Midnight Special and Hank Williams' Lonesome Whistle but also some less obvious like Gordon Lightfoot's Early Morning Rain and Glen Campbell's Gentle On My Mind. However, what really comes through on the album is the mixture of the two voices. Billy is singing with quite a low baritone on most of the tunes which is a pleasant contrast to Joe's tenor and the two different styles blend really nicely. It's certainly a fine album for those who love old fashioned acoustic folk.
Review by Crispi (Radio City).
The Cannanes A Love Affair With Nature (Featured on The Breakfast Spread)
At a time when DIY attitudes in music are thriving in Melbourne, The Cannanes' seminal album A Love Affair With Nature is as relevant today as it was when it was released in 1989. This album was the bands first with what would become the core lineup of David Nichols, Stephen O'Neil and Fran Gibson. From the outset it has that classic Antipodean sound, fleshed out by lyrics that depict the realities of suburban life while coming of age - cheap wine, anxieties and trying to understand the world alongside friends as you move into adulthood together. Easy melodies hook you into the relatable stories, that are simultaneously profound and mundane. Having been out of print since the 1990s, this reissue will allow music lovers to discover yet another piece of Australian music history and revel in how powerful these songs are 27 years on.
Review by Cat McGauran (The Breakfast Spread)
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