Tannic Teeth

Few songsmiths are able to lurch feelings so freely as Paddy Mann from Grand Salvo. So freely and with such piercing clarity.

His second fifth album, Soil Creatures, is a low-fi amalgam of plucked harp, meandering piano and sweeping acoustic guitar. The lyrics are almost whispered. It’s delicate as a lacy veil yet conjures up emotive power of the “whimsical. wistful and wanting”. Like threads of dreams chased upon awakening.

Operating out of Melbourne, his album contains ten tracks. It’s spartan and pensive. The track list are simple single words. Simplicity doesn’t belie any loss of power.

I first heard ‘Needles’ on Triple J whilst driving home from work. I couldn’t think straight after paying attention to the lyrics. And they’re not convoluted bamboozling lyrics.

They’re simple. Like the thoughts we have yet never think to express. “The curtains behave like the soul of a wave – the texta explodes so deliciously slow” for example. A touch of gold if you ask me – but then again I am a closet hippy.

Stand out tracks: Needles, Father, Brother and Sea

(You can listen to a few tracks by clicking here)

I don’t often ‘do’ music reviews because:

1) music is not my speciality, and

2) there are enough people out there doing music reviews.

However in a way I thought I would share this relatively new artist from Sydney.

His name is Jehan Gonsalkorale but for simplicity calls his band ‘Jehan’.

If you like the sounds of Damien Rice, Josh Pyke and Micheal Nyman then you’re bound to like this guy.

His music is is lyrical and pure. His voice is hauntingly simple and honest.

It’s not the overtly confected pop folk that we’re used to. You can hear his talent on the guitar on the track ‘Upon eyes closed’ backed by the brown earthy resonance of solo cello and understated drums. Almost like Sigur Ros meets Firekites. It’s resonating and pensive.

Overall there is a trusting, progressive almost ‘faith’ about this EP.

Stand out tracks: Self Portrait, Better than Two, At the Gate, Nine Lives, Upon Eyes Closed. But really they are all superb.

Just what some of us need to feel good about the lives we live, about the frailty of being, well, human.

You can hear all the tracks on this myspace and download two of them for free from triple J unearthed.

http://www.myspace.com/jehangonsalkorale

http://www.triplejunearthed.com/Artists/View.aspx?artistid=16325