Album Review: Vandaveer - 'Divide & Conquer'

FOLLOW UP: Vandaveer return with 'Divide & Conquer'

THE brainchild of Kentucky born songwriter, Mark Charles Heidinger, Vandaveer have unleashed the follow up to 2007’s alternative folk debut ‘Grace & Speed’ with their multi-facetted new release ‘Divide & Conquer’. The band, now based in Washington DC, has evolved from a journeying folk machine into a more refined, harmonious group with this at times delicate second release.

The addition of heavenly harmonies courteous of Rose Guerin contrast beautifully with the straining gravel behind Heidinger’s sound and add another dimension to Vandaveer’s music. Welcome instrumental contributions by ‘These United States’ band mates, Justin Craig and Robby Cosenza, also make this record a much more layered offering from Heidinger and co.

The title track is a sign of what’s to come as it’s a slow burning, acoustic sounding song to fall asleep to, as Heidinger slowly narrates to a soundtrack of soft percussion, a winding guitar and smooth bursts from a piano. This backs on to a bed of rhetorical lyrics that are phrased to perfection, as Heidinger questions, “when you gaze out your window does it phase or envelop you?”

Heidinger’s voice sounds like a grittier Paolo Nutini at times and on tracks like ‘Turpentine’ the band bears an uncanny resemblance to British Folkster, Scott Matthews, with a meandering acoustic guitar and resonant humming that again combine beautifully with Guerin’s mesmeric supporting vocals. ‘Turpentine’ is an encapsulating, bluesy tale of unhappiness and sin that is a sure fire highlight of ‘Divide & Conquer’ with playfully dower lyrics to boot like, “when you dance with the devil, you don’t waltz for free.”

Vandaveer are at their very best in this album during the slower tracks that make the most of Guerin’s harmonies such as in ‘Turpentine’, ‘Fistful of Swoon’ and ‘The Sound and the Fury’ as she brings an extra emphasis to Heidinger’s clever lyrics. But not all of the tracks make the most of the harmonies or the writing.

An example of this is the rhythmic but ultimately unexciting ‘Woolgathering’ which is as uninspiring as the name suggests. An uncharacteristically bouncy guitar, intermittent piano section and soft vocal from Heidinger is sweet but difficult to listen to, largely due to its lack of distinct chorus or change in tempo.

Another elephant in the room is the blaring folk anthem ‘Mighty Leviathan of Old’ which features a strong willed guitar strum, gutsy bass and drum backing. As Heidinger sings, “With torches in hand we surveyed the land,” it almost sounds like some sort of medieval throwback with littered old English and that strong melody, but it does grate as the song wears on.

All in all the vocal addition of Guerin was more than a master stroke as she balances Heidinger’s gritty voice to create a harmony that was destined to be. Despite some rogue tracks, ‘Divide & Conquer’ is for the most part a masterful, articulate and harmonious collection of tales of woe that are pleasing enough to the ears to make you feel as if you’re day dreaming, it’s definitely well worth a listen.

7/10

Also published on www.virgin.com

http://www.virgin.com/music/reviews/vandaveer-album-review-divide-amp-conquer

Album Review: Eliza Doolittle - 'Eliza Doolittle'

DEBUT: Self titled album all set to hit the shelves

LONDON born singer-songwriter, Eliza Doolittle’s self titled debut album is a baby-faced look into her world of bouncy, summer melodies that at times are irresistibly catchy. The 22-year-old songstress, who has supported the likes of Jamie Cullum and Alphabeat on recent tours, has left her musical theatre background in the past to release this fresh new record.

The album is filled with sweet, cutesy lyrics that only the most hard faced critic could fail to find amusing like in the reminiscent ‘Back to Front’, where Doolittle beautifully sings, “we’d be pulling down the daisies, drinking milk and feeling lazy.” In fact on this track Doolittle’s vocals are exemplary and uncannily like her pop predecessor Bailey Rae, with an innocently natural voice that captures the essence of the song.

The first single to come from the record, ‘Skinny Genes’, is a dreamy track that makes you want to skip your way to work, with infectious whistling that litters the chorus. This cheery track cant help but bring a spring to your step with Doolittle’s soon-to-be trademark bouncy guitar strumming and rhythmic drumming. The youngster also manages to mix in plenty of cheeky lines that are far from cutesy like, “I really don’t like your skinny genes, so take them off for me, show me what you’ve got underneath so we can do this properly.”

But at points you cant help but feel like Doolittle is trying a little bit hard to throw in puns and double meanings as the track ‘Mr Medicine’ shows. With a slower strum and softer vocal, Doolittle comes out with some cheesy lines about the man in her life (Mr Medicine) that are at times cringe-worthy such as, “Mr Medicine I need my vitamins, what do you recommend?”

And as much as this album demonstrates Doolittle’s strengths, it does begin to grate somewhat with some forgettable songs like ‘Smokey Room’ with its uncharacteristically harsh guitar and far from catchy chorus, “Yeah ‘cause that’s so original.”

The undoubted highlight of the record however is its second single ‘Pack Up’, which features a bouncy bassline, retro piano and sound bites from George Henry Powell’s 1930s marching song, ‘Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag’ and even a strange “tweet tweet” solo by Doolittle. The song comes together to make a classy, feel good, pop track that is the album’s stand out song.

Eliza Doolittle’s first offering is relatively hit and miss but the hits, it must be said, are big hits. For a debut album this is an imaginative pop record that has a definitively soft and sweet style that fits the summer months down to a tee. With an emotive voice like that of Corinne Bailey Rae and some of the cheeky charisma of Lily Allen, the signs are there that sweet summer pop could have a new face given time.

7/10

Also published on www.virgin.com

http://www.virgin.com/music/reviews/eliza-doolittle-album-review-eliza-doolittle