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UNDERCOVER LOVER
Benny Walker is like the freakishly talented footballer
who has you buzzing when you see his first game, thinking
… this guy could do anything. Of course, Benny is no first-year
player. He's paid his dues before stepping up to the big
league. But just when we had him pegged as a roots rocker,
he has evolved into a sophisticated soul man. Benny's new
EP, Undercover, oozes class. He's forged a strong creative
partnership with producer Jan Skubiszewski, who has enhanced
Benny's songwriting, adding atmosphere while showcasing
Benny's most potent instrument - his voice. The American
soul greats would be proud to call opening cut, Stay In
My Arms, their own. Smooth and seductive, it will have you
hitting the repeat button as soon as it ends. A Yorta Yorta
man from Echuca, Benny sings about his heritage in Undercover
Of My Skin. "I found out when I was just a child that your
skin can bring you so much pain," he confides. The themes
are universal, but this is a deeply personal collection.
Oh No You Don't is a powerful piece about dealing with depression,
while Ghost is an "ode to all the greedy, power-hungry,
shortsighted people trying to fuck up our world". This is
as strong a set of songs as you'll hear this year. Benny
plays his biggest Melbourne gig to date this Friday at Memo
Music Hall. Catch him before he becomes a superstar.
MONDO-MANIA
Howzat!'s favourite job this year - writing the liner notes
for Mondo Rock's The Complete Anthology. Ross Wilson's voice
plus Eric McCusker's songwriting equals pop genius. It's
ridiculous that songs such as State Of The Heart, Come Said
The Boy, Chemistry and No Time didn't become worldwide hits.
The Complete Anthology - two CDs and 30 songs - is out on
20 Oct.
HIP HIP
The Bee Gees scored their first UK chart-topper 50 years
ago this week when Massachusetts hit number one. When they
wrote the song, the Bee Gees had never been to Massachusetts.
BARNESTORMING
He could be the hardest-working man in showbiz. Jimmy Barnes
really hasn't stopped since he joined Cold Chisel, releasing
24 studio albums, a stack of live albums and doing countless
gigs. And he's also found time to become a best-selling
author, with Working Class Man, the sequel to last year's
Working Class Boy, to be released on 23 Oct.
HOT LINE
"Am I scared of losing you, or am I scared to be alone?"
- Alex Lahey, Lotto In Reverse.
CHART WATCH
For the second week in a row, Vance Joy has the only Australian
single in ARIA's Top 40. There are as many Colombian, Puerto
Rican, Swedish and Canadian artists in the Top 40 as local
artists. Overall, the Top 40 contains 23 American entries
and 11 from the UK.
Lay It On Me VANCE JOY (number 24)
A Top 10 debut for Rick Price and Jack Jones' collection
of West Coast covers.
California Dreaming RICK PRICE & JACK JONES (number seven,
debut)
Snow ANGUS & JULIA STONE (12)
Essential Oils MIDNIGHT OIL (13)
Life Is Fine PAUL KELLY (16)
Sponge Cake WINSTON SURFSHIRT (24, debut)
Go Farther In Lightness GANG OF YOUTHS (28)
ARIA Number 1 Hits In Symphony ANTHONY CALLEA (33)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Stay In My Arms BENNY WALKER
Burning It Down For Nothing BODYJAR
The Basics Of Love LACHLAN BRYAN & THE WILDES
Take Me With You BRITISH INDIA
More Than This AMAYA LAUCIRICA
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