Autumn Isles - Kaleidoscopes
by Andy Cassidy
published: 12 / 9 / 2011
Label:
Laighing Outlaw
Format: CD
intro
Upbeat summery pop on fantastic debut album from Australian-based five-piece, the Autumn Isles
Sun, swagger and exuberance are the three words that I would use to describe 'Kaleidoscopes', the first LP from Perth five-piece the Autumn Isles. The album opens with 'Sun Soaked Horizon', a gutsy, guitar-driven rocker with fabulous vocals by lead singer Alex Arpino. Loud, but never overbearing, the track, despite heavily distorted guitars, has a terrific, catchy melody underpinned by some terrific rhythm playing. First single, 'Mystery to Hide', sits comfortably between rock and pop. At first listen a simple rocker, a second and third listen reveals a magnificent production of epic proportions – dense, but never cluttered. 'Throwing Stones', a more poppy offering than its predecessors, benefits from some terrific instrumentation – Brian Wilson-style percussion flourishes, 'Revolver'-era Beatles horns, an absolutely kicking bass-line all underpinned by a simple piano line - all building to an almost overpowering explosion of musical joy: think 'A Day in the Life' without the melancholy. Jaunty rocker 'Beautiful Pantomime' owes a great deal to the Beach Boys and the Beatles with its chiming 'It’s Getting Better' guitars, 'Mr Kite' organ runs and 'Pet Sounds' bells, but manages to carry its own sense of individuality despite its obvious inspirations. It is difficult to say what I enjoyed most about this album. The band’s playing is incredible (in particular Russell Loasby’s percussion), the songwriting is catchy, bright and infectious, the vocals are fantastic (Alex Arpino is more than competent, but when the band put together a block harmony at the beginning of Of 'A Setting Sun', the effect is reminiscent of Fleet Foxes at their finest) and the overall mood is refreshingly free from the angst and moping so prevalent in today’s chart fare. The album works very well on two levels; firstly, it is a terrific collection of stand-alone songs, any one of which could, in my opinion, be released as a successful single; secondly, it’s a terrific album when heard as a unified piece, upbeat, accomplished, and creative. Each song, and indeed the album as a whole, could be the anthem of a sun-drenched festival in the near-future. All in all, a fantastic debut.
Track Listing:-
1 Sun Soaked Horizon2 Mystery to Hide
3 Throwing Stones
4 Leave It All Behind
5 Into December
6 Just Like The Others
7 Of A Setting Sun
8 Voices
9 Beatiful Pantomime
10 If Your Love Is Blind
11 Searchlights
12 Isolation
13 Runaway
14 Fire Away
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
most viewed reviews
current edition
Serious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning DewRod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Marika Hackman - Big Sigh
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart