Thanks
to Jeff Buckley we're equipped to listen to Mick Hart. You'll read
that Jeff Buckley comparison every time Mick's music is described
or analysed, because it's such an easy and clear reference point.
Both sing in a high, passionate voice, and create melodies which
cast a floating, hypnotic spell. Without that Buckley reference
we humble music writers might have a lot of trouble describing Mick
Hart to you. But to take that comparison much further is a miscarriage
of justice to Mick, and gives you as a potential listener the wrong
impression of just what Hart has to offer. Mick Hart holds more
weapons than his vocal style. The purity of his voice is counter-balanced
by his own raw, sometimes bristling guitarwork. Living in the powerful
gap between those two extremes is a band that's worked with Mick
Hart for some time, including a violin player. Another comparison
that's been made about Mick Hart is that it's "Jeff Buckley working
with Dirty Three". Another useful, but slightly misleading comparison.
Mick's guitar is the wild card here. Naomi Random's violin is the
melodic heart. But there's that Dirty Three-like immediacy, and
vibrant energy at work. Mick's voice moves between reflective emotion
and in-your-face urgency. In a perfect world Mick would love to
nail every song in the studio in one take. Sometimes he has. For
the album sessions Midnight Oil's Jim Moginie was charged with the
producer's role. Instead of adding instrumentation as extra colours,
they tended to strip things back to leave the songs bare and raw.
The songs, all Mick's, are intensely personal. Some of them have
been part of Mick Hart for a long time, a couple featured on the
two independently released EPs which preceded this album. One of
the oldest songs, 'Butterfly', is one of the album's most powerful
moments. Mick knew that at this moment in time, with this band,
with Moginie looking on, he had a shot at bringing the very best
out of himself and his songs. And he has. The word's been out about
Mick Hart for some time. Every live performance spreads that word.
Now Mick Hart has an album which backs up everything being said.
The "secret" is out.
Thanks
to Jeff Buckley we're equipped to listen to Mick Hart. You'll read
that Jeff Buckley comparison every time Mick's music is described
or analysed, because it's such an easy and clear reference point.
Both sing in a high, passionate voice, and create melodies which
cast a floating, hypnotic spell. Without that Buckley reference
we humble music writers might have a lot of trouble describing Mick
Hart to you. But to take that comparison much further is a miscarriage
of justice to Mick, and gives you as a potential listener the wrong
impression of just what Hart has to offer. Mick Hart holds more
weapons than his vocal style. The purity of his voice is counter-balanced
by his own raw, sometimes bristling guitarwork. Living in the powerful
gap between those two extremes is a band that's worked with Mick
Hart for some time, including a violin player. Another comparison
that's been made about Mick Hart is that it's "Jeff Buckley working
with Dirty Three". Another useful, but slightly misleading comparison.
Mick's guitar is the wild card here. Naomi Random's violin is the
melodic heart. But there's that Dirty Three-like immediacy, and
vibrant energy at work. Mick's voice moves between reflective emotion
and in-your-face urgency. In a perfect world Mick would love to
nail every song in the studio in one take. Sometimes he has. For
the album sessions Midnight Oil's Jim Moginie was charged with the
producer's role. Instead of adding instrumentation as extra colours,
they tended to strip things back to leave the songs bare and raw.
The songs, all Mick's, are intensely personal. Some of them have
been part of Mick Hart for a long time, a couple featured on the
two independently released EPs which preceded this album. One of
the oldest songs, 'Butterfly', is one of the album's most powerful
moments. Mick knew that at this moment in time, with this band,
with Moginie looking on, he had a shot at bringing the very best
out of himself and his songs. And he has. The word's been out about
Mick Hart for some time. Every live performance spreads that word.
Now Mick Hart has an album which backs up everything being said.
The "secret" is out.