It’s become increasingly difficult in recent years to define just what it is that Clare Bowditch does musically. Just when it was settled on defining her as a folk musician – or using the ghastly “adult contemporary” tag – she released last year’s Modern Day Addiction, an avant-garde pop record filled with kitschy drum machines, buzzing Casio and layer upon layer of stunning four-part harmonies. It was unlike anything she’d ever done, yet quickly became the best album she has put her name to. And just when it was settled on defining her as a pop musician – at least for the time being – here comes Are You Ready Yet? to make things even harder than they were before. Seemingly a stopover release between the next album/tour cycle, mostly featuring collaborations and re-recordings, it nevertheless manages to expand Bowditch’s pallet even further with a peculiar mix of results.
Of the new material on hand, Bowditch is seen to elaborate on her pop exploration, shying away from conventions and, interestingly enough, the electronic direction she had just sent herself in. I Won’t Let Them Talk to You, one of two songwriting collaborations with Wally ‘Gotye’ de Backer, is breezy, piano-driven sweetness, replete with girl-group harmonies and one of Bowditch’s most distinctive and memorable melody lines to date – the classic kind that takes thirty seconds to memorise and 30 days to get out of your head. Their other joint effort, the EP’s title track, is decidedly different – a seven-minute slow-burner with sparse percussion, off-beat handclaps and a prominent usage of Clare’s breathy falsetto. It shouldn’t work – needless to say, it’s unlike anything Bowditch has ever attempted before – and yet it’s nothing short of outstanding, a smart progression that showcases both her versatility and her ability to move chameleon-like between musical environments.
Not everything sticks when you throw everything at the wall – a re-recording ofWhat Was Left closer Yes I Miss You Like the Rain with Lisa Mitchell feels dull and uninspired, and there’s not much at all to Ya Ya Ya Ya Ya aside from its obvious chorus. For the most part, however, Bowditch manages to impress throughout the 30-minute runtime – particularly when you least expect it. The a-capella renditions of previous tracks, featuring Bowditch’s backing vocalists from The New Slang, the Lady Garden, are especially of note. Their gorgeous, perfectly-entwined voices resonates beautifully, adding an ethereal, other-worldly aspect to two of Clare’s most-overlooked songs, The Most Beautiful Liesand Between the Tea and the Toast. A new depth of emotion is brought forth, as well as the realisation that these three women are nothing short of invaluable when it comes to Clare finding her new sound.
So, where does Bowditch go from here? She’s certainly left her options wide open with the diversity of styles that appear on Are You Ready Yet?, at least some of which are certain to be expanded on. One thing is for sure, however, and that’s Clare continuing to release smart, engaging and mature music – regardless of what pigeonhole she finds herself in next time around.
Review: Are You Ready Yet?
It’s become increasingly difficult in recent years to define just what it is that Clare Bowditch does musically. Just when it was settled on defining her as a folk musician – or using the ghastly “adult contemporary” tag – she released last year’s Modern Day Addiction, an avant-garde pop record filled with kitschy drum machines, buzzing Casio and layer upon layer of stunning four-part harmonies. It was unlike anything she’d ever done, yet quickly became the best album she has put her name to. And just when it was settled on defining her as a pop musician – at least for the time being – here comes Are You Ready Yet? to make things even harder than they were before. Seemingly a stopover release between the next album/tour cycle, mostly featuring collaborations and re-recordings, it nevertheless manages to expand Bowditch’s pallet even further with a peculiar mix of results.
Of the new material on hand, Bowditch is seen to elaborate on her pop exploration, shying away from conventions and, interestingly enough, the electronic direction she had just sent herself in. I Won’t Let Them Talk to You, one of two songwriting collaborations with Wally ‘Gotye’ de Backer, is breezy, piano-driven sweetness, replete with girl-group harmonies and one of Bowditch’s most distinctive and memorable melody lines to date – the classic kind that takes thirty seconds to memorise and 30 days to get out of your head. Their other joint effort, the EP’s title track, is decidedly different – a seven-minute slow-burner with sparse percussion, off-beat handclaps and a prominent usage of Clare’s breathy falsetto. It shouldn’t work – needless to say, it’s unlike anything Bowditch has ever attempted before – and yet it’s nothing short of outstanding, a smart progression that showcases both her versatility and her ability to move chameleon-like between musical environments.
Not everything sticks when you throw everything at the wall – a re-recording ofWhat Was Left closer Yes I Miss You Like the Rain with Lisa Mitchell feels dull and uninspired, and there’s not much at all to Ya Ya Ya Ya Ya aside from its obvious chorus. For the most part, however, Bowditch manages to impress throughout the 30-minute runtime – particularly when you least expect it. The a-capella renditions of previous tracks, featuring Bowditch’s backing vocalists from The New Slang, the Lady Garden, are especially of note. Their gorgeous, perfectly-entwined voices resonates beautifully, adding an ethereal, other-worldly aspect to two of Clare’s most-overlooked songs, The Most Beautiful Liesand Between the Tea and the Toast. A new depth of emotion is brought forth, as well as the realisation that these three women are nothing short of invaluable when it comes to Clare finding her new sound.
So, where does Bowditch go from here? She’s certainly left her options wide open with the diversity of styles that appear on Are You Ready Yet?, at least some of which are certain to be expanded on. One thing is for sure, however, and that’s Clare continuing to release smart, engaging and mature music – regardless of what pigeonhole she finds herself in next time around.
http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/music/29809/Clare-Bowditch–Are-You-Ready-Yet