23 May 2013
"A little piece of memory..." - Opensouls album review, 'Standing in the Rain'
08 Aug 2009 // A review by Miss_Jukebox
They just do not write songs like they used to. Today live performances are judged on the laser-light extravaganza put on display rather than the raw sound and artistry of the musicians. You do not need band members to record a song anymore, just a bunch of computers. It is easy to be succumbed to this digital age where more is more; that is until an album like Standing in the Rain, by Opensouls is delivered. It will literally strike a chord, transporting you back to when music felt instinctive and intimate.
This album is pure escapism. It is circa 1960 in 2009. Absolutely exquisite. Standing in the Rain evokes those timeless artists from around the 60’s and 70’s, and it is done with such class and craft. Not at any stage does this album feel outdated. It begins with the title track ‘Standing in the Rain’ which features the Sami Sisters. Opensouls opens with a touch of gentle spring rain. It is nostalgic of the pattering of your lost first love. Then in bursts ‘Telephone Song’ which confirms that Tyra Hammond’s vocals are effortlessly commanding in a poignant yet tender way, something which carries through during this entire album.
‘Love Turns Wild’ turns the corner into an old jazz lounge, creating the ambience of the Motown scene. ‘When Ya Gonna Stop?’ is the new ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ with all the nectar and naivety of the original. You can feel the influence of The Temptations, especially in tracks such as this. But this album is not just an impressionist of this era. It feels bona fide, it feels current.
You can hear the candour through the heartfelt vocals of Hammond which complements the perfected instrumentation from Opensouls and those working with the band pn Standing in the Rain. The magic is there in the performance and recording of the songs, but also in the essence of the song writing also. ‘Walk Away (Warm Love)’ is a romantic example of this. This is followed by the dexterity in ‘Dollars’, a Jeremy Toy, Harlin Davey and Tim Guy track. ‘Prayer’ is a compassionate composition, yet still maintains that solid-gold resonance.
An up-tempo, grooving number, ‘Blind to See’ keeps the momentum running in Standing in the Rain, something which never waivers in this album. ‘Leave the Light On’ has the zeal of a Hollie Smith ballad, but with the gentler vocals of Hammond. ‘Spend Some Time’ is the surprise track. It is an acoustic number which is so appropriate for the song which sings ‘...I want to spend some time alone with you...one on one.’ And to close the album is ‘Hold You Close’ which one cannot help but draw links to ‘I Say a Little Prayer.’ In fact throughout Standing in the Rain it is hard not to see the influence of artists such as Dionne Warwick and, as mentioned earlier, The Temptations.
This album is a tribute to these great artists, but in return has created a beautiful album by one beautiful New Zealand band. It brilliantly creates the aura of listening to a vinyl record, but it also shows the timelessness of such music. Opensouls tap into the emotion and heart of song writing and composition, and go on this beautiful journey to a time in music we should never abandon, and thanks to an album such as this, we would never dream of abandoning.
-Janise
They just do not write songs like they used to. Today live performances are judged on the laser-light extravaganza put on display rather than the raw sound and artistry of the musicians. You do not need band members to record a song anymore, just a bunch of computers. It is easy to be succumbed to this digital age where more is more; that is until an album like Standing in the Rain, by Opensouls is delivered. It will literally strike a chord, transporting you back to when music felt instinctive and intimate.This album is pure escapism. It is circa 1960 in 2009. Absolutely exquisite. Standing in the Rain evokes those timeless artists from around the 60’s and 70’s, and it is done with such class and craft. Not at any stage does this album feel outdated. It begins with the title track ‘Standing in the Rain’ which features the Sami Sisters. Opensouls opens with a touch of gentle spring rain. It is nostalgic of the pattering of your lost first love. Then in bursts ‘Telephone Song’ which confirms that Tyra Hammond’s vocals are effortlessly commanding in a poignant yet tender way, something which carries through during this entire album.
‘Love Turns Wild’ turns the corner into an old jazz lounge, creating the ambience of the Motown scene. ‘When Ya Gonna Stop?’ is the new ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ with all the nectar and naivety of the original. You can feel the influence of The Temptations, especially in tracks such as this. But this album is not just an impressionist of this era. It feels bona fide, it feels current.
You can hear the candour through the heartfelt vocals of Hammond which complements the perfected instrumentation from Opensouls and those working with the band pn Standing in the Rain. The magic is there in the performance and recording of the songs, but also in the essence of the song writing also. ‘Walk Away (Warm Love)’ is a romantic example of this. This is followed by the dexterity in ‘Dollars’, a Jeremy Toy, Harlin Davey and Tim Guy track. ‘Prayer’ is a compassionate composition, yet still maintains that solid-gold resonance.
An up-tempo, grooving number, ‘Blind to See’ keeps the momentum running in Standing in the Rain, something which never waivers in this album. ‘Leave the Light On’ has the zeal of a Hollie Smith ballad, but with the gentler vocals of Hammond. ‘Spend Some Time’ is the surprise track. It is an acoustic number which is so appropriate for the song which sings ‘...I want to spend some time alone with you...one on one.’ And to close the album is ‘Hold You Close’ which one cannot help but draw links to ‘I Say a Little Prayer.’ In fact throughout Standing in the Rain it is hard not to see the influence of artists such as Dionne Warwick and, as mentioned earlier, The Temptations.
This album is a tribute to these great artists, but in return has created a beautiful album by one beautiful New Zealand band. It brilliantly creates the aura of listening to a vinyl record, but it also shows the timelessness of such music. Opensouls tap into the emotion and heart of song writing and composition, and go on this beautiful journey to a time in music we should never abandon, and thanks to an album such as this, we would never dream of abandoning.
-Janise
Tweet
About Opensouls
The core members comprise vocalists Tyra Hammond and Bjorn Peterson, and a live band with Jeremy Toy (guitar) Julien Dyne (drums), Chip Matthews (bass), Isaac Aesili (trumpet) and Harlin Davey (MPC).
Jeremy and Julien are the original architects of Opensouls. Both had been members of live hip-hop group 5th Floor, but after it dissolved they decided it was time to start something new. And, after a careful hunt to find the right people to carry on the sound they were looking to create, Opensouls was born.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Opensouls
Other Reviews By Miss_Jukebox
Cosmic Road Trip Vol.3 Album Review
29 Apr 2013 // by Miss_Jukebox
The mission statement was simple; a collection of the best local tracks to celebrate a beautiful summer of 2013. Cosmic have searched far and wide to collate the best songs to set the mood for Volume 3 of their Road Trip series.
Read More...
Nathan Haines - Vermillion Skies Album Review
24 Mar 2013 // by Miss_Jukebox
On a road of passionate red, the gorgeous and the ever-elegant saxophone dazzles and electrifies the room with a musical charge. This is the weapon of love for Nathan Haines.
Read More...
At Peace - Girl Songs EP Review
02 Mar 2013 // by Miss_Jukebox
Love in all its varieties; we all have had our unique experiences of love. From the Young Gifted & Broke movement the hip-hop group @Peace, consisting of Home Brew’s Tom Scott and Lui Tuiasau, have released an EP all about the ‘L’ word.
Read More...
AmosAnon - Songs of a Tortured Soul EP Review
02 Feb 2013 // by Miss_Jukebox
Songs of a Tortured Soul is a demonstration of courage in progress. The latest EP from gothic artists [Amos/Anon] is to date their most heartfelt release.
Read More...
Minuit - Last Night You Saw This Band Album Review
02 Dec 2012 // by Miss_Jukebox
Last night I heard the fourth studio album from electronic darlings Minuit. And I will be listening to it again tonight, and the following night, and the consecutive Summer nights coming in to 2013.
Read More...
Ninja Monkey - Anger Management EP Review
27 Nov 2012 // by Miss_Jukebox
Pop-rock trio Ninja Monkey have released their debut EP Anger Management, a little taste of their full-throttle rock’n’roll drive. The EP consists of the very classic groove of ‘These Eyes’ with prodding guitar riffs and pounds of the drums, encrusted with dense rock harmonies.
Read More...
These Four Walls - Living to Write the End Album Review
06 Nov 2012 // by Miss_Jukebox
The walls will be reverberating once Living to Write the End hits your stereo. The second album from alternative rockers These Four Walls will be exploding your aural senses and detonating every fibre of your being.
Read More...
Maitreya - Āio Album Review
03 Nov 2012 // by Miss_Jukebox
Āio is long overdue and an album that had to be made. Maitreya, the moniker of hip-hop MC Jamie Greenslade, has released his second album, a work that incorporates both the English language, and Te Reo Maori.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Gigs Today
- APRA Presents: Like A Version
KINGS ARMS TAVERN - Battle of the Bands - Semi 2
BODEGA - Sleeping Dogs
MIGHTY MIGHTY - Tom Waits For No-One Too
DARK ROOM - Nadia Reid
RHYTHM UPSTAIRS - Open Mic Night
CABANA - Stray From The Path (USA)
ZEAL WAITAKERE - Hollie Smith
THE TASTING SHED LTD - Fred V & Grafix (UK)
INK COHERENT - Tiny Ruins
GRAINSTORE GALLERY
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- BLURRED LINES
Robin Thicke feat. TI And Pharrell - GET LUCKY
Daft Punk feat. Pharrell - LET HER GO
Passenger - RADIOACTIVE
Imagine Dragons - AFRICA
Toto - ROYALS
Lorde - FEEL THIS MOMENT
Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera - CAN'T HOLD US
Macklemore And Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton - MIRRORS
Justin Timberlake - SKINNY LOVE
Birdy
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
Custom Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
