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Handmedowns
Last year when I reviewed a "comeback" CD of Glenn Cardier's, I was enthusiastic about his talents, his gravelly voice and his new direction. Late last year he released another album, as a follow up and the results are just as good. This new cd continues Cardier's interest in upbeat, voodoo and New Orleans rhythms, balanced with slow ballads and quirky, unusual themes. An example of this latter material, is the centerpiece of the album, Elvis at the Checkout, which tells the story of Cardier meeting Elvis Presley in a supermarket. The track is a live favourite as Cardier relates his fascination with, and homage to, Presley. I much prefer the upbeat songs (such as Water Finds it own Level, Wild in the Summertime (with its great Hammond organ), the title track) but Cardier is much too clever to record a whole album of similar material. His experience as a live performer shows his ability at pacing a performance, mixing faster tempo songs with slower material. The slower songs here (Strangers, Dancing the Years Away, Come Back to me) are perhaps better described as poems set to music, as Cardier forces the listener to listen to the lyrics. I also liked Asylum Blues, a blues shuffle, and the upbeat romp Mr Happy. I can't work out who this song is about - A politician? A record company exec? A real estate agent? A car salesman? - someone who promises the world but fails to deliver the goods. The title track features a male choir which is effective, but should be used more often. Great voice, great production and arrangements, Great CD. Smashed Records have re-issued the Handmedowns mini LP, originally released in 1988, on the Greasy Pop label. There is a bonus track, Goodbye, which was recorded in 1987, but not released until 1998 on an EP issued by the Sound Effects Magazine. The liner notes that this recordings are digitally unmastered [to retain] vinyl realism! The sound is certainly very good; my ears can't tell the difference between digital and analogue but the sound the band generated in 1988 has not dated much in the past 17 years. Power pop melodies, harmonies, jangly guitars sound just as good as ever. My favoured songs are the lead off track State of Confusion & When all the World was Young. The Smashed Records label has also released two singles by Repenta, which has the aim of reinventing Church music - using a raw rock format to bring a different slant on contemporary hymns. References: References
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columns Chris Spencer is author of the "Who's Who of Australian Rock'. He can be contacted through Moonlight Publishing. |
Glenn
Cardier
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