Cd Reviews

Newcastle Herald

Thursday January 1, 2009

Anita Beaumont

THE DAWN

COLLECTIVE

Save A Place For Us

* * *

THERE is no doubting the talent of the

musicians who make up this Sydney

outfit.

Despite the rich layers of pretty and

atmospheric instrumentation in this

eclectic album, it fails to immediately

engage listeners. But first impressions

can be deceptive.

The mournful, sometimes wailing,

observations of vocalist and guitarist

Andrew Bennett are reminiscent of

Pinky Beecrofts solo work in All Those

Pigs and Enemies and Ghosts Shod In

Steel Shoes.

On the first listen, Save A Place For

Us seems like the same old mid-tempo,

orchestral alternative pop-folk reserved

for background music or lullabies. But

after a couple of rotations, the songs

quietly seep into the psyche.

On closer observation, the powerful

chord progressions, galloping drum

beats and raw vocals and harmonies

come together to ultimately enchant

listeners  particularly in tracks Shadow

Friend and The Art Of Longevity.

MELANIE

HORSNELL

Complicated Sweetheart

* * ?

HER lyrics might often speak of heartbreak,

worry and uncertainty, but

Melanie Horsnells sweet voice and

upbeat folk songs counter-balance the

sad themes and make them feel almost

joyous.

The banjos of the opening track,

Mr Accidental, shouldnt put off anticountry

campaigners, as there is

plenty of pop and soft rock elements to

Complicated Sweetheart.

But Horsnell seems to be strongest

when she ever-so-slightly veers down

the country side of folk in Oh Boy, I Only

Wanna Give You Love, and as she gets

a little jazzy in the sweet album highlight

Middle of The Room.

The beginning of the album promises

much with Mary Mary, Lovers Home,

Like Love and Break Up, but fails to

hold listeners right to the final note.

 Anita Beaumont

© 2009 Newcastle Herald

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