Filed under: PUBLISHED WORK
Arts Hub Australia, 19th March 2008
An instrumental ABC Classics album bearing a Bon Jovi title track had me quaking in my sceptical stilettos, but by the opening bars of Bed of Roses’ third track I had kicked them right through the walls of my glass house and sunk down to be immersed in this unfathomably successful classical-pop fusion. (more…)
Filed under: PUBLISHED WORK
Arts Hub Australia, 17th March 2008
Australian – French experimental pop duo Machine est mon Coeur (Machine is my Heart)’s self-titled EP is an aural workout which could be likened to very unstrenuous interpretive dance. (more…)
Filed under: PUBLISHED WORK
Arts Hub Australia, 12th March 2008
Hamer Hall, Melbourne, Sunday 9th March 2008
“Sublime” is quite a big call, but past experience of both Katie Noonan and the Australian Chamber Orchestra should have extinguished any doubts as to the ability of their combined superpowers to answer it.
Every possible positive you may have conjured about this program can be confirmed… now. If your city has not yet been exposed to the splendour, buy up any remaining tickets or steal into the auditorium armed with suction caps and take up space on the ceiling. (more…)
Filed under: PUBLISHED WORK
Arts Hub Australia, 10th March 2008
Unless her press release has been mightily jollied up, Wales’ latest prodigal vocalist Katherine Jenkins is indeed beautiful – a “special voice, winning personality and captivating smile.” And yes, she is only twenty-seven.
Nearing said age myself and no doubt resembling, by comparison, a small ball of dough, it would be a cinch to frolic cynically in the impression that her marketing machine is sketching the portrait of a kiddie beauty pageant victor rather than a competent artiste.
Unfortunately for this doughball but fortunately for the wider public, it is not. (more…)
Filed under: PUBLISHED WORK
Arts Hub Australia, 7th March 2008
Although it never pays to judge an album by its cover art, Saving Grace’s mellow, quirky visuals had me puzzling over the possible nature of the sonic version contained within.
There was little need.
As the initial cool chords of Coma Is A Crime brushed over, it was clear that mellow would be the umbrella shielding a well-written collection of songs from emotions bright and shiny. (more…)
Filed under: PUBLISHED WORK
Arts Hub Australia, 7th March 2008
Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts’ Music Program Executive Anthony Peluso’s speech seems propelled by pure enthusiasm, and with good reason.
“The basic premise for the 2008 music program takes the line of musical mavericks”, he explains. (more…)
Filed under: PUBLISHED WORK
Arts Hub Australia, 26th February 2008
An impressive background in festival management and a solid base of experience with Australia’s longest-running international arts festival can still feel like thin cushioning when finding oneself in the big chair. Shelagh Magadza’s first season at the helm has been one of considerable fruition, but as she states frankly, “I think inevitably the first one is a bit of a terrifying ride!” (more…)
