SCALA Shadows and Light is a CD compilation of the award winning songs from the 2005 and 2006 Festival of Original Music Award (FOOM), the annual songwriting competition run by SCALA (Songwriters, Composers and Lyricists Association). This is SCALA's tenth compilation CD (and 17th album, in the olden days they were released on cassette).
The front cover art detail of the SCALA Shadows and Light CD is from a painting 'Persistence of Origin' by Bill Cook. The design has a mystical air. In the foreground, on the right a woman holds a candle, which causes shadows and light to reflect on her face. In the background is a beach scene at dusk, an old jetty lit by a lantern, the setting sun throwing rays of blue, green, yellow, orange and pink.
The CD booklet is designed by Paul McInerney at Disk Edits. The booklet identifies all of the sponsors of the FOOM songwriting competition, and there is quite an array, including local recording studios. It's great to have music industry support, and of course the support of The Joiner's Arms which holds the SCALA Showcase every Saturday night and St Paul's Entertainment Centre that hosts the final of the competition.
The CD booklet is a great source of information for people in the music industry, whether they are looking for singers, songwriters, musicians, or recording studios, as they are all credited. A close listen to the styles and production will provide ideas on where to record a CD, find musicians for live and CD performances, locate a songwriter to collaborate with, or songs to perform or use on soundtracks. The booklet includes lyrics for the songs, photos and bios of the songwriters. Some of the songwriters have provided contact details in the form of web pages and/or emails. SCALA contact details are also provided.
SCALA was formed on the 22nd November 1987. Given that it is SCALA's 20th year I'm taking the opportunity to review this CD in light of SCALA's evolution over the years. In the early days SCALA had a more folky orientation, and with that, an emphasis on tale-telling, story songs. The old style cassettes tended to be focused on the vocal and often had very simple guitar arrangements as backing. 'Shadows and Light' is a mixture of pop, jazz, rock and a bit country. The instrumentation has many layers. The production values are at a commercial standard. It' is smooth and professionally produced. This has probably come about, not just because of ever cheaper technology and the mushrooming of recording studios in Adelaide, but also from a greater propensity for singer/songwriters to 'put out a CD'. Getting heard is becoming more accessible through radio airplay on community stations, and from selling CD's at gigs. Songwriters with the right technology can also play around with instrumentation and arrangements on their home computers and are perhaps getting more adventurous as a result of that.
Musically, SCALA Shadows and Light is a diverse, interesting, listener friendly CD. Lyrically there are some exceptional songs but others lose out from not enough crafting of the words, and not taking the opportunity to use imagery and story to move the theme along. Maybe it's swings and roundabouts. The emphasis on musicality, production and instrumentation is at the fore now and perhaps the pendulum will swing back to unique, exciting and original lyrics.
And now for the songs, in the order that they appear on the CD.
1. When I'm Near You co-winner, Live Section 2005 - Written by Gary Stiliano and Adrian Miller.
This is a jazzy love song that conjures up cocktail bars by the beach, palm trees, a hint of Latin America and romantic movies. The piano, strings and pretty guitar add to the atmosphere. In most cases on the CD the songs are sung by their writers but this one features Casey Finlay. Her creamy, assured vocals traverse the key changes and bent notes with ease.
2. Breathe co-winner, Demo Open Section 2005 - Jai Carafella
Breathe has a solid rock beat, acoustic guitar and dirty electric sounds. It has an effective pop structure with an interesting bridge that sets up tension. The lyrics are rock ballad in nature and express sensitivity to the emotions of others and self.
3. Crystal Eyes winner, Master Open Section 2005 - Alina Roucas
This follows on well from the song before, with a similar modern rock vein. It has an eerie, spacey beginning, followed by chunky electric guitar. The song is dynamic, passionate, with light and shade. The vocals are well mixed, easy to hear and clear over the guitar and other instruments, even though the backing sound is quite dense. There is lots of chorus repetition in the pop rock tradition.
4. Bring Me Back Your Love co-winner, Demo Open Section 2005 - Esme MacDonald
A dramatic rock song, using strings to provide urgency, with a driving beat and plenty of atmosphere. The structure uses an intermingling of verse, chorus, and bridge in unpredictable ways, adding interest for the listener. The fuzzed vocals at the end work well. There is a tendency to chuck in a lyric because it rhymes rather than because it makes sense.
5. That Moment co-winner Live Section 2005 - Miranda Bradley
This is a lovely song, enhanced by Miranda's clear, sweet, guitar picking and the swoon effect of the string quartet. The words and music meld well to express regret, melancholy, new dawn and hopes for the future. The CD title 'Shadows and Light' comes from lyric in this song and the CD art design evokes its themes.
6. Another Time (Still the One) co-winner Live Section 2006 - Johny Delamore
Another sweet 'farewell to love song', this would work well as a title track to a romantic movie. There is a good build up in the instrumentation; piano, strings and drum provide interesting arrangements without overwhelming the song. Lovely vibrato in the voice. When the key shifts in the last verse and Johnny hits the high notes it adds to the drama of the song. Think Kate and Leo at the front of the ship.
7. Kyoto winner, Instrumental Section 2005 - Andy Armstrong
This is a gentle depiction of warmth, sunny days and babbling brooks. I'm wondering if the title is referring to the protocol that we just can't seem to sign. There is a melody but it is slightly buried in the instrumentation. The tune goes through a progression of chordal relationships. There's a hint of classical, and in the bridge some bluegrass (Andy sites Leo Kotke an influence). There's a dirty note or two on the way down from the bridge which adds texture. Accomplished guitar playing.
8. I Thought I was a Hero co-winner, Live Section 2005 - Katie Greenhalf
A light pop song with good melody in the verse, and a catchy chorus, this is easy to sing along to. Katie's vocals are fine and fit the genre well. The opening line 'I'm out, I've finished this game. I know I'll win because you don't know how to play', is a great set-up for the song. There is a lot of strength in the first verse but as the song continues the meaning becomes confusing. It needs clarifying, so that the chorus reflects what is happening in the verses.
9. Waiting for the Rain co-winner, Demo Open Section, 2006 - Tony Hatters
This is a stand out song lyrically. It captures the feelings of a community in drought, shared hopes and fears, a life style dependent on the whims of the weather. RePlay, the band that includes Tony, performs 'Waiting for the Rain' on the CD. It feels like a very collaborative piece with instrumentation that is sensitive to the themes of the song. The line, 'Smell the rain, hear the thunder' is echoed in percussive sound effects. The lead guitar sings a lament but overall there is a cruisy feeling to the singing and the arrangements. This song should be Tamworth bound.
10. Cry When They're Hurting highly commended Master Open Section 2005 - Alina Roucas
There is a Suzanne Vegas, Cranberries feel to this song. It starts sparsely, then has a dramatic build-up. The chorus resonates and Alina's vocal style emotionally expressive. The lyrics build up a picture of hurt and pain but it would be good to have some story-line, so that the listener could relate more closely to the character.
11. River winner, Master Instrumental Section 2006 - Andy Armstrong
There is a driving feel to the guitar, giving a sense of water currents, the energy of the river. There is a 3 part structure that repeats through the tune, changing like the eddies and flows of a river. The tune builds up towards the end, hitting the high notes on the guitar. It's a gentle but dynamic piece.
12. Suspended highly commended, Master Open Section 2006 - Simon Chan
'Suspended' is poppy and up-beat which contrasts with the description of isolation in the lyrics. There is clear, bright rhythm guitar, keyboard washes in the background, solid drums and bass, highlighted with a wah wah electric guitar. The lead riff works well and throws in some angst. I like the imagery in the song 'misty haze of sunrise, staring down this deserted highway'. It includes the songwriter's lament 'searching for words to rhyme'.
13. Holding On co-winner, Live Section 2005 - Sue Pratten
The lyrics are excellent. There is a strong theme, with stories to illustrate, of tragedy and resilience, (another echo of 'Shadows and Light'). Sue's warm vocals with Miranda Bradley's sweet voice on backing vocals, meld so well, no doubt helped by the fact that they work together as the duo 'Raw Honey'. The musical arrangement is simple, with two instruments, acoustic guitar and dobro (resonator guitar). The song stands out because it is pared back, after so many songs with dense instrumentation.
14. Shit Together commended, Master Open Section 2006 - Esme MacDonald
This song is tuneful and hummable. The sentiment and theme are clear. The keyboard and mandolin add good texture to the song. The chorus is catchy. There are some awkward sentence constructions; 'surely you've seen the willing that I've shown', 'don't know without your love how I carry on'. Style has been sacrificed for the sake of the rhyme and it throws the song into an old English poem feel.
15. Blue Moon Territory winner, Demo Instrumental 2006 - Rob McDade
There's a strong interesting feel to this piece. There is a repetitive theme which is enjoyable, when it comes around. However at 6:14 minutes the song is too long for this genre of CD. There are a lot of parts which makes it hard to follow, especially when there are no words to make the connections. It needs some editing and more structure.
16. Fruit Salad commended Master Open Section 2006 - Nicole Kelley
Fruit Salad is full of double entendres - think fruit and sex. It's a fun song with an old time sound. Cutesy piano, light touch drumming matched with the bass give it a dance hall feel (would be a contender for the Adelaide's 'Cabaret' festival). The song is pitched a bit low for Nicole's range, so I'd suggest cranking it up a couple of notches.
17. Say Goodbye Bonus track - David Robinson
Another 'let's move on from love gone wrong' song. It has an up-beat 60's sound (there's even tambourine). There's strong acoustic rhythm guitar in the foreground and muddy electric at the back. The backing vocals work well. It's a polished song with a sing along chorus.
If SCALA Shadows and Light has a theme (which by rights it shouldn't, these are very diverse artists, who contributed their songs to the competition independently of each other) it is about the highs and lows of life, the pleasure and the pain, and how hope and faith in new beginnings may see us through.
For a CD that covers a lot of territory with a variety of genres, it works as a compilation. I quite happily can listen to all of the tracks in one sitting. It showcases talented songwriters, musos and record producers. Buy it and get a taste of the local music industry, and experience the art of seasoned and emerging songwriters.
SCALA Shadows and Light is a CD compilation of the award winning songs from the 2005 and 2006 Festival of Original Music Award (FOOM), the annual songwriting competition run by SCALA (Songwriters, Composers and Lyricists Association). This is SCALA's tenth compilation CD (and 17th album, in the olden days they were released on cassette).