Lucksmiths - Friendless Summer

  by Tommy Gunnarsson

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

Label: Matinee Recordings
Format: 7"

intro

Australia's finest are back again, just a couple of months after releasing 'Why That Doesn't Surprise Me', their first "real" album since 1997. This time, they have recorded two songs especially for M

Australia's finest are back again, just a couple of months after releasing 'Why That Doesn't Surprise Me', their first "real" album since 1997. This time, they have recorded two songs especially for Matinée Recordings (see last month's Label Spotlight), who have chosen to release them both on a nice piece of seven inch vinyl and to name it 'North American Summer 2001', to coincide with the band's recent US tour. And we all know what we'll get when we buy a record that says 'The Lucksmiths' on the sleeve; snappy pop songs, clever lyrics and brilliant bass-playing courtesy of Mark Monnone. Among many other things. The last two things I have mentioned are included here, but the pop songs are not very snappy. Don't get me wrong here, the songs are great as usual, but they are more mid-tempo and slow then the Housemartin-esque, fast pop that we have learned to love The Lucksmiths for. The A side is 'Friendless Summer', a typical mid-tempo Lucksmiths song, with singer Tali White once again standing behind his minimal drumkit (on the last album he had switched to regular drums), and you immediately feel safe and comfortable when you hear his great voice. Actually, I think his voice is getting better with every release, and is nowadays a far shot from the Tali we heard on'Pleasure and The Adolescent Song Of Mindless Devotion.' Not that he had a bad voice then, it's just that he manages to stay in key much better now. The B-side, 'Goodness Gracious', sounds a bit like 'The Opposite Of Coffee' (from the EP 'Staring At The Sky' that came in 1999), with it's slow pace. But actually you could compare it anyone of The Lucksmiths' slower songs. You won't be too far off the spot. At the moment, the guys are taking a rest, but will be back in Europe to tour in the early autumn. Be sure to catch them playing live when they get here, because they are really really great on stage. When playing at the Emmabodafestival in Sweden two years ago, they spent five of their 45 minutes describing the Australian version of football, and even gave away three of their CD's to a lucky contest winner in the audience. Since then, they have added a fourth member when playing live, Darren Hanlon, who is also an excellent solo artist (he released the EP 'Early Days' last year, and it's smashing!). A quick note too about the producers of this great single, Karl Smith and Pete Cohen. Normally, they make up the band Sodastream, who released one of last year's best albums, 'Looks Like A Russian', and they will also be touring Europe this autumn. Be there…

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