29 Mar 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Simon Hirst - Album Review: Feet of God

02 Apr 2018 // A review by Trevor Faville

This is not quite the first release from Hamilton based artist Simon Hirst. Preceding Feet of God have been two EP’s, Shining in Silver from 2017, and the online-only The Cats Out of the Bag which as well as containing alternative versions of some of the Feet of God tracks, functions as quite an important companion piece. This man is well known to audiences around the “Tron as a high profile local solo performer and this breadth of experience gives his first full length release a powerful sense of maturity and confidence.

The self-assurance comes through firstly in terms of melody, and this is probably Hirst’s strongest element in both his song writing and live work. It is immediately apparent from opening track Arohanui that here is someone who can combine an ability to craft a quality melodic line with the technical and musical ability to deliver it to maximum emotional effect. This melodic sensibility doesn’t waver at any point through this album. It’s a rare combination, and one that he shares with Neil Finn from late-period Enz through the early 90’s Crowded House. This is a musical touchstone that is impossible to ignore simply because like Finn, Hirst writes songs that, if they were stripped down to melody, harmony and timbre, would lose no impact at all.

This is not to play down the next point which is the attention to detail in the arrangements and structure. This is handled throughout with intelligence and skill, from the deft touches of instrumentation and timbre (listen to the ‘just-so’ lead guitar lines in Signs and Wonders and the subtle keys/ambient/guitar pad in the background of There She Goes) to the musically sensitive production and mixing. One notes the playing and arranging input of Eddie Rayner which does extend that line of influence even further into Split Enz territory. There is no way that this can ever really be a bad thing- witness his arrangement on the version of Through the Wall of Light (Orchestral Version) on The Cats out of The Bag. It's that good, easily first choice (to these these ears) for standout song of this collection. It's the moment when arrangement, melody and delivery combine to maximum effect.

One needs to reiterate the maturity in this music, which may well date it to an older demographic in terms of how the songs a structured and arranged- this is not dancing music, nor ‘track and hook’ Max Martin ‘ultra-contemporary’ pop. The choruses go dynamically up for the lift, not down for the breakdown, and there is none of that tiresome post-modern irony either. In future work care will need to be taken to make sure that the tempos, instrumentation and timbres don’t make the listening too easy, and at times the relaxed mellow/melancholy vibe overall cries out for more variation, too.

What Mr Hirst has done, though, is played to his strengths. He has taken ownership of both his influences and experience for this recording. The end result might perhaps hark back to another era of song writing, but this is certainly not any sort of “stylistic tourism”. He places himself there quite clearly and apologetically, and to commanding effect.


Review written by Trevor Faville

 

Releases

How Far Away Home Is
Year: 2023
Type: EP
Living is Now
Year: 2022
Type: Album

Other Reviews By Trevor Faville

Elmo Strauss - Album Review: In My Sleep
08 Dec 2023 // by Trevor Faville
Elmo Strauss began writing, recording and producing music in the format he describes as a ‘One Man Band’ since 2021, with the release of debut album Light and Dark. In My Sleep is his latest collection and is a logical follow on from the first album, in terms of the sound and the process.
Read More...
The Fuzzies - Album Review: Cupid
15 Nov 2023 // by Trevor Faville
The Fuzzies are a three-piece self-described ‘Alternative pop trio’ from Auckland. Collectively Niki Maera (Mary), Kelly Michael (Tabula Rasa, Enshrine) and Andrew Maitai (Powertool Records, Joed Out) bring the momentum of considerable experience into the music on this album.
Read More...
Claudia Robin Gunn - Album Review: Firefly
02 Oct 2023 // by Trevor Faville
Working in music education gives some insight into what challenging area that Children’s Music can be. The first essential consideration is simply coming to terms with the makeup of the audience, and knowing that children, whanau, and teachers are combined into particularly unique ‘demographic’.
Read More...
Hummucide - Album Review: Tides
18 Aug 2023 // by Trevor Faville
Hummucide are a well established group of musicians originally based in Wellington (although now working round the world) “Heavy Jazz” is the way they describe their sound, and that's an accurate phrase- and a rather nifty one, too. Tides is the group's first full length album release and it's the result of an extensive and extended process of crafting and refining.
Read More...
Tone6 - Single Review: Close Your Eyes
05 Jul 2023 // by Trevor Faville
Tone6 are a vocal group from Auckland, consisting of Kirita Leavasa , Selevasio Tu'ima, Peachez Vetenibua, Seletute Tu'ima, Viliami Tupa'i and Shaelyn Togafiti , who began working together when attending Saintzup Performing Arts School. The collective experience and ability of these singers belies their youth, and while Close Your Eyes is just their second release, it's a powerful and assured musical statement.
Read More...
Yann Le Dorré - Single Review: I Love You
09 Jun 2023 // by Trevor Faville
I Love You is the second solo release from Yann Le Dorre, formally a mainstay in the Poneke-based ‘gutter folk’ outfit Yolk. I Love You a follows a path described by previous release Missed as clear development from the work Le Dorre has done in Yolk- removed is the extra instrumentation in favour of a baritone voice set in a minimalist musical backing.
Read More...
Ivy - Single Review: Heartless
19 May 2023 // by Trevor Faville
Ivy are easily one of the more sonically ambitious bands that you can hear from Aotearoa New Zealand currently. Heartless is their latest work following on from last year's EP For The Sake of It, where it would not sound at all out of place.
Read More...
Valley Kids - Single Review: Otherside
10 May 2023 // by Trevor Faville
Poneke based Valley Kids have been drawing a career arc that continues upward from their first release in 2020, and with the support of NZ On Air the four piece have released their third single Otherside. Right from the opening guitar refrain, it's clear what an experienced and cohesive unit this is.
Read More...
View All Articles By Trevor Faville

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
    Ariana Grande
  • BEAUTIFUL THINGS
    Benson Boone
  • END OF BEGINNING
    Djo
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • TEXAS HOLD 'EM
    Beyonce
  • STICK SEASON
    Noah Kahan
  • PRAISE JAH IN THE MOONLIGHT
    YG Marley
  • CARNIVAL
    Kanye West And Ty Dolla $ign
  • SATURN
    SZA
  • LOVIN ON ME
    Jack Harlow
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
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 ProblemReport A Problem