Dads - Man of Leisure

Wed 29th Jun, 2011 in Music Reviews

Riding a wave of creative inspiration, Tom Iansek of rapidly rising Melbourne indie duo Big Scary has released a whimsical solo EP entitled Man of Leisure under the simple moniker of Dads. Despite being down a member, Iansek’s solo sound is much more intricate and full though the use of varied instrumentation and layering, letting this project pique the interest of followers of his main band and lovers of acoustic ambiance alike.

Opener Life, Oh Life is the album’s strongest and most memorable track, but this doesn’t discount the success of Iansek’s ability to weave his comforting and warm tones throughout the rest of the album. It simply stands out due to its creative brilliance, starting with the calming sound of raindrops and building to an acoustic climax, with the subtle flute melody complimenting the scratching guitar and relaxing piano. Living up to its title, it is simply a celebration of life and definitely one of which you’ll be subconsciously humming throughout the week.

It’s not all chilled out, with the garage rocking Sister reminiscent of his other band’s work sans the frenetic drumming listeners may be used to. The lyrics are familial and gentle, seemingly more personal and requiring of a more measured approach, with tender refrains substituting perfectly for the more angsty guitar work found in the main project. He is also able to delve into expressing himself through instrumental pieces like Bron, which calmly transitions into Song For Two (Sung By One), rebuilding the album’s intensity with a cataclysmic crescendo.

So Long sees Iansek putting on his best Gallagher brothers impression, but there’s never really a dull moment with the gospel-like backing of A-Bomb following shortly after, bringing the album back to its cosy heart. The twin final songs of Dreaming Of Falling To Your Death and finale Sleepwalking are an apt conclusion to the album, with the glockenspiel and vocal harmonies bringing the listener to a trance-like state with dreaminess not often seen in a minor local release, further emphasising the wider credit that this album should have.

The album may have been made as a kind-of leisure and idle time wasting activity, and this certainly shows through with the chilled nature of the music, but it never seems purely thrown together and always seems to be heading somewhere – may it be an acoustic climax or a slow drift into dreamland. With a Big Scary debut a few months away, Man of Leisure is one not to be missed.