24 Apr 2024
UsernamePassword

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

Phil and Lana Doublet - Album Review: Play Nice

12 Jul 2020 // A review by darryl baser

Multi award winning Christchurch based musicians Phil and Lana Doublet have teamed up to write, record, and release the stunning album Play Nice.

The pair wrote all but one of the songs on the album. The Key was written by Lana Doublet and Renee Mcalpin.

The Doublets are a tight unit, writing and playing some of the sweetest Country tunes in Aotearoa.

The opening track My Old Man No More seems to be a break-up song where the female protagonist is not that sad to see the back of a partner, and kind of hopes his new woman makes a fool of him.

Track two is titled Dear No-one and it sounds like a call into the wind; someone asking the universe for help.

The title track Play Nice is a definite single which sounds as fresh as anything coming out of Nashville or Tamworth.

Phil only takes the vocal lead on a couple of tracks; Movin' On and Where Is The Good In Goodbye? While I love Lana’s voice, it’s a nice change to have Phil take the lead.

The musicianship on Play Nice is top shelf and simply wonderful. Here’s the cast of characters Paddy Long - Pedal Steel Guitar, Jeremy Brownbrooke - Fiddle and Mandolin, Lana Doublet - Vocals, Brushed Snare and Percussion and Phil Doublet - everything else.

The production is really polished, recorded by Phil and Lana at their place, then mixed by Matt Fell and mastered by Michael Carpenter at Love Hz in Australia.

Play Nice should definitely be a contender for NZ's Country Album of the Year.

Rating: ( 4 / 5 )
 

About Phil and Lana Doublet

Lana had always had a love of music and storytelling but it wasn't until she was introduced to the Country Music scene after meeting her husband Phil that she was able to combine the two. While living in Australia, She wrote her first song but didn't pursue it any further until returning 'home' to NZ. Lana has won a number of awards over the past 3 or 4 years, most noteably Runner-up at the MLT Songwriting in Gore 2016 then a top 10 finalist again in 2017 with two songs, including a co-write with her husband, Phil. She has also won the NZCMA Songwriter of the Year in 2015, 2016 and again for the hat trick in October 2017.

Lana’s debut EP Beautiful Human and was a finalist for Best Country Artist 2018 award.

Phil is a multi award-winning artist/musician and is no stranger to the music scene for just over 3 decades. He has been playing in bands since the tender age of 11 and became sort after as a session player and of late. Produced for recording projects from Europe, U.S.A, Australia and New Zealand. Not to mention as a solo performer, Phil has two charted albums to his credit. Stone and Wood and was a finalist for Recorded music NZ best country album of the year 2017 and finalist at the VFNZ music awards best country artist 2017 for his second album Endless Highway. His third album Strength, Love, Music & Light went to #1 on the IMNZ charts with two #1 singles Prayin’ For Rain and Suitcase.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Phil and Lana Doublet

Releases

Play Nice
Year: 2020
Type: Album

Other Reviews By darryl baser

MEDaL - Album Review: Sequela
14 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
Christchurch trio MEDaL are a combination of many years of New Zealand musical history. Singer and guitar slinger David Mulcahy was in JPSE and Superette, bass player John Billows has spent time with The Renderers and Dark Matter and drummer Mark Whyte is part of Into The Void.
Read More...
The Bobby Holidays - Album Review: At The Beach
13 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
The Bobby Holidays' At The Beach opens with the song Jane, syncopation is to the fore with a great horn section blowing against bass, drums and guitar. The song has an up tempo happy summer vibe.
Read More...
Mad Cow - Single Review: Same Boat
01 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
Same Boat is the latest single to be released Taranaki 3-piece Mad Cow. Mad Cow are mainstays of the New Plymouth have been around since the 1990’s in the North Island’s music scene, evolving from school band No Comment.
Read More...
The New Existentialists - EP Review: Last Days of the Internet
23 Nov 2022 // by darryl baser
It might seem like George D Henderson has been a part of the New Zealand music landscape for about as long as Keith Richards has been playing guitar. He’s been in the Flying Nun arena with The Puddle based in Dunedin.
Read More...
Nika - Single Review: Saviour Complex
03 Nov 2022 // by darryl baser
A song with an interesting title will always grab my attention, and the idea of people with a saviour complex has always fascinated me, so when the new song by Nika called Saviour Complex was offered to me to review I almost somersaulted. The song opens with a gently and alluring piano melody before Nika’s voice kicks in and from the first notes some vocal training is obvious.
Read More...
The RVMES - Single Review: Simple Things
05 Oct 2022 // by darryl baser
Oh My God. There are bangers then there’s this tune.
Read More...
VÏKÆ - EP Review: Love Games
25 Aug 2022 // by darryl baser
Veronika Bell, known to music fans as Vikae, has been composing and producing music for a good few years, and is gaining some crossover traction between the dance and pop worlds. While she writes many of her tunes on a piano, and can perform them beautifully with piano and her impressive voice, it is the dance-styled pop versions of her tune which have been garnering her acclaim.
Read More...
Mecuzine - Album Review: Locksmith Thief
21 Jul 2022 // by darryl baser
Now that’s a great way to open an album. Bruised and Broken is the first track of Mecuzine’s new album Locksmith Thief, and my god what an epic track to open their new record.
Read More...
View All Articles By darryl baser

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • TOO SWEET
    Hozier
  • BEAUTIFUL THINGS
    Benson Boone
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • I LIKE THE WAY YOU KISS ME
    Artemas
  • SATURN
    SZA
  • STICK SEASON
    Noah Kahan
  • END OF BEGINNING
    Djo
  • LIKE THAT
    Future And Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
    Ariana Grande
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