Inspired by unexpected directions in melody
Anthropologist by day, musician extraordinaire by night, it perhaps shouldn’t be too surprising that Jungian theory provides the inspirational framework for Archetypes by Wellington artist Estere.
Two previous records established her credibility as a songwriter with strong creative vision, a powerful soul vocalist and an impressive beat maker, but her latest effort steps it up a notch. An ambitious concept album.
Good concept albums work on two levels. Firstly, they stand alone, able to be enjoyed on the surface and, on the second level, provide deeper, more resonate meaning that reveals itself upon repeat listens. Archetypes ticks both boxes.
You don’t need to know The Belly of Capricorn is an allegory for innocence to enjoy the twinkling strings, as Estere slinks between beats painting pictures of childlike joy. There is real world building here and Estere seems liberated by immersing herself in characters, real or imagined. The rolling rhythm of Pomegranates lures you into its web, while the unbridled desire of Animal Pleasure embodies an empowered woman on the prowl.
Inspired by unexpected directions in melody, Estere moves with a
penchant to delight and surprise.
Mad About Your Sea is a moody meditation on addictive relationships with a sturdy piano riff that leads to a subtle, masterful finish that satisfies yet leaves you wanting more.
If you listen to the 1965 song IWasa Lover, A Leader of Men by Barry Gibb and The Bee Gees from their debut album The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs, you can hear the folk foundations of what would one day become the world’s biggest disco act. From the belaboured titles alone, you also get a sense of the competitive nature that plagued the brothers throughout their career.
A new documentary, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, goes deep into the history and legacy of The Bee Gees and, as the only surviving member, Barry Gibb’s profound loss is palpable still. What really stands out is what incredibly good songsmiths they were.
Greenfields: The Gibbs Brothers’ Songbook Vol 1 is a reinvention of some of the siblings’ most-beloved songs as country-style duets. Barry Gibb shares vocal duties with a long list of high-end operators such as
Dolly Parton, Gillian Welch, Keith Urban, and Olivia Newton-John. Grammy Award winners Little Big Town go toe to toe with Gibb on How Deep Is Your Love and, on Broken Heart, Sheryl Crow provides a delicate balance to his still-vibrant voice.
Their intuitive, almost impossibly tight harmonies were hallmarks of The Bee Gees’ sound, and nothing will ever replace their original recordings or chemistry. But before they were worldwide ambassadors for disco, they were some of the best writers in the game, and their timeless tunes stand up, no matter what style they’re played in.