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 | |  | | KARMA COUNTY – THE TOFF
Touring on the back of what could just be one of the releases of the year, the double CD retrospective Headland (reviewed in Inpress issue 1037), Karma County treat us to a set that showcases the release and neatly summarises a 15-year career. There is a small technical glitch in the opening song Postcard, prompting fears for the quality of tonight’s performance. This is quickly dispelled and the musical KC juggernaut gathers momentum like an old steam train and continues to gain speed throughout the set. For a band built around a solid, earthy musical style and emotional and contemplative lyrics, their live performance does not disappoint; the highlights tonight are many and the group are in fine form, as is Brendan Gallagher’s distinctive voice. Warming through tracks Long Distance Karma, the heartstring-tugging Secret Country, Where Could I Go But Home and Lasso before introducing new tracks in the guise of two covers: The Reel’s Kitchen Man and the Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yazoo) written Only You and a new one in the KC arsenal, the poignant The Feeling.
There is a small break in proceedings when Gallagher calls mate Dave McCormack, of Custard fame, on his 40th and the Toff punters sing Happy Birthday to his message bank. The levity seems just the tonic to pump the band up, and it is abundantly clear just how much the three-piece seem to enjoy each others’ company playing together. Stickman Stu Eadie and bassist Michael Galeazzi really come into their own on a jazz- infused version of Away, Away and a dark, searing rendering of Dark Was The Night, from second Headland disc of ‘rarities’. The train now rumbles toward the final stop with rocking versions of Good Things Come To Me Now, On The Vine and The Men Who Ran Away From The Circus that truly have the crowd enraptured. An all too strict time regime sees only one track performed for the brief encore but what a track to finish: the quintessential Aussie tale of Dexter & Sinistra and provides the prefect finale for this iconic Australian trio and might just best sum up their unique Australian sound “they went together like cold beer and a hot day, too right all the way”.
The Boomeister
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| KARMA COUNTY – Headland
WEDNESDAY, 01 OCTOBER 2008
(Vitamin)
A career-spanning retrospective of 36 tracks with a few twists.
They’ve had other possibly more famous jobs over the years, but it’s as Karma County that guitarist-singer Brendan Gallagher, bassist Michael Galeazzi and drummer Stuart Eadie came into their own in 1995. Largely acoustic with American roots influences – rural twang mingled with folk and blues - but with curious Eastern and other exotic touches as well (Indian drones, Greek bouzoukis and more), their sound coalesced perhaps oddly in Sydney’s inner city pubs. They’ve issued five albums since then, including ARIA winner Into The Land Of Promises in 1999. Along the way, they went against the mainstream by unveiling sly, reflective songs of subtle craft and considered character. This twin CD sums that up neatly, from the yearning Secret Country with a guest vocal by Jimmy Little to an altogether different guest vocal from Bryan Brown on Dexter & Sinistra. In between are evocative images of this land (On The Sacred Sand, The Lifesaver’s Love Song) as only this act can do. With some earlier tracks like Postcard remixed for this set, some live stuff and a newie or two, this is a great encapsulation of Karma County’s career so far.
****
BILL HOLDSWORTH
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| Karma County - Headland 7.5/10
KARMA COUNTY
Headland
(Vitamin Records) 7.5/10
If your one to enjoy easy-listening, first-class Australian music and don’t have a swag of Karma County CDs in your collection, this gem was intended for you. The superior tracks from their five releases can be experienced alongside two new songs, altogether making for an exquisite platter of sublime, wholesome and relaxing music. It’s the kind of music you can listen to on a road trip and let the sparse drumming, unhurried vocals and effortless storylines float into your ears in a non-invasive way. Standouts include: ‘Dexter and Sinistra’ (an ingenious true blue love story performed by Bryan Brown), ‘On The Sacred Sands’ and ‘Happy Birthday Dear Customer’ (Polly).
Written on the 2nd of October 2008 by Ch 101
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| Headland – Karma County
By Chris Peken
Brendan Gallagher has the most congenial of smiles and the nimblest of fingers. His smooth fretwork on the acoustic guitar has produced five Karma County albums over the last 13 years, so now is as good a time as any to collect 36 songs - past, present and unreleased - into one two-disc retrospective, Headland. With a title that gives away Brendan's coastal origins, Karma County have always been one of the best summer bands, perfect accompaniment for long drives or cool drinking when the temperature rises.
These songs also remind you that like Gangagang before them, they can capture a sense of place and space that is very Australian. From the opening Postcard - a song that introduced the band with a bang to local audiences - to the unexpected delight of the Yazoo cover Only You, this collection reminds you how much can be achieved by a quietly spoken, unassuming, but highly-talented drum, double-bass and acoustic guitar trio.
Posted by Chris Peken from The Alternative Media Group on 26/09/2008 at 09:51 AM in Music Reviews / Sydney
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| Headland – Karma County
The Age – Jo Roberts
Friday, Ocober 24, 2008
Set aside an afternoon to spend with Karma County. Preferably after a nap in the sun, when you wake up with that pleasantly woozy feeling,because then you can sustain the same sensation as you listen to the 36 tracks on the Sydney Trio's new double disc release, Headland. This is a collection of highlights and remixes, remasters and unreleased tracks dating back to 1995, when the band first emerged with the dreamy, hypnotic song, Postcard, and we first heard the deep, velvety croon if singer-guitarist Brendan Gallagher. Postcard opens the proceeding here and the evocative journey continues, for the most part, at a similarly laid-back pace, as you are reminded just how many fine songs this band has had; This Is Not The Real World, with it's narcotic lap-steel, remains a highlight for me, as does Secret Country (featuring Gallagher dueting with the wonderful Jimmy Little), the suburban love story of Dexter & Sinistra (as told by Bryan Brown) and the haunting Happy Birthday Dear Customer. If you've only ever heard the singles, Headland is well worth an extended visit. On a sunny porch. Karma County launches Headland at The Toff In Town tomorrow night.
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| Karma County – Headland
Reviewed by The Boomeister
One and a half decades, five albums and a couple of ARIAs to boot: the lush Australian sound of Karma county is still alive and well and beautifully captured in the two-CD collection Headland. Lead by the distinctive vocals of "Eddie everywhere" Brendan Gallagher (who also happens to pluck a mean guitar), Michael Galeazzi on bass and percussionist Stuart Eadie, the County has cut an exotic swathe through the sonic landscape both here and abroad. All this beginning at a time when grunge, post-punk, electronica and other genres have ebbed and flowed: the County have remained fiercely independent, artistically, true to their roots producing an earthy, raw, emotive and thoughtful style of music.
Disc one opens with the beautiful Postcard from their debut album Last Stop Heavenly Heights. This disc is a perfect blend of tracks with the five albums gaining pretty much equal distribution across the board. There is no doubt that Secret Country from Into The Land Of Promise is a classic track and for mine ranks up there with The Triffid's Wide Open Road of the church's Under The Milky Way, it also features the lush tones of Jimmy Little (Gallagher was the mastermind behind the success of Little's Messenger album). There certainly aren't any fillers here and other highlights are Good Things Come To Me Now (1998's Olana), Where could I Go To But Home and the title track from Happy Birthday Dear Customer (2001) and the tale of Dexter & Sinistra featuring actor Brian Brown off the Pacifico album.
The second disc is predominately rarities, remixes, a couple of live recordings and the added bonus of two new tracks, one being the cover version of Yazoo's Only You, which is a wonderful interpretation of a great Vince Clarke-penned song. The other cover is The Reels' Kitchen Man and and the county treatment stamped all over it - Dave Mason would be chuffed.
With 36 tracks over the two-disc set there is something for everyone. Those never having had the pleasure of hearing Karma County should jump ath this release as it simply showcases thus uber-talented Australian outfit. For existing fans the second disc provides further proof of how consistently good the output from the County has been over a creer that we trust is far from over and wait expectantly for new material if newbie The Feeling is any indication.
Inpress Issue 1037
17 September 2008
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| Karma County – Headland
Karma County never quite fitted. But in a good way. Sure, there is a crafted, almost country blues, base to them. But there’s other things going on. Sidesteps like the moody spoken word Dexter & Sinistra (with added Bryan Brown), or a heartbreaking melancholy version of The Reels’ Kitchen Man.
They’re an interesting sum of their parts. Brendan Gallagher, with dark wryness or a wink in his voice coupled with his so-tasteful-he’s-writ-books-about-it guitar playing. Bassist Michael Galeazzi’s heart is in jazz, but not oppressively so. And Stu Eadie has the pop of The Clouds and even the lounge cheese of The Kaempfert Zone in his history. It’s a bonus you wouldn’t meet three nicer blokes in a day’s march.
If you want a default setting, the music of Karma County is a cruisey but warmly affectionate thing. The remixes and second thoughts of this compilation sometimes bringing out even more richness in the songs, and the playing. Often undercut with a distinctly Australian wit – as in Postcard, the first song that gained them some notice – where the wish for correspondence comes with a half-joking concern that “you haven’t been kidnapped – somewhere like Cambodia”.
There’s an even more overt spirit of place in songs like Secret Country, where the venerable Jimmy Little (Gallagher a big part of his artistic rebirth) adds his perfectly apt vocal counterpoint.
And their so genuine songs of love: the longing Kiss Me, the suitable-for-weddings Lifesaver’s Lovesong, and Lasso all speak to the band’s quality. Classy County.
Drum Media 2008 - Ross Clelland
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