Hello lil' lovers,
Here are two reviews from the UK. I can't believe people from the other side of the world are listening to my album. Such a weird feeling. Good weird. :)
1. From Allgigs.co.uk
Real Life Computer Game - Emma Dean Album Review
Emma DeanPhoto: Ricky Sullivan link Album Review
Emma Dean
is a Brisbane based multi instrumentalist that has followed up the
quick release of two very promising E.P's with her debut long player
and it is certainly an attention grabbing album. Curious, funny, astute
and above all, weird. She could well stake a good claim to be the new
Millennium's Kate Bush with her theatrical approach to music. Opening
track 'Waiting Room' is all performance theatre with her emphatic
vocals on display and intricate piano and guitar licks. It's a very fun
song to lead into the title track, which is a perfectly constructed pop
song that would make a fantastic single. Her voice is enough on it's
own, her yips and yelps adding great dimensions to the sound. 'Most Of
The Time' is a good piano led ballad with great string arrangements and
'Sorry' is a song that builds in intensity with every passing sentence
and grows to a great finale. 'Get What You Paid For' is a fantastic
track pulsating with wicked energy and then 'Orange Red' is again a
great string soaked song with a beautiful vocal. Short track 'Addicted
To' uneasily leads into 'Cocaine' is pure energy and theatrics as she
kicks through a fantastic response to false rumours she was on the
white powder. 'Henry' starts with a wonderfully dark cello and violin,
which sets the tone for a very sombre piece of music. 'End Of The
Table' is slightly stuttering in its approach but nothing cannot be
taken from the vocals, yet again pristine. 'Dry Land' is again a rather
stretched song, which is a shame. The final track (you can read the
title in the listing) picks the album up from what could have been a
disappointing finale. It is the embodiment of the attitude with which
this album was produced, sounding almost like a song from a Musical.
The vocal is the best from a great choice of strong performances.
Emma
Dean is deserving of greatness with her dedication to making music as
wide screen as possible and this album continues her standard of high
quality releases. A minor lull towards the end does not overshadow the
fantastic show put on throughout.
2. From SUBBA-CULTURE
Quirky and super talented; Emma Dean wows us with her amazing blend of elastic pop theatre.
Off
the back of her debut EP 'Face Painter', the sensual and sultry Emma
Dean returns with band of Dane Pollock (guitar), John
Turnbull (bass), Rachel Meredith (cello) and Anthony Dean (drums) in
toe to release her first full length album. Produced by Ben Stewart
(Hot Sex Liquid, The Boat People); 'Real Life Computer Game' draws on
her extensive training and background, as a theatre performer, music
teacher, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist to create a dangerously
catchy and dramatic piece of work; that many will agree is her best to
date
Every
song on the album is a wonderfully crafted; whether it be the highly
theatrical yet slightly off kilt opening track 'Waiting Room' starting
of peacefully before exploding into a theatrical rocker or the tear
jerking and doleful 'Henry' or the harrowing lead song and release
'Cocaine' with it’s frantic piano thrashing; she combines elements of
classical and cabaret to create an all together fresh and organic
sound. Her vocals are undoubtedly captivating, but this album does more
than to just showcase Dean as an accomplished singer but better yet
prove her to be an equally adept song writer too.
Falling
somewhere on the radar between Florence Welshe and Regina Spektor, The
Brisbane native creates her own sound that is self described as a blend
of “Elastic Pop Theatre”, result, not only because of its infectious
nature but through the manner in which it dips, soars and evolves like
a stage musical. Whatever you want to call it, with 12 enchanting and
larger than life tracks of such varied yet high calibre, Real Life
Computer is an awesome debut from an awesome artist.
By: Michael Ajayi
Thanks for reading,
Em x