Come Back Again... with Chris Spencer

Broderick Smith - Too Easy (Newmarket)
One older (mature?) musician who has continued to record and perform around the country is Broderick Smith. Perhaps Brod doesn¹t play to the same crowds as he once did: performing acoustically at folk festivals more often these days, as well as smaller pub venues. This is a strong testament to Smith's songwriting and ability to adapt to changes in musical tastes. One of his earliest and most fondly remembered bands, Carson, has most of its recorded work re-issued onto one CD. Other bands in which he has been a central figure include the Dingoes and his own Big Combo. By my reckoning this is his 8th solo album, and it¹s been over 5 years since his last album 'Crayon Angels' in 1996. Since Smith¹s last album, he has moved to a rural setting to live, establishing both a working and recording relationship with his producer, Mick A'Hearne. Sometimes they perform as a duo, at other times they add musicians as needed or afforded. This album is miles away from his early work in blues and boogie. The first half dozen tracks are gentle paced ballads, with no urgency either in the lyrics or music. In 'I Have No Song' and 'Aria Branca' Brod uses a high register of his voice that I am unfamiliar with. 'Rainy Day' uses a rich mixture of instruments such as harmonica and mandolin, both being used in an understated, mute tone. It's not until track 7, 'Victim's Highway' that the beat picks up into a more recognisable rhythm with that I have associated with Smith in the past. One thing about older musicians is that when they record they have the ability to gather enormous talented players to give them a hand. This CD is no exception: Michel Rose, Matt Walker, Kevin Bennett (who co-writes many of the songs on the album), Gerry Hale, Peter Howell, Joe Imbroll and Nigel McLean on violin assist creating a great sounding album. Interestingly, Smith has written almost all the lyrics, and his co-writers have supplied the music. There are a couple of covers one being a Glenn Danzig - 'Thirteen' which is more upbeat, and the other by Australians Rodney Freeman-Smith and Phillip Hyde. This is not the type of album that reaches out and grabs you by the throat; it's more of a grower and needs several listens to appreciate the intricacies of the arrangements and nuances of the lyrics. More of a mood setting album rather than one to bop around the lounge room with. Perhaps it reflects the changed circumstances in Smith's life. Exceptions are the bluesy Going 'North', the country-ish 'Writers on a Train', 'Victim's Highway' and the aforementioned 'Thirteen'. One of the best songs, Smith has left till last: 'Man to Man' in which an emotional Smith is accompanied only by an acoustic guitar.

Ironically, it was announced just the other week that Glen Wheatly and Michael Gudinski intended to form a new label which would concentrate on releasing albums of older musicians who were finding it difficult to find record companies that would release their music. These days there are very few radio formats which have the flexibility to play new recordings of older musicians, preferring to play their big hits from 20 and 30 years ago! Youth orientated play lists are only keen to promote the next big thing, and few of them are over 20!

To obtain a copy of this CD, you can either email mahearne@primus.com.au or type Broderick Smith into your search engine. Failing that pop into your local record shop!

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August: Three Aztecs and a Chain - Down The Beaten Track

Chris Spencer is author of the "Who's Who of Australian Rock'. He can be contacted through Moonlight Publishing.