Kate Bush
50 Words For Snow
Noble and Brite
Having only released three records since 1985, it’s surprising to have two Kate Bush albums appear just a few months apart. Earlier this year she re-worked some of her earlier material, now here’s a whole new album. Kate’s like a crazy aunt who you love to bits but you’re never sure what’s coming next– an established genius, she’s had pop hits and made revolutionary videos. Kate Bush has nothing to prove.
This is what makes 50 Words for Snow captivating. Free from commercial expectations Kate gives us seven tracks infusing melancholic jazz around stories of being lost in the snow, getting sensual with snowmen and tracking Yeti. It’s wild and mad and beautiful. There are no three minute pop tunes to be found here, the longest track is 13 minutes and shortest clocks in over 7 minutes.
Snowed in at Wheeler Street features a duet with a subdued Elton John backed by mesmerizing vibrating chords, Stephen Fry appears on the title track pronouncing the many different names for snow as Bush sensually counts each one. Among Angels is the album’s closer, a beautiful mix of piano and vocals. This album is sublime, subtle and probably best enjoyed late at night with candles. – Graeme Watson
Bluejuice
Company
Dew Process
I spent the better part of November screaming, ‘Why don’t you act, why don’t you just act your age?’ in my car. It could have been awkward at traffic lights had I not been so captivated with Bluejuice’s new album, Company. The Sydney band has returned with a fast indie rock album, jammed with vibrant instrumentals or easy choruses. The band is notorious for taking the piss. Whether they’re packing tiny, short shorts to compete in the world skipping finals, pretending to be a religious order or randomly making out with someone’s grandma, these kids have the copyright on fun. And you can hear it in their music. – Benn Dorrington
Lady Gaga
Born This Way – Remix Collection
Stremline Records
Gaga’s never been shy of a remix. I’ve lost count of how many versions of Born This Way have been released – it’s available in every flavour from dubstep to country. The range of remixers tackling her spate of hits though has been diverse and the best of them are collected here. Goldfrapp turn Judas into an intriguing slow grinding dirge, Twin Shadow converts Born This Way into a hipster party anthem, Metronomy fill You and I with their retro electro sounds while the real stand out is Wild Beasts tripped out take on the same track. – Graeme Watson
Felicity Groom
Gossamer
Spinning Top
Gossamer is anything but gossamer – Felicity Groom’s highly anticipated debut album is a hard hitting little number. The whole album is wistful and a touch airy, but driven through by Groom’s powerful voice. Opening track Trophy Talk has a haunting rhythm while stand out track Finders and Keepers has a blistering brilliance that is one part infectious and two parts toe-tapping fun. Overall, Gossamer might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but it certainly is testament to the brilliant talent we have present here in Western Australia. Groom’s voice is a mighty thing, mightier than gossamer. And Gossamer is a mighty thing. – Scott-Patrick Mitchell
Florence + The Machine
Ceremonials
Universal
Everybody adored Florence + The Machine’s masterful debut. Does this sophomore attempt compare? If it hinged on one track alone, then the answer would be ‘yes’. Lover To Lover is such a standout track that its sheer brilliance eclipses the album. But elsewhere and the punches are more like lunges and pats – nothing seems to deliver the impact of this one track. Which is perhaps the aim of Ceremonials: perhaps this is an album all about the lilt and intent of the song, the ghost it conjures around you? Perhaps… but then that’s just a little dull. – Scott-Patrick Mitchell
Bjork
Biophilia
Nonesuch
Thank god for Bjork. We all need a little crazy in our lives, and Bjork delivers this in spades. But, unfortunately, this isn’t the easiest listening album, at least not at first. There’s something outwardly bespoke about this venture which makes it seem a little unwordly at first. Lead single Crystalline is a brilliant little spark, with Mutual Core the standout track with its electro heart pulsing bright. Moon, Cosmogeny and Virus all play toward a sentiment that is inherently Bjork, but elsewhere and the outré clanging of chunky instrumentation won’t garner new fans and may prove hard to stomach for diehard faithfuls.
–Scott-Patrick Mitchell
OIP Staff
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