STACK #160 Feb 2018

MUSIC REVIEWS

visit stack.com.au

Alice Ivy I'm Dreaming

Totally Mild Her

She started life in Geelong as Annika Schmarsel. Now, as Alice Ivy, she’s dropped an ultra-cool collection of quirky dreamscapes, incorporating samples from old movies and commercials. Sophisticated and soulful, it’s an exotic cocktail, with hip hop beats and vocal contributions from Bertie Blackman ( Chasing Stars is a standout), Georgia van Etten, RaRa, E^ST and Charlie Threads. Singles such as Almost Here , Get Me A Drink and Be Friends built the hype, and I’m Dreaming delivers. It’s a terrific trip; file next to The Avalanches, and make sure you listen from start to finish – with the headphones on. Dream into action. (Dew Process/Universal) Jeff Jenkins

Those waiting eagerly for a follow-up to Totally Mild’s

staggering debut Down Time are richly rewarded here. Her was a long time in preparation, but the past year of contemplation has produced a record as grandiose and polished as the band’s ambitions have always sought. Picking its components apart hardly makes sense; Her works together effortlessly and is paced beautifully, its ballads (where Liz Mitchell showcases the full, entrancing power of her voice) balanced against rock stompers, invigorated by what’s become Totally Mild’s signature sound. For years Totally Mild have been the coolest-looking, coolest-sounding pop act in Australia. Her is set to prove it. (Chapter/Secretly Canadian/Inertia) Jake Cleland

DZ Deathrays Bloody Lovely Bloody Lovely is the title of Brisbane duo DZ Deathrays’ third album, and funnily enough, that’s exactly how I would describe it too. It’s easy to forget that this huge, euphoric wall of sound has been built by just two people; this record is a huge progression for the band and their most rounded

and mature effort to date. Like all great rock albums you've heard (and that's exactly what this is: a great rock album) there are moments that resonate with the listener even after the song has finished. You tap along to the frenzied backbeats, you rock out with your Fender air guitar, you hum the riffs during your day and sing along in the car at the top of your voice when you motor home at night. Bloody Lovely is littered with those moments: Shane Parson’s blood-curdling shriek kicking off the tracklist on Shred For Summer , the dishevelled Californian punk riffs in Guillotine , all 71 seconds of the mosh-inducing Bad Influence , and the irresistibly catchy chorus of Total Meltdown to name but a few. (I OHYOU)Tim Lambert

Joan As Police Woman Damned Devotion Joan Wasser has a voice that provides instant comfort with its familiarity and tenderness. Her heartfelt lyrics paired with some luxurious instrumentation makes Damned Devotion a highly enjoyable listen from the get-go, with opening track Wonderful easing the listener into a blissful bubble. Steed (for Jean Genet) combines elements of jazz and R&B to create a romping number that makes for a quick favourite. The Silence is an empowering track enhanced by some defiant percussion, while Rely On similarly brings the goods by utilising a compelling glitch sample. With her instantly satisfying compositions and effortless ability, Damned Devotion cements Wasser’s status as one of our generation’s most important songwriters. (PIAS/Inertia) Holly Pereira

Superorganism Superorganism Ever wondered where you're going, or how to get there? Superorganism have. The East London (via the world) collective are on a quest of discovery and the findings can be heard on their playful self-titled debut. Singles like Something for your M.I.N.D., It's All Good and Nobody Cares process the past few decades of sampling and kaleidoscopic pop with speed and precision. The band cite influences like The Avalanches, Devo, and Beck, but ultimately the record sounds uniquely of this time in history, dense with pop culture references and information overload. On The Prawn Song they ask: "Have you ever woke up from a daydream, realised that the world's gone crazy?" This album is that daydream. It's a world gone crazy. And it's a soundtrack guiding us to a better tomorrow. (Domino) SimonWinkler

Marlon Williams Make Way For Love Los Angeles, October 31, 2016: After a week of frustrated songwriting attempts, Marlon Williams steps out alone to watch a scary film: Nosferatu , a favourite of his, with live score by LA Opera. In the mood for mischief, Marlon finds a convincing vampire costume and races to the screening but arrives minutes too late. Lights are low, and

failing to find a seat, Marlon quietly reclines on the staircase. When the lights are finally raised he quickly slips away, followed by whispers and astonished stares. Marlon remembers it as a pivotal moment – the start of a new chapter in his life – and one referenced in non-album single Vampire Again . It's also perhaps a symbolic gesture by a prodigy wholly committed to his craft. Humour, pathos, intrigue and poignancy are everywhere on this second album; songs span the two years he's been away (touring with artists like Bruce Springsteen) and mirror some of the self-reflection that follows in the wake of a break-up. Former partner Aldous Harding appears on the stunning duet Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore . The soulful songs all deal in heartbreak and hope. They're haunting and unforgettable, like a half-glimpsed spectre leaving a film screening on Halloween. (Caroline) SimonWinkler

018

FEBRUARY 2018

jbhifi.com.au