Sia

Jan 11 2008 by Christopher Rees, Western Mail

Some People Have Real Problems

Monkey Puzzle

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ALTHOUGH Sia Furler is perhaps still best known as the main voice on Zero 7’s Mercury Award-nominated album Simple Things, her own solo material has been slowly but surely working its way into the public consciousness.

Fans of American drama Six Feet Under will have heard her song Breathe Me playing over the final five minutes of the series. And curiously enough celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton has been championing her bizarre but brilliant video for the song Buttons (included here as a late hidden track). Born in Adelaide, Australia, but now living in New York, via a few years spent in London, Some People Have Real Problems is actually her fourth solo album (not counting the recent live album Lady Croissant) and looks set to build upon the quiet success of 2004’s Colour The Small One.

Opening track, Little Black Sandals, begins with the gentle shuffle of drums and understated tremolo guitar but it’s that rich and soulful voice of hers that immediately captivates. It’s a voice full of character, depth and blissful serenity as she explores the emotive range of her songs. Sublime strings creep in and out of songs like Lentil and recent radio hit Day Too Soon, while You Have Been Loved strips things back to stark piano and acoustic guitar before reaching a rousing chorus. The Girl You Lost To Cocaine is a much more buoyant affair written in collaboration with English duo Turin Breaks. Other guest contributions come from American eccentric genius Beck who pops up to provide backing vocals on the more quirky Academia and the bluesy piano based Death By Chocolate.

As she displayed on Lady Croissant, she delivers another beautiful take on the Ray Davies penned song I Go To Sleep (probably best known as performed by The Pretenders in the ’80s). Electric Bird is a fantastic horn-powered belter that bares an uncanny but excellent resemblance to the theme from Rocky.

With the recent success of distinctive and soulful female singers like Amy Winehouse, and younger starlets such as Adele and Welsh star-in-waiting Duffy, Sia also deserves to capitalise on the movement. And with the wealth of radio friendly future singles here there is no reason why she shouldn’t.

Standout Tracks Lentil, Beautiful Calm Driving

Various

Larry Banks Soul Family Album

Kent

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Anyone familiar with the late great Dave Godin and the calibre of the deep soul that he championed on his superb collections should take a keen interest in this one. As Godin’s last dying wish, this tribute CD brings together a wealth of Larry Banks’s best work. Described as a genius of New York black music in the ’60s, songs like Go Now will be instantly familiar but there are plenty of other rare gems here performed by his two wives Bessie and Jaibi, Kenny Carter and Milton Bennett, as well as a few himself.

Standout Tracks Go Now, I Can’t Stop Laughing

The Stanley Brothers

The Later King Years

Ace

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After his remarkable, Grammy Award-winning performance of Oh Death for the soundtrack to the film O Brother Where Art Thou? Ralph Stanley brought the Stanley Brothers’ Clinch Mountain sound to the attention of more people than his brother Carter ever saw in his lifetime – despite being the most popular brother duo in Bluegrass. This collection serves up a wonderful overview of their recordings for the King label between 1961 and 1966. Their distinctive mountain harmonies, wonderful banjo and acoustic interaction are a joy.

Standout Tracks I’m Only Human, The Hills of Roan County

Stephen Sondheim

Sweeney Todd

Nonesuch

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The partnership of film director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp has always proved reliably successful (Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and now the pair come together again for the film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s much celebrated stage musical Sweeney Todd. This soundtrack was orchestrated by Sondheim collaborator Jonathan Tunick with all vocal parts performed by the cast themselves. Depp is full of his characteristic verve and dynamism.

Standout Tracks No Place Like London, Epiphany

Radiohead

Jigsaw Falling Into Place

XL

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Following the download success and recent physical release of Radiohead’s In Rainbows album, Jigsaw Falling Into Place is the first single and includes Thom Yorke live. Check YouTube for the excellent bicycle helmet web camera assisted video.

The White Stripes

Conquest

XL

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Originally popularised by Patti Page in the ’50s, and fuelled by mariachi horns and Jack White’s inimitable melodrama, Conquest is the third single from the album Icky Thump and comes in a series of coloured 7in vinyl with different b-sides.

Madness

NW5

Lucky Seven

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This catchy new single, taken from the as yet untitled forthcoming album, is a good reminder of the infectious ska/pop of Madness. Released on the band’s own label Lucky Seven, Suggs reflects a lost love with dramatic piano and optimistic sweeping strings.