Album review: EON - The Great Indoors

Creative Vibes CVCD040

Review copy supplied by Abels Music, Canberra

Reviewed by Tony Magee

Here's a great album for funky bars and nightclubs. The perfect up tempo vibe to keep the evening moving, without having to be loud and blaring.

Eleven excellent original tunes are presented on this album from Sydney based band Eon. Most tracks are composed by Rick Robertson and Lex Wilson, who also play on the album. Another three tracks are co-written by Jade MacRae who also contributes great vocals on several tracks.

One of the many strengths of this production is that the sounds, rhythms and grooves are mostly created by real people playing real instruments. There is some programming, however this is not the main force of the album. 

Bought and Paid For opens the CD, with a tight but flowing rock groove, and excellent vocal lines from Jade. Stuart Hunter contributes a really funky piano solo. He is also featured on Hammond Organ on Cold Turkey.

Dos Por Favor keeps the mood grooving even more, with a samba style rock groove, punctuated effectively by glints of flute and melodic riffs from a Rhodes piano. Rest Your Mind delivers a solid punchy base over which Jade sings in a slightly motown style. I love track four - People Don't Come Here to Sleep. A great dance track which includes a driving sax riff from Rock Robertson.

There's lots more, and it’s wonderful, so best grab a copy and hear for yourselves. Great new music - Australian style! 

First published in Restaurant and Catering Magazine, August 2002

Album review: EMMA PASK - Emma

Morrison Records 0927477282

Review copy supplied by Abels Music, Canberra

Reviewed by Tony Magee

Singer Emma Pask is well known to Australian and International audiences through her work with trumpet (and most other wind instruments) virtuoso James Morrison.

Here she is with her own album, supervised by James Morrison, with backing provided by a big band and string orchestra. The album sounds fantastic and Emma sings like there's no tomorrow.

It's all really in the style of American jazz of the 50's and 60's, and I think this will certainly be appealing to many venues that need a mood of sophistication and style.

There are such classics as L.O.V.E., here presented in classic swinging big band style, Jobim's No More Blues (with arrangement by Julian Lee) and How Insensitive (arranged by Judy Bailey). Both these beautiful Latin tracks feature the lush strings I mentioned before.

A wonderful, fun arrangement by Evan Lohning of Tea for Two includes a very clever counterpoint romp between Emma and various horns. 

There are also great originals including a beautiful slow bossa by Don Burrows entitled Whenever, plus two by Morrison/Pask called A Little Bit of What You Fancy and Mr Better.

Watch out for Danny Boy (the final track). Caught unawares, you may just get a little teary.

First published in Restaurant and Catering Magazine, August 2002