“A Book Like This” by Angus & Julia Stone
by Ari Koinuma on Oct.30, 2009, under (Heavy) Music Heals, Pensive Rock
This beautifully recorded gem was a find from a local radio station excess bin. I don’t really know anything about them, except that they’re Aussies. These 13 songs are mellow and understated acoustic chestnuts, but with just enough momentum in it so that it doesn’t really sap your energy.
It’s of utmost importance to me that an album has a great opener — it can make or break an album for me — and “Mango Tree” is a great one. A song of quiet yearning, not heavy-handed at all. “Silver Coin” has exceptionally lush string quartet going. I often think critically of strings in pop music — the arrangements seem so lazy most of the time — but not here. The title track is a stand-out as well, a piece of piercing vulnerability. “Bella” is innocent, “Paper Aeroplane” is playful. But the nice thing about this collection is that the overall pacing and mood are very consistent. Everything feels so relaxed, sparse and organic. #3 “Private Lawns” is slightly annoying with its repetitive “Windy City” refrain, but that’s my only gripe.
These guys are really accomplished at sounding very natural, which I admire. There’s not a moment of strain or awkwardness. They don’t try to be be something they’re not. Their range has enough variety to avoid boredom but also focused enough not to be jarring. They’re very original, too — I can’t recall who they sound like off the top of my head. The production’s mostly all acoustic affair, but they don’t sound all that folky or rootsy. If you liked Nickel Creek precisely because they aren’t really bluegrass act — and had them grow up to be fine parents who still haven’t lost the heart of a child — and then added drums (a small kit, though, with brushes) maybe you’ll get somewhere close to these Stones.
Anyway, I’ve been enjoying this record a lot. I highly recommend it.
