I'm not sure what the ethics are when a self-styled "Executive Producer" of an album decides to review that same album. In my defense, I point out that over half of the songs on SCALA A Guided Tour were the choice of various judges in our Festival of Original Music (FOOM) Song Competition. There are 10 (of 11) winning songs from 2009 (Olivia Hand couldn't get her instrumental, Wheel of Barrow, recorded in time for this album) and there's the two studio winners from 2010. In addition to these 12, there are 8 bonus tracks, 4 of which had won minor awards in past FOOMs, which admittedly I did have some hand in selecting for the album. Having declared my interest, though, and having had a role in all 19 of SCALA's albums to date I think this set of 20 tracks is exceptionally strong, as songs, as performances and as productions. Let's dive right in!
Georgia Germein I Won't Forget You
I Won't Forget You was written by Georgia following a trip to Africa and expresses the profound effect the community there had on her and the heartfelt way that an experience like that can have on an individual. The song was regarded very highly by the Live judges (DJ Shep and Becc Bates) in the 2009 FOOM Final. They declared that if they were asked to pick just one winner then I Won't Forget You would have been it (there were actually four winners in the Live Final). Georgia also won a recording prize in the live section of FOOM 2007 with Running To You (on the 2009 SCALA Another Lesson In Love album). This version of I Won't Forget You is a slightly different mastering from that on Georgia's debut album. It features Georgia on all vocals and guitars with the multi-talented Quentin Eyers (at Q the Music Recording Studio) on bass, drums and strings. This is a strong opener for the album with an intro that builds into a big sound and with great vocals from Georgia.
Andy Armstrong and Marta Bayly Since I Met You (Bayly)
I remember when Marta and Andy performed this song in the third live heat of FOOM 2009. Judge Corey Stewart commented that he would be delighted if someone wrote a song like that for him. As would we all, I think! Since I Met You went on to be Highly Commended in the Final (you can see that performance on YouTube) and it was subsequently recorded for Andy and Marta's debut album Harmony of One but the track on SCALA A Guided Tour is a different version which is much closer to the performances in FOOM with Andy and Marta on guitars. This recording also has Stuart Day on bass. Andy told me that this version of Since I Met You (recorded at David Gully's Backbeat Studios) was almost forgotten so we're indeed fortunate to have it in the SCALA Collection. Marta perfectly captures the uncertainty and longing of falling in love in this song. You hear the pain (a good pain) in her voice in "It hasn't hurt like this in a long and lonely time ...." and Andy's guitar harmonics underline the fragility of the new relationship evoked in the song. Great work all round.
Corey Stewart Billboard Angel (Stewart/Smith)
The aforementioned Corey Stewart, songwriter, musician, blogger and FOOM judge wrote Billboard Angel with his friend Jeff Smith in 2002 and recorded it for his forthcoming debut CD but decided to offer it for the SCALA album instead. If this is the quality of "the one's Mr. Stewart rejects" then we're in for a real treat when he finally releases his CD some time in 2011. Billboard Angel is a lighter feel good song after the two openers on SCALA A Guided Tour. As the title suggests, the song is about a model on a billboard but it gives an, at times, tongue-in-cheek insight into loneliness and fantasy in a commercial world. Billboard Angel was recorded at Anthony Stewart's Red Brick Studio and features Corey in fine voice and playing most of the guitars and bass along with master guitarist Darren Zaza and Tim Irrgang (drums).
Ria Loof and Spacejunk Nothing to Hide (Ria Loof)
Ria Loof's song Nothing To Hide was recorded by Spacejunk in 2003 and released on the Cosmic Washing Machine CD and it's that version that's re-released on SCALA A Guided Tour. Ria describes it as Spacejunk's "token ballad" and says that it "was always well received". This is perhaps an understatement! Ria has it on her Myspace site where it has had over 4,000 plays. In addition Jim Lesses videoed Ria singing the song solo, acoustically for SCALA on a hot January night in 2008 and this is on YouTube where it has had almost 7,000 views. I've teased Ria that if I were to have written the song it would have been "I've got nothing to give and too much to hide ...." but I suspect that would never have been as popular as Ria's "I've got so much to give and nothing to hide." Isn't that what everyone wants in a relationship? This is a thoroughly feel good love song and I'm glad to see it in SCALA's collection. I love the harmonies and every other aspect of this song. Nothing To Hide was recorded at The Cheese Factory by Kim Webster and is the only track on SCALA A Guided Tour not mastered by Neville Clark at Disk-Edits (it was mastered by Oscar Gaona at 301 Studios in Sydney).
Kenny Green Rescue Me (Green/Twyce Daily)
Rescue Me was one of the 4 winnings songs in the live section of FOOM 2009 and in a strong Final field it was a worthy co-winner. Kenny gave a very illuminating talk at a SCALA workshop early in 2010 about how he came to write the song with award winning songwriter Jimmy Williams who plays under the name Twyce Daily. Kenny acknowledges that it became a far better and stronger song with Twyce's input. It's a song that asks the question "how far would a friend go to help me when I needed help?" and so it examines the nature of real friendship (quite pertinent in the Facebook age when you can become a "friend" so easily and so superficially in many cases. How much has the word "friend" been debased as a result?). I thought Kenny did a pretty good performance of this song in the FOOM 2009 Final but this version, recorded at Anthony Stewart's Red Brick Music studio is massive! Listen for Kenny's final gut-wrenching note held over the final bars of the song. Guitars on this track were played by Anthony Stewart with percussion by Costa.
Sasha Galliver As I Am
Woah! Anybody who has seen and heard Sasha play live knows what a great voice she possesses and on this track she shines. As I Am is another take on friendship which dovetails nicely with Kenny's Rescue Me. It's a song about trying to live up to people's expectations (and failing) then deciding to "hold on to people who love me as I am". This was the last song recorded for SCALA A Guided Tour. Sasha had three attempts at recording the vocal at Q The Music but she wasn't happy with the first two. The final session, when she finally nailed the vocal, occurred just a few days before we mastered the album. Whew! As I Am was a co-winner in the Live section of FOOM 2009. Quentin Eyers engineered, produced and played all the instruments on this excellent recording.
UltraViolet High And Dry (Gloria Albanese)
When I was compiling the judges' CDs for the Studio Section of FOOM 2009 this track stood out for me so I was delighted to see it judged as one of 3 winners that year. I'd heard Ultraviolet play a number of times at our venue but this studio recording was something I'd never heard on stage before. Part of the reason is that this recording features a special guest appearance by Brett Rozek on lead guitar. There's some hugely tasteful licks on the song as a result. The other changes from their stage presentation are the multilayering of vocals and, most of all, the production by Danny Bryan at Access Audio. On stage we are usually presented with a mono mix through the front of house speakers but the recording of High And Dry uses the stereo spectrum to the full with judicious placement of instruments in the mix in an almost spare production that suits the nature of the track. The bass and drums work off each other setting the moody atmosphere in an introspective song about the end of a relationship. The short piano intro almost makes you feel you're breaking into and eavesdropping on a conversation. It reminds me of some of Sade's best recordings. This is high class work and it seems to me to be an example of a band and a producer working so well together they get more than the sum of the individual parts (much like The Beatles and George Martin).
Mika El Inspire Wonder Lullaby for Cosmonauts
Maybe I've watched too many episodes of Star Trek but for me the intro of Lullaby For Cosmonauts really conjures up images of deep space probes - it's that kind of music so it works for me at least! Lullaby ... has all the hallmarks of "epic track" about it with Japanese-born, Adelaide resident Mika skilfully handling vocals, bass, keyboard and percussion as well as producing the track. Engineer Gabriel Agostino chipped in with lead guitar. Lullaby For Cosmonauts co-won in the Demo Section in FOOM 2009 and was re-recorded at Chapel Lane Studios. I like the mix of Japanese and English vocals (the Japanese has English translations in the booklet). This is a song of hope for the future when humans voyage into the next galaxy but maybe it can also be read as a theme for the earth itself "lost in deep space".
Shaez Mortimer and the Adelaide Jazz Trio Guided Tour Of Love (Miller/Stiliano)
And so we come to the song that provides the title for SCALA A Guided Tour. This is an unashamedly light jazz song written by the Adrian Miller/Gary Stiliano songwriting partnership. As Adrian explained in a recent workshop his method of working with Gary is to supply a set of lyrics, usually by email, and Gary supplies a tune. This collaboration has resulted in 13 awards in FOOM alone, two of which were winning songs. Adrian himself has won FOOM on 11 occasions either by himself or in collaboration whilst Gary has won FOOM by himself on another occasion. Guided Tour of Love, itself, was Highly Commended in FOOM 2007. Recorded at Chapel Lane, engineered and produced by Corey Hosking, we can delight in the amazing voice of Shaez Mortimer and the wonderful backing of the Adelaide Jazz Trio (Peter Merchant - Piano; Geoff Miller - Bass; Robert Mastripolito - Drums). I love the wittiness and original rhymes ('lost' and 'lust', 'perhaps' and 'maps') used in this song as well as the fine bridge.
Andy Armstrong and Marta Bayly Honeybee (Armstrong)
Andy Armstrong's Honeybee was a co-winner in the FOOM 2009 demo section. This might be described as country jazz or swing. It's a great recording that also appears on Andy and Marta's Harmony of One CD with Marta on main vocal, Andy on backing vocals and guitar along with Evan Jones (backing vocals), Stuart Day (guitar), Steve Fleming (bass) and Liv Bafile (percussion), recorded by David Gully at Backbeat Studios. With a line-up like that it couldn't fail to be a quality performance and production. And, of course, given the subject, there's a double entendre running through the song which Marta sings with enough wry humour to convey the message!!
The Stirling Collective The Ghost Of Henry Halls (Olivia Hand)
This song was the audience favourite in the FOOM 2009 Live Final and it was also picked by the judges as one of the winners. Shortly after winning, though, Olivia headed over to Melbourne (to find fame and fortune) which is where she decided to record the song, singing and playing keyboards, accompanied by her partner in The Stirling Collective, Josh Simoes, on vocal and guitar. The eerie mood that Olivia created at the FOOM Final is underscored here with Olivia's husky vocal treatment and the understated backing. I suppose in some ways the ghost of Henry Halls can be seen as another facet of Corey's billboard angel insofar as both present a subject who longs for something that's not real.
Cate Rogers and Rick Daniels Home
This is an iconically Australian song about a country girl whose marriage in the city has failed. It's hard to overlook lines like When there's a big sky in your heart/How does it fit into a one-room flat? That sentiment will probably resound with anyone who has suffered financially and emotionally from a broken relationship no matter what their background. Home was a Demo Open co-winner in FOOM 2009; deservedly so. Mainly recorded at Anthony Stewart's Red Brick Music Studio, this recording features Cate on vocals with Rick playing guitar and percussion as well as providing backing vocals and producing the track. Mike Green plays violin.
Simon Chan Flickering Shadows (Simon and Melissa Chan)
Flickering Shadows was a co-winner in the Studio Section of FOOM 2009. It was co-written by Simon Chan and his daughter Melissa. It's a plea for communication in a relationship in which is breaking down but maybe there's some hope still. The image of the flickering shadows of a couple who can't bring themselves to confront each other is quite compelling. Simon previously had the song, Suspended, on the SCALA Shadows And Light CD. Flickering Shadows was recorded in Sydney, NSW and features Simon on guitar with Danny Calvo on vocals and Dario Bortolin on bass guitar and drums. Dario also produced the track.
Mika El Inspire Wonder Fresh Start
Mika El Inspire Wonder's second winning song in FOOM 2009 was Fresh Start, a co-winner in Studio Open. Whereas Lullaby For Cosmonauts was epic in its flow, Fresh Start is a raunchy rocker, recorded at Billy Hyde's Recording Studio. This is a song of affirmation after a relationship breakup. Mika sings and plays bass, keyboard and percussion on this along with Adriana Francescangeli (congas and djembe), Russell Harding (Djembe) and Daniel Seymour (kit drum).
Mick Kidd Slow Burn (instrumental)
A slow burn is something that the bus on the cover of the SCALA A Guided Tour album might do but it's actually the only instrumental on the album. Mick Kidd's Slow Burn won the FOOM 2010 Studio Instrumental section. It was recorded at Cashel St. Studios and features Mick on guitars, Peter Thomas (Bass) and Colin Jevons (Drums). It's a blistering bluesy number that makes good use of effects pedals and really showcases Mick's guitar work. Mick always seems to do good work so I'm looking forward to hearing Mick's other winning song from 2010 - his It's All Worth It was a co-winner in the Live Section and should appear on SCALA's 2011 album.
Ultraviolet Angel In Disguise (Gloria Albanese)
The other Studio winner from 2010 was in Studio Open and once again it's Ultraviolet at Danny Bryan's Access Audio with another Gloria Albanese winner. For her win Gloria picked up the inaugural "The Electric Room prize" which is a very handy bonus (thanks to Mike Kirkham). "For those who came in late" Gloria first came to FOOM notice in 2004 when her song Butter Me Up was a winner in the Live Section and her Bumpy Ride co-won the Demo Open section. You'll find both songs on the SCALA Over The Edge CD (2005). Angel In Disguise has the same lineup and recording details as High And Dry - Gloria on vocals and guitar, Lorrae Southby, keyboards, Craig Kelly, bass and Jared Murray, drums (the usual Ultraviolet lineup) but without Brett Rozek on guitar. Instead, producer Danny Bryan provides synth strings. Gloria explains in a note in the booklet that the angel is someone irreparably damaged by fire and so is judged by appearance rather than her inner qualities. The song explores this theme in the context of a relationship in which someone is accepted for what they are rather than how they appear to be. There's impressive layering of vocals in this song too.
Shaez Mortimer and the Adelaide Jazz Trio Funny You Should Mention (Miller/Stiliano)
This track was recorded at the same session as Guided Tour Of Love (above), engineered and produced by Corey Hosking at Chapel Lane Studios and so the songwriting credits and line-up are the same. This is the shortest song on the album but a small-package delight! Once again it's a light jazz number with Adrian's witty lyrics that seem to flow so effortlessly from his pen (or fingertips). Like Guided Tour ... it has a motif of travelling, "the road we're travelling", "on our way home", "turned a corner". It's a thoughtful approach to songwriting that can be traced back through to Cole Porter and something that clearly resounds with judges and the public alike. Funny You Should Mention won a Commendation in FOOM 2008.
David Robinson Just Like You
David has been a very busy and productive songwriter and performer over the years that I've known him and, according to articles he's written about early bands he was a part of, his involvement started well before SCALA (so, yes, he's more than 23 years old!!!). People who've heard David's songs on previous SCALA albums or who might have had the pleasure of listening to his CDs that generally have a band or multi instrumental backing might be surprised by the stripped down nature of this song which was recorded at Chapel Lane Studios by Gabriel Agostino and produced by Gab and David. This is more like David's solo performances with guitar, harmonica and a tambourine overdub. Perversely called Just Like You (the phrase "too many people" occurs 16 times in the song, "just like you" merely twice!) this song touches on alienation and unhappiness - the daughter who is paralysed by parental control, the jilted lover not consoled by plenty-more-fish-in-the-sea platitudes, the dating service relationship that has soured "even though I never met her". Maybe we can expect a David Robinson solo album soon.
Mika El Inspire Wonder Unrealistic Reality-F2
This is a bonus track from multi FOOM winner Mika and it's delightful and disturbing at the same time. Recorded at Billy Hyde's Studio, Mika and Owen Gillett play all instruments and they co-produced the song. Listen out for the awesome guitar solo from Owen. I like Mika's pronunciation of the word "so-ci-e-ty" and the blending into Japanese (once again translated in the booklet). "Searching For a Place/Where I can Feel I'm Safe/Somewhere I Can /Let Go of All" is probably something we all crave yet we live in a world that can't often provide it - an unrealistic reality.
UltraViolet Thankin' U (Gloria Albanese)
To finish off the album there's a bonus track from Ultraviolet. Thankin' U was Highly Commended in the FOOM 2010 Demo Open section but it was recorded in 2008 with the basic Ultraviolet line-up of Gloria, Lorrae, Craig and Jared at Danny Bryan's Access Audio. This song is about an ended relationship with a very catchy chorus and wonderful vocal layering. It's a great album closer, leaving you wanting more and you've already had 77 minutes worth!
So that's SCALA A Guided Tour. Many thanks must go to Adrian Miller for co-ordinating the recording of the winning songs from 2009 in order that we could release them in a timely fashion and thanks too to all the studios who sponsor the recording of the songs and help the artists to shine. I've already mentioned Neville Clark's magic at Disk-Edits' mastering suite. I sit watching Neville work away at the tracks I give him each year and I have no real idea what he's doing except that the songs sound better after mastering than they did before! And a special mention has to go to Courtney Ball (Robb when she sings, Ball when she designs!). I had an idea for the cover which Ros Clark at Disk-Edits whipped into something tangible using a stock image off the internet (thanks Ros). I then sent Ros's cover and the booklet words and pictures to Courtney who promptly came up with a funkier cover and a full colour 24 page booklet in super-quick time. A great SCALA effort all round I reckon.
Now it's up to you! The CD is a bargain at just $15 and an even better bargain at $10 for SCALA members (plus p&p). Or you can download high quality mp3s of individual tracks for about a dollar each from our website or download the whole album for about $12 (the online download prices are in US currency so what you pay depends on the exchange rate that day). You won't be disappointed by SCALA A Guided Tour.
I'm not sure what the ethics are when a self-styled "Executive Producer" of an album decides to review that same album. In my defense, I point out that over half of the songs on SCALA A Guided Tour were the choice of various judges in our Festival of Original Music (FOOM) Song Competition. There are 10 (of 11) winning songs from 2009 (Olivia Hand couldn't get her instrumental, Wheel of Barrow, recorded in time for this album) and there's the two studio winners from 2010. In addition to these 12, there are 8 bonus tracks, 4 of which had won minor awards in past FOOMs, which admittedly I did have some hand in selecting for the album. Having declared my interest, though, and having had a role in all 19 of SCALA's albums to date I think this set of 20 tracks is exceptionally strong, as songs, as performances and as productions. Let's dive right in!