SCALA Here We Are Again CD Review
This is a SCALA awards CD, topped and tailed by excellent work from the duo Karmina with 2 great bonus tracks from the duo Raw Honey. If you check out the SCALA website and the Nov/Dec 2002 SCALA newsletter you will find detailed bios and information on all the artists - well worth reading … and so to a music review.
This CD has something for everyone. It has traditional folk style music, blues, rock with a heavy driving beat, the emotive style of light rock, instrumental music and some well done pop music. Whatever your musical taste you will find something on this CD to fit. Having said that all the music on the CD is enjoyable and provides a well rounded collection that everyone will enjoy. Settle in to SCALA Here We Are Again and do not adjust your set! if you do you are likely to risk losing an eardrum. Karmina (Kelly and Kamille) chose to start Orange Rush with a not quite tuned in 70's sound for about six seconds before a rocking beat kicks in at "normal" levels (assuming you did not crank up the volume). A great start, very easy to dance around the living room to this one (sing it - Orange Ru-u-ush - you get the idea). Some nice repeated underlying phrases that give a mesmerising beat to the whole thing. A very pleasing vocal sound and good melody with mood changes that showcase the rocking chorus each time it comes around. Effective ending with vocal harmonies and drum beat. Reminiscent of the sisters in the band "Heart" a compliment indeed. Very strong - good choice for the leading track and sets the standard of the CD. A rocking sound of a different genre comes next with The Milk and Falling Days. A slower song, deeper in sound and thought. I like it when lyrics stick in my mind "Turn around and walk the wrong way slowly with me". This has a lovely melody with a little harmony to give a balance to the lead vocal. Could easily slow dance around the living room to this one, very relaxing - gathers you inside the music as the song progresses. Oh yes - hopping again to Jo Schmidt and Flipside, a bright song with a good drum beat to 'air drum' to. A good steady upbeat song. Some nice electronic keyboard touches in this one which adds to the whole picture. Acoustic guitars followed by a single voice start Foolish Girl from Frank Dog Productions. The verse builds nicely, adding instrumentation and harmony to an emotive chorus with the whole band joining in. I was singing along "Foolish girls play foolish games" by the first chorus, very catchy. The song softened down again toward the end. Acoustic guitars strummed in unison to finish off, a very effective ending. I liked this. At the outset of Billabong Blues the bass and bluesy guitars sing 'I'm on the road again". I thought - no it can't be and when the vocal started I thought - no it's Rolf Harris, but it would be Rolf Harris with a toque (that's Canadian for woolly hat). This is a great song from Soursob Bob that reminds me of the song Alice's Restaraunt. Soursob Bob has the amazing knack of storytelling with an everyday Aussie flavour and this story seems to be a modern day Waltzing Matilda. The great bluesy sound continues underneath the story, a really mellow pleasing guitar sound and steady beat. Back to Rock and a great drum entry. Matthew Soden's Liar, Liar does remind me of Addicted to love by Robert Plant with the girls in the black skimpy outfits - but that's not a bad thing, it was a successful approach for Robert. The lyrics are interesting but I'm not sure if the song is tongue in cheek - I couldn't decide. A good rocking beat right through to the synthesiser finish. Crying Out Loud's It doesn't matter now has a strong melody and memorable chorus. I really liked this song and was off around the living room again (well I am on holidays). Good use of harmony. More electric guitar on this one, well used and gave it a good strong feel. Oh movie music - lovely! Orchestra sounds, bells. what a great start. The music and melody are so enjoyable in Our Song by Karen Algeri, Gene Hon and Shane Hon that I did not realise for quite some time that it is an instrumental. As the music progresses it changes, providing layers of sound and giving a sense of verse and chorus or parts of a song. At any time the violin sound or 'strings' is always emotive. It floats in and out of this piece giving just the right balance with the electronic instrumentation. It is hard for me to tell if there are any regular instruments, or all synth, but it doesn't matter, the effect is great. Now we need to ballroom dance around the hardwood floor - this gets my vote! David Lucas with Lennie's Song gets me right from the start - hits me in my folk roots. I have a soft spot for acoustic guitar picking which is done very well on this track. The melody frames this lovely song that tells a modern day story. It is presented beautifully with a simple folk style. Quite an emotive song, that could fit more than Lennie and as David points out at the end of the song, many people here have a heritage from somewhere else. I really like this song. Next we have Catherine Blanch with Corey Stewart and Coffee in the Ashtray. This upbeat song starts with good strong acoustic strumming. Single female and male voices alternate then join in harmony which is very effective. A simple reprise builds to a layered ending that fades leaving a sense of completeness behind. If you listen carefully you may hear the title of the CD hidden in this song - like finding money in the Christmas pudding! Three Grand at Idle has a modern sound. The title is a take on the name of the band Three Grand Idol. I really liked the riff in the middle in which the sound is full and layered. This sweeps into the last verse before repeating the riff (so - does that make it a chorus?) Regardless, it is well put together - a modern style of rock song. The next track fades in - very sexy, jazzy, can't keep still to this one. Songs like Richard Trembath's Because Love is Wild make me imagine I'm a backing singer in a hot steamy night club in California - you know the 3 girls off to one side with all movements synchronised. More blues guitar in this one. A good steady beat throughout and great melody to carry the song. Lets groove! Across the Miles from Derek Moule is another lovely example of folk music with well picked guitar backing. This one definitely gives an English folk feel. It stands up well among the rock and blues pieces that have gone before. The overall feel is great with a nostalgic touch. We are at song number 14 and still going very strong. The piano intro is a lovely touch for this piece by Melinda titled In my Dreams. Makes me want to waltz around the room singing the chorus "let me live, let me breathe". This song builds to a climax in the chorus which really tugs at your heart. It showcases Melinda's talent for songwriting. I can imagine this as a song for the end of a movie with credits rolling and you drying your eyes before the lights come on. Sudjai Cook brings a country feel to his song A Million Dollars, which appeals to me. It has a lead in to the chorus which is very effective. For those who can Two-step you would be able to join me! For those who can't - you don't know what you're missing. This is a simple song, with a touch of backing vocal and harmony, well structured leading to a great sound. It has a typical country guitar type riff in the middle which I enjoyed. And now we have again Karmina coming in at number 16 with a bullet and Run Away Mindigo. This well produced song shows the abilities of these 2 young women who have a great musical future ahead of them. Again we see a lead into the chorus "Aye, aye, aye, aye" which is very effective with very nice instrumentation and harmonies. The strong harmonies fit the melody well and the song builds and fades right to the end "Run away, run away, run away......". A very fitting conclusion to a collection of SCALA award winning songs. And when you purchase this 14th collection of SCALA songs you will receive a very special free gift, courtesy of Darren Zaza and Peter Mundy of DNA Live Sound who provide SCALA musicians with the opportunity to sound great every week. You will receive the gift of 2 bonus tracks by Raw Honey, recorded at the Director's Hotel, [at the time - 2002] the SCALA weekly venue and home of original music in Adelaide. Ten O'Clock Blues is another back room bluesy song, this time by Raw Honey. It is a good, basic blues song that rocks along right to the last beat. Well suited to the duelling acoustic guitars. Raw Honey and SCALA punters at the Director's bring you this, the 18th and final track on SCALA Here We Are Again, entitled Peace, Hope, Faith and Love. A great finish to this CD. This beautiful song with its lovely harmonies has the long tested folk tradition of touching hearts with a simple, yet powerful message and getting the audience to sing along - so you leave feeling that you've been part of something very special. If you listen carefully to the final track you'll hear us singing along - well that's one way to get yourself on the best SCALA CD compilation to date. Seriously they get better and better, which leaves us with a great bunch of CDs on the shelf and a good reason to feel proud, because this level of quality reflects on us all. A big thank you to these, our current SCALA ambassadors as they go out into the world and show what we're made of!. As always, this is my opinion but I suggest you pop along to the next SCALA gig ... and pick up your own copy. I guarantee you will be very glad you did. I wish you all Peace, Hope, Faith and Love a much needed sentiment as we look into the new year of 2003 and face the possibility of a world at war.
Adapted from SCALA News # 91 January/February 2003
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