* in stock
CD: MUSH32248.2
RELEASE DATE: 1995
LABEL: Mushroom
01. A Midlife's Tale
02. The Romp
03. Nanny's Farewell
04. Neighbourhood Watch
05. Uncle Bill's Paddock
06. A Slow Storm Brews
07. My Friend the Chocolate Cake
08. Fingerbone
09. How Green Was My Valley
10. Teteko
11. Buffalo Ballet
12. John Elliot's Nose
13. Danny Boy
14. Thirds For Jackson
The central figures in this 'special project' band are singer/songwriter/keyboardist David Bridie and cellist Helen Mountfort - both best known as members of Not Drowning, Waving. This is a different sort of music, albeit one with definite connections to the Melbourne-based band, whose percussionist Russell Bradley is also present. It's definitely a 'produced' album, but the accompanying bookiet's back-cover photo accurately conveys the mood - a group of friends gathered round a piano with acoustic instruments in their hands and relaxed expressions on their faces. Bridie is the lead singer and pianist,with violinist Hope Csturos, mandolinist and occasional tin whistler Andrew Carswell and guitarist Andrew Richardson the other elements of the Cake. There are some fine songs and tunes here, well-served by the non-flashy, spare playing and singing. Wistful remembrances of things past like Uncle Bill's Paddock don't descend into mere nostalgia, and there are some pleasingly uncategorisable instrurnentals. The violin and cello are particularly haunting on A Slow Storm Brews, and who could resist one quirky instrumental that sounds as if it has emerged from a surreal trattoria or taverna, and was inspired by a Prominent Person's proboscis? John Elliot's Nose is more than just a great title, happily. We're not talking 'desert island disc' here, nor even an attempt to be 'wildly innovative', but in its modest and most quiet terms, this is a very successful record.-It's likely to change your life, My Friend the Chocolate is a warm and companionable album, especially at day's end.
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