Celebrated songstress Clare Bowditch returns with a sweet juxtaposition of re-imagined gems and newer material in an EP that easily ranks among her most ambitious endeavours to date. Fans can also expect, however, a return to classic Clare Bowditch hallmarks, a deftly intimate approach among Are You Ready Yet’s best assets.
The title track proves an auspicious introduction, a wondrous seven-minute title track jam-packed with adventure and ingenuity emerging. There’s an admirable hint of restraint in play, as Bowditch’s vocals take flight amidst a patient piano-pop marvel. Meanwhile, its follow-up – the aptly-titled Ya Ya Ya Ya – features that which it explicitly suggests, its suddenly ecstatic tribal chant refrain.underpinning its charm. The song excels in an entertaining detour: a percussive jam presenting a vaguely industrial take on military drums before returning home to Bowditch’s gorgeous acoustic fare.
A defining feature of the EP is its acapella inclusions and though The Most Beautiful Lies emerges an evocative treat, it pales in comparison to the triumphant rendition of Between The Tea And The Toast. A true highlight of the EP, the song is refurnished as a soothing yet emotionally raw hymn, stripped back to moving desolation. A come-down inevitably ensues in the slightly obtuse, scattered re-imagination of Miss You Like The Rain, though a strong finale lies in wait. The sweet country-bumpkin jaunt of Now You’re Home – the sixth and last track of the EP, in which Bowditch teams with Lanie Lane – recalls the harmonic bliss of Lennon-McCartney’s Two Of Us. It’s an inspired injection of cheer, unfolding as one of the EP’s strongest and refined songs as Lane and Bowditch combine superbly.
As you would expect, Are You Ready Yet eminates warmth effortlessly from beginning to end. There’s rarely a hint of the rocky, casio-fuelled imposition courtesy of Bowditch’s excellent outing alongside The New Slang. Instead, this EP marks a more calculated return to Bowditch’s more intimately personal prowess, securing a definite charm in the process. Bowditch has been on a roll for almost a decade and this, her latest release, only ensures continued momentum. The EP not only treks back through her catalog to skillfully reinvigorate some of her finest work, the release also provides an intriguing glimpse of the future. Are You Ready Yet is a must for long-time fans and a curious article for anyone interested in the next move of one of contemporary Australia’s most celebrated female artists.
Review: Are You Ready Yet?
Celebrated songstress Clare Bowditch returns with a sweet juxtaposition of re-imagined gems and newer material in an EP that easily ranks among her most ambitious endeavours to date. Fans can also expect, however, a return to classic Clare Bowditch hallmarks, a deftly intimate approach among Are You Ready Yet’s best assets.
The title track proves an auspicious introduction, a wondrous seven-minute title track jam-packed with adventure and ingenuity emerging. There’s an admirable hint of restraint in play, as Bowditch’s vocals take flight amidst a patient piano-pop marvel. Meanwhile, its follow-up – the aptly-titled Ya Ya Ya Ya – features that which it explicitly suggests, its suddenly ecstatic tribal chant refrain.underpinning its charm. The song excels in an entertaining detour: a percussive jam presenting a vaguely industrial take on military drums before returning home to Bowditch’s gorgeous acoustic fare.
A defining feature of the EP is its acapella inclusions and though The Most Beautiful Lies emerges an evocative treat, it pales in comparison to the triumphant rendition of Between The Tea And The Toast. A true highlight of the EP, the song is refurnished as a soothing yet emotionally raw hymn, stripped back to moving desolation. A come-down inevitably ensues in the slightly obtuse, scattered re-imagination of Miss You Like The Rain, though a strong finale lies in wait. The sweet country-bumpkin jaunt of Now You’re Home – the sixth and last track of the EP, in which Bowditch teams with Lanie Lane – recalls the harmonic bliss of Lennon-McCartney’s Two Of Us. It’s an inspired injection of cheer, unfolding as one of the EP’s strongest and refined songs as Lane and Bowditch combine superbly.
As you would expect, Are You Ready Yet eminates warmth effortlessly from beginning to end. There’s rarely a hint of the rocky, casio-fuelled imposition courtesy of Bowditch’s excellent outing alongside The New Slang. Instead, this EP marks a more calculated return to Bowditch’s more intimately personal prowess, securing a definite charm in the process. Bowditch has been on a roll for almost a decade and this, her latest release, only ensures continued momentum. The EP not only treks back through her catalog to skillfully reinvigorate some of her finest work, the release also provides an intriguing glimpse of the future. Are You Ready Yet is a must for long-time fans and a curious article for anyone interested in the next move of one of contemporary Australia’s most celebrated female artists.
http://www.thedwarf.com.au/nd/albumreviews/are_you_ready_yet_clare_bowditch