My Friend The ChocolateCake - Lets Go Walk ThisTown

Fri 30th Apr, 2004 in Music Reviews

Conceived as another outlet for the creative outpourings of Not Drowning Waving’s David Bridie and Helen Mountfort, My Friend the Chocolate Cake have long since left the pair’s original outfit behind, releasing their breakthrough album Brood in 1994 just as the former were dissolving. This, the first taste of the band’s forthcoming Best Of release Parade, Lets Go Walk This Town exhibits instrumentation lush enough to satisfy as an instrumental despite, or in spite of it’s vocals, giving the track a visual quality suitable for a soundtrack. Typically, Bridie’s piano anchors the tune while the violins criss-cross a path to the chorus-perfect for the melancholic climax of a film. That said, Bridie’s voice has never sounded better. His airy croon sounds more like a breath than a vocal exertion, the male equivalent to the gentle whispers of Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval.

Similarly, the lyrics themselves are effortless and unassuming, almost resembling speech as if to emulate the conversation between the song’s lonely protagonists. Enhancing the track’s poignancy is Bridie’s painfully articulate manner, particularly when he sings I can see the darkness in your eyes which is chilling, as much as it is pensive. Nonetheless, Lets Go Walk This Town isn’t wholly cathartic. In fact, you get the feeling Bridie’s holding back ever so slightly, which, for those who don’t like to be spoon fed is actually kind of nice.