Red Whyte - Tenacity Of Tone - Tempo Interview

Broadcast 2024-12-02

This time, I have a bit of cheat sheet. Hey Gringo played at the Sleepy Hollow Blues Club November gig, so I definitely had some idea of what to expect.

The first thing to note, is the professional skills they display.

The track has that lovely loose feeling that you only get when a group is tight, and this is tight with a capital T.

The vocal is clear and the lead shifts from the vocal to other leading instruments, not simply in an instrumental break (don’t worry, there is still an instrumental break!) inserting themselves into little nooks and crannies within the vocals.

All of this contributes to a sense of flowing and moving gently but persistently.

This is not a physical movement, but a reflection on the inner journeys we have in the course of our lives.

The vocals reinforce a feeling of connectedness, a feeling that many feelings we have are similar.

The track exudes excellence.

Daryl Roberts And Hey Gringo - Keep On Moving - Tempo Review

Broadcast 2024-12-02

This a fascinating song to listen to and appreciate.

It’s a very clever composition. 

At the base, there’s a great beat that sets the tone.

Is that a lead vocal? The lead vocal line is a harmony throughout the song.

Between the beats and the lead vocal, there are instruments following or contrasting with the main theme.

In and around the whole piece are the sounds of the wildlife we share this country with.

The song poses three main questions, universal questions, and vitally important questions.

“Whose land are you standing on?”
“What Nation what mob?”
“The sun’s burning, the world’s turning, the temperature’s rising, but no one’s learning.”

They are probably the biggest questions which need to be addressed in Australia.

The first two questions challenge your understanding of who you are and where you are.

These are existential questions, you cannot avoid them, and your answers to them establish your view of the world.

The third is a direct question on what we are facing.

Just as in the last song of Charlie’s that I reviewed this is an excellent piece, and I hope it gets much wider distribution.

I am standing in Wadawurrung country of the Kulin Nation, in the home of the Wathaurong people.

Always was, always will be.

Charlie Needs Braces - This Land - Tempo Review

Broadcast 2024-12-09

Rob is known for his dramatic guitar work, and on this track he is straight into it.

His guitar style and proficiency puts him up there with Clapton, Buchanan and the rest of those virtuosos.

Behind the guitar is a driving drum beat and bass, with some occasional keys supporting and building the lead, whether vocal or instrumental.

The lyrics are sparse in this song, and Rob’s guitar more than makes up for that.

No subtlety in this song’s “There’s gotta be no more war. Not much room for misunderstanding there.”

The song labels war as senseless, and asks “What are we fighting for?”

Something many have been asking for years.

Everything you do in war is a crime in peace.
War doesn’t make boys men, it makes men dead.

There is only one answer. As Rob sings “There’s gotta be no more war”

Rob Tognoni - No More War - Tempo Review

Broadcast 2024-12-09

“Rocket Man” is one of the classic Elton John works.

It’s really interesting that Audio Reign took it on, and even more interesting what they actually did with it.

First up though, lets be clear on the difference between a “cover” and an “interpretation.”

When you are covering a piece, you are trying to reproduce the original, the tones, nuances and all the other frills that define the original performance.

An interpretation though, is when you take the piece and make it your own. 

You meld the original essence of the piece with your style and approach.

That is exactly what Audio Reign have done here, and I have to say, it’s marvellous.

It opens with a soft instrumental, inviting the vocal in for the first few lines, and then the drums open up.

Then the full on guitars join in with the melody ,and there’s nothing left in the style of an Elton John performance.

The rhythms have subtly shifted, and the lead guitar vocal goes beyond anything previously associated with this track.

Audio Reign show respect though, and the vocals are clear throughout the song, the melody has remained, and the result is something where the essence of the original is clearly recognised, but the re-interpretation has put a completely different wrap around it.

I’m not surprised at this from Audio Reign. Generally they have a hard sound, and they have their name in a classic black letter typeface, but they are not strangers to dropping into a softer vocal break, such as in their track The Perfect Sea.

I really like it, it’s going straight to the pool room.

Audio Reign - Rocket Man - Tempo Review

Broadcast 2024-12-09

Anousha has a beautiful and clear voice, which brings a light touch to this song, and yet, what she is singing about is dark and threatening.

That dissonance between music and lyrics demands attention.

Anyone who has had a close encounter with trees turning into a wall of flame will identify immediately with these lyrics.

That’s equally so for experiences with floods and rivers climbing out of their banks. 

Sometimes the water crashes down at you, and other times there’s and insidious and quiet swelling and conquering of land those which live on it.

These scary descriptions are delivered by Anousha in her trademark vocals and precise diction.

Precise vocal harmonies strengthen the lead vocal without taking the attention from Anousha.

The instrumentals are gentle, but complex.

They weave around the lead, adding a wistful note that enhances.
But the message that comes from the song is stark.

There’s nothing like the natural environment that you love, turning on you in what seems a very personal way.

“Mother Natures’ telling us it’s time for the reckoning.”

Time to change.

Anousha Victoire - The Reckoning - Tempo Review

Broadcast 2024-12-16

I absolutely loved this song, the music anyhow.

Believe it or not, the first thing I thought of was Tom Waits “Jockey Full Of Bourbon.”

There’s a big difference there as well, but the sound of the guitar and the beat triggered that memory.

Waits always seemed a wordsmith, and the music took a back seat, but that’s not the case here.

The music here is much more complex. It has a very laid-back feel, but the playing is tight as a drum. 

I love the change of rhythm, it stops you from losing focus and takes you in a new direction.

The sound of the vocal both works with, and at times counterpoints the instrumental.

The effect is magic.

Now comes the “but.”

I’m damned if I can catch more than one word in ten.

I know it’s being sung in English, but the enunciation has me lost.
Enunciation is a relative thing. I’m Australian, and Early James is definitely not.

It’s probably clear as a bell for a person from his home in the USA.

That’s a pity because the notes that came with this speaks of his one-of-a-kind style: wordplay, verbal humour both light and dark, and a deep intelligence in the lyrics.

That’s just one thing within the total song, if I ignore that as a lack on my part, then this is a great song.

Early James - Rag Doll - Tempo Review

Broadcast 2024-12-16

You could walk into just about any jazz venue, and this music would fit in effortlessly.

There’s a synth underlying the tune, and sax and bass leads throughout.

I do have my usual critical note – occasionally the vocals are drowned by cresting instrumentals, and that detracts from a piece where vocals are important.

Major definitely has a smooth, honeyed voice, the descriptions are not hype. Very strong, well modulated.

It is an intriguing song.

The essence seems to be a wish to move from being a bad girl to being a good girl. 

A good girl according to whom? 

There’s a thread in the song of wanting attention, wanting reassurance, esteem.

To me that seems why the singer is after some third party ruling. 
You have to move beyond that.

As they saying goes, “The woman who does not require validation from anyone is the most feared individual on the planet.”

Major Zulu - Honey Honey - Tempo Review

Broadcast 2024-12-16

OK, we have a bit of dance, electronica, a jazzy feel and some neo-soul, with a few other influences thrown in. 

My kind of approach.

The whole feel to this is of a tight precision.

That instrumental precision extends to the vocal.

It almost feels like the voice is another instrument which is being modulated to produce the vocal.

This song is simply about surrendering yourself to the bodily joy felt through dance music.

Its main lyric seems to be, “go where the music leads.”

Not a bad idea really.

This track debuted at #19 on the 100% Independent Singles Charts.

Close Counters - Feeling Takes Over Me - Tempo Review

Broadcast 2024-12-16

Now that’s a hard rocking track.

The bass and drums hold it together, with lead, keys working together 

I reckon some brass would smash it! Even if you just had it in the 
reprise.

No? Too much?

This track takes me back to my printing days. 
“3 o’clock, almost time to hit the road. Call out to the boys, loud and let them know.”

In the printery, we couldn’t just tools down, we had to clean down the presses, but don’t worry, that was on the bosses time. 

Definitely out the door on time.

Leave it to tomorrow

I haven’t even heard the expression “I’m on a promise” for years.

We’ve got a one track mind.

Now you can see why I found this unable to resist.

Brewn - Tools Down - Tempo Review

Weekly uploads of reviews and interviews from the program, "Tempo". "Tempo" is a weekly radio program presented by John Lamp, highlighting a wide range of music and music reviews on 94.7 the Pulse in Geelong, Wadawurrung country. John has been involved in community radio since 1976, initially with a music program "Parcel of Rogues" on 7CAE-FM in Hobart, Tasmania. After moving to Geelong, he joined 94.7 the Pulse on the program "Folks Alive", which morphed into "~meanderings~." John then spent a decade on the station Boards of Management before returning to the air in 2022 with his new program "Tempo." Full programs can be accessed at the link below.

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