19 January 2011
New Zealand born, Australian adopted producer/musician, Lance Ferguson a.k.a Lanu, has taken a spell from his post as bandleader for funk outfit, The Bamboos, and is set to release his debut solo effortHer 12 Faces, early March.
The first surprise on this sonically eclectic opus is ARIA winner Megan Washington’s collaboration on five of the twelve 'faces'. Although her vocals don’t waver too far from her solo work, she does admix a slow dream-pop element to tracks like Hold Me Down, Wire and singleBeautiful Trash which is currently enjoying high rotation on triple j.
Her 12 Faces borders more genres than a genre convention, falling under every umbrella but mainstream. In fact, Beautiful Trash is the only track to contain a lazy generic pop hook, (see the lyric; do do do…and so on). Another Washington highlight is Fall; her storytelling trademark is captivating, without her vocals this sentimental gem would lost in the Laura Marling-esque chorus and middle-eight.
Ferguson dominates the art of simplicity in Wire where he levels Washington’s contemporary-folk sound with trip-hop beats that churn out ‘90s nostalgia with every stylised percussive break. Unfortunately, tracks like Hold Me Down and Portrait in 50hz achieve the opposite effect from the same core idea. Ferguson’s intended accessibility comes across as indulgent and repetitive.
The first surprise on this sonically eclectic opus is ARIA winner Megan Washington’s collaboration on five of the twelve 'faces'. Although her vocals don’t waver too far from her solo work, she does admix a slow dream-pop element to tracks like Hold Me Down, Wire and singleBeautiful Trash which is currently enjoying high rotation on triple j.
Her 12 Faces borders more genres than a genre convention, falling under every umbrella but mainstream. In fact, Beautiful Trash is the only track to contain a lazy generic pop hook, (see the lyric; do do do…and so on). Another Washington highlight is Fall; her storytelling trademark is captivating, without her vocals this sentimental gem would lost in the Laura Marling-esque chorus and middle-eight.
Ferguson dominates the art of simplicity in Wire where he levels Washington’s contemporary-folk sound with trip-hop beats that churn out ‘90s nostalgia with every stylised percussive break. Unfortunately, tracks like Hold Me Down and Portrait in 50hz achieve the opposite effect from the same core idea. Ferguson’s intended accessibility comes across as indulgent and repetitive.
High expectations from the all-instrumental track are deflated as the once quirky glockenspiel soon grates repetitively like a toy music box injected with dopamine.
This being said, his solo tracks like 1988 and The Coral Route emote all sorts of wonderful images; one of the treats you receive when lyrics are left out. The Hawaiian steel guitar played by Garrett Costigan inThe Coral Route could quite possibly incite a sea change, and the French language version of Roxy Music’s More Than This ties off an earthy collection of Ferguson’s many talents.
Her 12 Faces has just that and then some; Ferguson is indeed a gifted composer who can expertly incorporate contemporary and traditional styles. However, his gift is sometimes lost underneath what could be perceived as indulgent musings.
Her 12 Faces is our March 4 through Inertia Recordings.
This being said, his solo tracks like 1988 and The Coral Route emote all sorts of wonderful images; one of the treats you receive when lyrics are left out. The Hawaiian steel guitar played by Garrett Costigan inThe Coral Route could quite possibly incite a sea change, and the French language version of Roxy Music’s More Than This ties off an earthy collection of Ferguson’s many talents.
Her 12 Faces has just that and then some; Ferguson is indeed a gifted composer who can expertly incorporate contemporary and traditional styles. However, his gift is sometimes lost underneath what could be perceived as indulgent musings.
Her 12 Faces is our March 4 through Inertia Recordings.
The single Beautiful Trash is out now on iTunes.
