The Sun Orchestra EP

Fri 26th Nov, 2010 in Music Reviews

It’s heartening to know there’s a fresh Australian band out there with the drive to make honest music like this. In their self-titled EP, The Sun Orchestra use a balance of country, acoustic and 80s Oz-rock to create a highly-listenable and polished five-tracker.

The former Spencer Tracy* members and Eskimo Joe touring musos have created something that will appeal far beyond the obvious blues and roots crowd one would associate with such musings.The EP is built around committed choruses and a keen song-writing sense indicative of a group of lads who have been making music in various forms for most of their lives.

The Bang Bang Studios production (with contributions from Eskimo Joe’s Joel Quartermain ) is difficult to fault; particularly in the lavishness it brings to the band’s harmonies. This is best heard in opener Shoot You Down, which is a beautiful example of contemporary folk.

The Telecasters come out through the body of the EP and well-executed nods towards Midnight Oil ( Sinking Ship ), Tom Petty ( Record Player ) and Paul Kelly ( My Devils ) feature strongly.

If I Sang you a Song is one of the prettier acoustic country croons heard in recent times. The Sun Orchestra plays the right hand with the EP’s closer by producing a ballad that avoids the high risk of schmaltz and uses simple melody to much success. Frontman Lee Jones’ voice shines brightest here.

This EP has set the tavern bar high for the trio’s (and their extended line up’s) forthcoming album. If these WA statesmen can produce a long player with the consistency shown in these five songs, it will be something to look forward to.