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Media - Reviews.
Below is a selection of Reviews that appeared in press around Australia after the release of Monique's follow-up, second album, Signal Hill.
SAIN MAGAZINE Like the Rockmelons, Monique Brumby's new album has been a work in progress probably longer than she cares to admit but, here, on Signal Hill, she reminds everyone why she was ARIA's best female artist in '97. Distinct melodies and strong as steel hooks and licks, Monique's style has always set her apart from the pack. For instance, the opener As Sweet As You Are is a killer ode Sinead O'Connor would gladly shave her head again for while Driving Home is more fun than 24 hours of 24. If commercial radio would just get behind her, the world could be her oyster once again.
TNT MAGAZINE Melbourne - Oz's unofficial cultural capital and home to so many musos, you could probably just go busker hunting at the weekend. Monique Brumby originally hails from Tasmania but uses Melbourne as her base for a career which has already won her two ARIAs ( Australian Brit Awards) for Best New Artist and Best Female Artist. A voice like a flower in the wind, her folky guitar - pop is optimistic and instantly likeable. If you're one of those people who needs labels, you could say she's somewhere in the region of Sheryl Crow, but I'm not like that, so I won't. Her new album, Signal Hill, has just been released to an eager Australian music press and it looks like another success. The opener As Sweet As You Are skips and jumps with happiness, but Brumby also uses her sometimes smokey voice to good effect with more melancholic tracks such as Eventide. I'd like to have some cynical sarcastic comment, but her voice is too sweet and I just can't bring myself to do it.
THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN Remember Ms Brumby? The elfin Taswegian who was to have been Australia's next leader of the women singers pack? It's been six years since her soulful debut Thylacine and her two ARIA Awards (including best female artist in 1997) but Monique Brumby could sing you her shopping list and you'd happily wait in the longest queue. She can captivate an audience with her energy, her gorgeousness and her indefatigable sass yet she has spent years in partial musical exile after parting ways with Sony, the label that tried to mould her into its version of a star. A lot of Signal Hill is the material Brumby wanted to record yet Sony was keen to reject - an odd move by the company since the overall mood is far lighter, brighter and more commercial than much of Thylacine. Stay As Sweet As You Are is almost a gospel moment and acts as first dip for an album that splashes briefly but playfully through a range of musical pools. With her elastic voice, Brumby can easily manage rock, pop, soul and roots (live she does a great Suzi Quatro, too) yet the songs she excels at are heartfelt ballads such as Overcome and Eventide, echoes of the intensity that was so captivating on her debut. Other sweet spots are I Got This Yacht, Silver Dollars and Radiate - all pretty, likeable pop songs with enough quirk and spark to make them float above the everyday.
TIME OFF (Brisbane) After a musical hiatus of some four years, Monique Brumby returns with a positive attitude and upbeat tempo on Signal Hill, an album that should continue to see her star rise. There's a lot to like about Signal Hill, with textured vocals and a breezy feel coasting you through the 12 tracks. First single As Sweet As You Are opens and sets the tone for what's to come - an exploration of wisdom and sugary optimism that manages not to sound sickly or contrived. Radiate, Wired and I Got This Yacht are perfect examples of this, bubbling along and spreading Brumby's positive messages, while album closer Prophecy has a bit of everything, with its layered vocals and distorted guitar.
CHEAT SHEET Country/pop backed by shimmering guitars and driven by husky female vocals. Introspective and quirky, but full of sunshine. Monique Brumby is one of Australia's finest female pop singers and Signal Hill shows off her Alanis tinged vocals to a tee. From the opening verse of As Sweet As You Are, she introduces us to a world of open roads, human frailties ad the sundry grit of years. It's visual, passionate but simple music with clean production and uncluttered arrangements. For best results, listen to when driving.
QANTAS INFLIGHT MAGAZINE A few more up-tempo pop tracks here from this Australian who's known for her beautiful ballads. Brumby's great voice and some top guest musicians make this an excellent album.
HEARLD-SUN (Melbourne) Local singer-songwriter Monique Brumby kicks off her new album Signal Hill with Sweet As You Are, a joyous piece of country pop. And, as on the opening track, Brumby's powerful, melodic voice shines right throughout this release. The first part of Signal Hill captures Brumby's joy of music and is heavily influenced by country roots music and female musicians such as Lucinda Williams. However, the mood turns darker further on as Brumby's flair for a sunshiny pop song disappears under layers of guitars. Toward the end, Eventide manages to recapture her gentler style, but is almost drowned out by brooding closer Prophecy. In a word: moody. |
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