STACK #157 Nov 2017

MUSIC REVIEWS

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Angel Olsen Phases Around the release of My Woman, last year's masterpiece, Angel Olsen appeared in a fascinating episode of the Song Exploder podcast. Each element of her track Shut Up, Kiss Me was isolated; all the carefully considered reasons and happy accidents that led to the final version were shared with listeners. Olsen revealed how a percussive piano break in the song pays tribute to David Bowie and his own track Changes : "For me, recording is a magical thing that encapsulates a time." Elsewhere Olsen spoke of the different vocal techniques on the record, how she let go of previous ideas about how and what to sing. Phases gives us further insight into the extraordinary talents and creative processes of the artist. The collection spans many years and styles, from country to rock and roll and soulful ballads, each song a point on a path of constant exploration and growth. (Inertia) SimonWinkler

Bully Losing Nashville grunge rockers Bully masterfully channel their fury into impactful noise on sophomore album Losing , an unflinching and vivid portrait of existential angst. Feel The Same is a matter-of-fact and punchy start to the album, with lead singer Alicia Bognanno’s resounding battle cry easily the band’s defining feature. Running gives Bognanno space to lay her feelings out on the table, while Seeing It shows a sensitivity that eventually expands into full blown rage. Above all, Bully prove there’s power in admitting your vulnerabilities, and it’s this that makes their music utterly compelling. (Sub Pop/Inertia) Holly Pereira George Michael Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 / MTV Unplugged The title of George Michael’s Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1 (1990) was an expression of the then- solo English musician’s wish to be considered a true songwriter, and not just the sex symbol who escorted Wham! into stratospheric fame. This remastered reissue of the album affirms the success of that endeavour, but it’s the second disc of Michael’s previously unreleased MTV Unplugged show in '96 which encases it in amber. The simplified arrangements lean on the power of Michael’s harmonic genius; he weaves into and overlaps with his gospel back-up singers with incredibly tender agility, and the purity of his voice is astonishing. Ethereal, fiery, potent and vulnerable, you’ve not experienced your neck hairs lifting until you've heard this treasure of a human in this way. (Sony) Zoë Radas

Nic Cester Sugar Rush

"When it’s over, it’s over,” Nic Cester reflects on his debut solo album. “It’s time, I know I must move on.” Earlier this year, Cester’s band, the world-conquering Jet, re-formed to tour Australia with Bruce Springsteen. The success of the shows suggested a new Jet

album would be on the way. But Cester has taken this solo detour instead, and it's a surprisingly eclectic musical adventure. Whereas Jet copped a pasting from many critics for being a pastiche of classic rock, Sugar Rush – recorded in Milan and London – is an assortment of diverse delights. Cester sounds like an old bluesman on the title track, which operates as the album opener; Psichebello serves up some heavy psychedelia, Not Fooling Anyone whips up a searing groove as it takes a swipe at musical insincerity (“You’re singing someone else’s song, and I just don’t believe”), while Hard Times is a slow-burning gem. Sugar Rush is inventive but never self-indulgent; each track is tight and concise. It shows that some rock lives do have a second act. File next to Davey Lane’s similarly impressive I’m Gonna Burn Out Bright . (Bloodlines/Mushroom) Jeff Jenkins

Cradle Of Filth Cryptoriana: The Seductiveness Of Decay Cradle Of Filth’s 12th album Cryptoriana: The Seductiveness scope, symphonic and dripping in gothic overtones, while the vocals of frontman Dani Filth are expressive, moving from haunting malevolence to ghostly whispers. More importantly, the songwriting has enough twists and turns to entertain the most hardened fan. Cryptoriana is arguably the band's most traditional album in the sense that amongst the blast beats and high-speed tremolo riffing, there's a sound which embraces thrash and classic metal more than ever before. (Nuclear Blast/Caroline) Simon Lukic Of Decay ticks all the right boxes. The music is huge in

Iron Maiden The Book Of Souls: Live Chapter

360 Vintage Modern

360 is a genius wordsmith. There’s no denying that. His tracks are full of puns and wordplays that aren’t simply there to be clever – they fit the bill. “I’m the type to shadow box and then get knocked the f-ck out” – I mean, come on. White Lies is the clear stand out on the Melbourne artist’s new record, with the penultimately placed belter Tiny Angel still bringing a tear to the eye every time it plays. Of course, it wouldn’t be an Aussie hip hop album without a collab on there somewhere, so keep your ears peeled for Seth Sentry and Pez. Vintage Modern is essential 360. (Forthwrite/EMI) Alesha Kolbe

The Book Of Souls: Live Chapter documents the groundbreaking world tour Iron Maiden navigated throughout 2016-17, visiting 35 countries in total. Much like Flight 666: The Original Soundtrack , Iron Maiden have taken the best performances from around the world and put them together to create one full show. It’s a cool idea, and while some purists might claim that one show in its entirety is better for continuity, this method makes the live album format more universal. If you went to one of band's shows when they played in Australia in 2016, this package will certainly bring back

many great memories. (Warner) Simon Lukic

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