Music: Editor’s Picks

The Album

Daniel Merriweather – Love and War

Right, it is official. Love and War has made it on to my favourite album list of 2009. Daniel Merriweather’s second studio album is a wonderful blend of Motown, pop, funk and soul offering the perfect platform to show off his smoky vocals, and boasting an all consuming track list.

Merriweather saw a fair amount of success here in Australia and worked with Mark Ronson for years. But commercial success didn’t come until his appearance on Mark Ronson’s 2007 remake of The Smiths ‘Stop me if you think you’ve heard this one before’ which helped thrust our young RnB singer onto the international stage. From there, his popularity soared and so did his musical confidence. This is evident is his newest album, brimming with unmistakable control and attention to detail.

As soon as the opener For Your Money kicks in with its simplistic yet powerful piano and drums, you know that this is going to be an exceptional album. The song builds with subtle strings and soaring harmonies. I know it is a big call, but there is a Stevie Wonder-esque vibe going on at the beginning of this track.

The hypnotic beats of Impossible have an old school, Motown vibe and allow Merriweather to display his vocal acrobatics and his backing vocalist’s doowops. And, the record rolls on with more stand-out tracks. Change, his first single off the album has a distinct hip hop influence, littered with catchy beats, twinkling ivories and backed with awesome horns. Wale lends his swift raps to make this a smash hit.

Chainsaw is a summery track, heavily laden with the Hammond organ and bongo drums,both complimenting the lyrics on his destructive love life. Red, his second single off Love and War is a powerful ballad showcasing his epic vocals. Could You is a floaty track that samples California Dreamin and transports you back 40 years while Getting Out is a soulful-funk number featuring Ronson’s vintage hip hop beats and is a clear stand out

Adele and her molasses vocals can be heard on Water and a Flame that befits Merriweather’s sound in a perfect musical marriage. Live by Night is a track that wouldn’t be out of place on The Boat that Rocked soundtrack. The album closes with the very beautiful Giving Everything Away For Free a fitting summation of Love and War and a combination of Merriweather’s incredible tunes and beautiful lyrical take on love and war. I thoroughly recommend you give this album a go, it is a stellar body of work that will remain timeless and one you will continue to revisit for years to come.

The Single

I Gotta Feelin’ – Black Eyed Peas

Now, I know a lot of older Black Eyed Peas fans are not going to be overly happy with their latest sound on The E.N.D. They have lost a bit of depth to their lyrics and you may say the auto tune has worn out its welcome. I understand. However, I won’t lie, I am still loving it sick. Ever professionals, they have delivered another highly polished chart topper. They are still producing killer tracks with incredibly infectious hooks and beats that brim with B.E.P energy. I think it is a clever move – they are keeping their sound fresh and changing with the times.

Their second single, I Gotta Feelin’ is just so damn catchy. It has such a strong pop-rock vein that you may question whether it really is the Black Eyed Peas. There is a shift towards singing instead of their trademark rapping. The beat sails along with a wonderful tick tock-rhythm that provides the perfect soundtrack to a Friday or Saturday night.

Plus how can you go past a shouty chorus that’ll be stuck in your head for days? … ‘Fill up my cup, Mozoltov’ …

The Artist

An Horse

Hailing from Brisbane, this energetic duo is rapidly making their musical mark across the world. An Horse is made up of the tiny Kate Cooper and Damon Cox, who met while working at an independent record store. Bound by their shared love of music, they soon started playing together in 2007 and set up a PA in the store to rehearse after hours. After a lot of rehearsing, they decided to unleash their sound places other than the small store and started the difficult task of gigging.

Kate, on vocals and guitar and Damon on drums, have a unique and mesmerizing sound. They make melodic hook-ridden pop their own; their songs are energetic, tight and infectious. They do all this and still manage to capture a sense of vulnerability in their lyrics.

Almost unheard of, with a just handful of gigs under their belt, An Horse landed a fantastic opportunity. Tegan and Sara met An Horse while touring in Australia and offered an opening act slot on their 2008 Out Of Hibernation tour across America. And so began a phenomenal year ahead for Kate and Damon. The band’s popularity sky rocketed and they were given another opening spot for Death Cab for Cutie’s Australian tour in August of last year. And the icing on the cake was having their track, Postcards (off their first EP, Not Really Scared) used in a television commercial for the Mercedes Benz CLC Class.

This year, An Horse have moved over to the US to focus on their music and touring. Their second EP, Rearrange Beds was produced by ARIA award winning producer, Magoo (Midnight Oil, Regurgitator) at Applewood studios in Queensland. The duo made their first television appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman where they performed their hit, Camp Out. This whirlwind success is showing no signs of slowing, with a tour planned with Appleseed Cast later this year.

Remember their name, check them out. An Horse, the grammatically incorrect sensation.

The Gig

Andy Bull @ Spectrum

Last week members of the Trespass team attended a gig of an old Trespass fave, Andy Bull, at Spectrum on Oxford Street in Sydney. It was his final week of a three week residency. Andy ‘pure voice’ Bull was lending a hand in the SAVE FBI initiative. As per usual, he blew the audience away with his incredible musical arrangements and angelic vocals. Andy has finished his long awaited album We’re Too Young, available for purchase in August. We loved his live rendition of his latest single, Young Man. Check out the official video below and some photos from that night.