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The two CDs being reviewed here are perhaps a good example of bands that had a good sound, and wrote competent songs, but never attained the pinnacle of the music industry, due to various factors. However I applaud the efforts of these bands to re-release their earlier recordings on cd and can only encourage other bands to do the same to ensure their songs are kept in circulation and be played on modern day equipment. The two releases I've chosen to review this month are related in several ways. First of all central to the project is Rohan Belton. Originally from Adelaide he has relocated to Queensland, but he is still playing in a band today, and like some of his contemporaries, with his son! On the South Central Indi Pop From the Mullet Era, he appears on every track, being a member of each of the bands featured on the CD of eight tracks: The Handmedowns, Trailer Park (his current band), Dust Collection, The Garden Path and the Verge. There are multiple tracks from both The Garden Path and the Handmedowns. Trailer Park recorded Favourite 500, which was a song in the repertoire of Belton's bands back then. Unlike other compilations, there is more cohesion between the songs; there is a similarity in the songs and even the most recent recording does not sound out of place among the other 20 year old material. I describe the songs as power pop with emphasis on the harmonies and melody and admit that the songs still sound relevant today, unlike some music which can become outdated quite quickly. Andrew Mueller described the Handmedowns' songwriting back in 1988 as possessing enough "bounce, beauty, [with] spirit and bite" to make a good pop record. He also added "Melodies sweet, lyrics wistful". I enjoyed the albeit all too short guitar solo on Favourite 500 , a song about a car. Reviews of the Garden Path noted their interest in Paisley and psychedelia but also noted the band's ability to write songs in different genres yet still retain an overall atmosphere throughout their recordings - 2 full albums and a mini-lp. They were compared to The Doors, Byrds, the Moffs, Died Pretty and the Crystal Set. I would have liked more information on the slick; for each track there is a full listing of members of each group, and a brief statement about where the track charted on independent charts or where the song may have been heard on radio overseas. I also wondered if there should have been much more material in the vaults, but was told that these are the only songs Belton was really proud of and represented good examples of the various bands' work. The Handmedowns CDEP was recorded with all the original members, and although Belton played with this band for awhile he only has a minor role on these recordings. Again the songs are in the power pop mould and I am reminded on a couple of occasions of the best work of the Hoodoo Gurus if you need some reference point. The band has recorded new material, except Quarter to 12 which they have recorded. Again the sound harks back the sixties which makes the recording so timeless and easy to listen to: lush jangly guitars, harmonies, good production, strong melodies. I look forward to hearing more releases from this label, and I hope these projects encourage other bands to do the same. References Previous
columns Chris Spencer is author of the "Who's Who of Australian Rock'. He can be contacted through Moonlight Publishing. |
The
Handmedowns
Various
Artists
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