The Meltdown - Better Days (7'", HopeStreet Recordings, 2015)
It seems the success of The Bamboos after their crossover into pop landscapes has inspired other Australian soul bands… The Meltdown might be one of those, adding the classy HopeStreet Recordings retro soul production to some blues/country/gospel songwriting and a sweet, soulful voice. If the A-side, 'Better Days' should clearly aim for radio & synch with its poppy appeal and optimistic lyrics, 'Sweet Water' on the flip is the kind of heavily soulful country gospel we can play on repeat at Paris DJs, while digital bonus track 'Such A Fool' is more of a shuffling New Orleans blues/soul affair.
The Meltdown - Better Days
(7") HopeStreet HS018, 2015-02-23
Tracklisting :
01. Better Days 03:57
02. Sweet Water 03:51
03. Such A Fool 03:44 (digital bonus track)
Links :
The Meltdown : bandcamp | facebook | juno | twitter
HopeStreet : official | bandcamp | facebook | juno | parisdjs | soundcloud | twitter | youtube
Credits :
Simon Burke - piano & vocals (the lost ragas)
Anton Delecca - tenor sax (The Bamboos)
Eamon Mcnelis - trumpet (Flap)
Lachlan McLean - baritone sax (CW Stoneking, San Lazaro)
Hailey Cramer - backing vocals (featured on the hit song “Summer Days” by PEZ)
Chantal Mitvalsky - backing vocals (Cannonball, The Cat Empire, Jackson Jackson)
Michael Meagher - Bass (the putbacks, black armband)
Hugh Harvey - Drums (paper plane, CW Stoneking)
Press Release :
The Meltdown. It's a bold, brassy, twangy steam train of bumping backbeats and swinging shuffles. Then there's that voice. Sweet as honey. The voice is soul, but it's country too and something else indefinable; like you heard it before but don't know where... Introducing Better Days, The Meltdown's first release on HopeStreet Recordings.
There's a fair chance you haven't heard that voice before, because for the last few years Simon Burke has been flying small planes out of small airfields in the dusty backcountry and taking refuge from the hustle and grind of the music business to raise a young family. The time off has been fruitful. A lifetime of writing and experience is condensed into a golden set of songs and a killer new band, The Meltdown, which Simon formed in collaboration with saxophonist and arranger Lachlan McLean. Great vibe, great players, great sound, but it's the songs that are king here.
There are a lot of soul revival bands around, but the Meltdown's angle is different - Simon and Lachlan are both pretty country and The Meltdown has more than a bit of that Ray Charles country via gospel thing, and a taste of dirty blues in it too. Echoes of towns like Euroa and Avenel, where the boys blew in from, or just artistic license? Either way, if there's one thing that soul and country can both do for you, it's songs about heartbreak, so here's some rippers. Ladies and gentlemen, let us introduce to you the inimitable voice and songwriting of Mr Simon Burke. And yes, in advance, you're welcome.
The Meltdown - Better Days
(7") HopeStreet HS018, 2015-02-23
Tracklisting :
01. Better Days 03:57
02. Sweet Water 03:51
03. Such A Fool 03:44 (digital bonus track)
Links :
The Meltdown : bandcamp | facebook | juno | twitter
HopeStreet : official | bandcamp | facebook | juno | parisdjs | soundcloud | twitter | youtube
Credits :
Simon Burke - piano & vocals (the lost ragas)
Anton Delecca - tenor sax (The Bamboos)
Eamon Mcnelis - trumpet (Flap)
Lachlan McLean - baritone sax (CW Stoneking, San Lazaro)
Hailey Cramer - backing vocals (featured on the hit song “Summer Days” by PEZ)
Chantal Mitvalsky - backing vocals (Cannonball, The Cat Empire, Jackson Jackson)
Michael Meagher - Bass (the putbacks, black armband)
Hugh Harvey - Drums (paper plane, CW Stoneking)
Press Release :
The Meltdown. It's a bold, brassy, twangy steam train of bumping backbeats and swinging shuffles. Then there's that voice. Sweet as honey. The voice is soul, but it's country too and something else indefinable; like you heard it before but don't know where... Introducing Better Days, The Meltdown's first release on HopeStreet Recordings.
There's a fair chance you haven't heard that voice before, because for the last few years Simon Burke has been flying small planes out of small airfields in the dusty backcountry and taking refuge from the hustle and grind of the music business to raise a young family. The time off has been fruitful. A lifetime of writing and experience is condensed into a golden set of songs and a killer new band, The Meltdown, which Simon formed in collaboration with saxophonist and arranger Lachlan McLean. Great vibe, great players, great sound, but it's the songs that are king here.
There are a lot of soul revival bands around, but the Meltdown's angle is different - Simon and Lachlan are both pretty country and The Meltdown has more than a bit of that Ray Charles country via gospel thing, and a taste of dirty blues in it too. Echoes of towns like Euroa and Avenel, where the boys blew in from, or just artistic license? Either way, if there's one thing that soul and country can both do for you, it's songs about heartbreak, so here's some rippers. Ladies and gentlemen, let us introduce to you the inimitable voice and songwriting of Mr Simon Burke. And yes, in advance, you're welcome.
Original post on Paris DJs