Album of nostalgia rock meets indie

Music / “Plastic Flowers”, debut CD, Mark Thomann and band. Reviewed by TONY MAGEE.

COMBINING nation rock and nation blues, Mark Thomann’s “Plastic Flowers” is a principally upbeat joyful album of songs, contrasted with two reflective ballads – “My Father’s Voice” and “Coming Again”.

Recorded over a three-year interval, Thomann says, “Plastic Flowers takes a special angle on love and flowers as a metaphor for the transience of relationships.”

A Canberra boy, Mark has chosen a few of Canberra’s different best Canberra musicians to play with him on the album.

Guitarist Stuart King is prominently featured together with Matt Nightingale (bass), Jonathan Jones (drums), son Valdis Thomann (trombone), Dan Mclean (trumpet), Dan Bray (saxophone) and Dave O’Neill (fiddle and mandolin).

Thomann cites a few of his largest influences as Jim Croce, Bonnie Raitt, Dan Hicks, Eric Bibb, Taj Mahal, the Zac Brown Band, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan.

Comparisons can be made with Gordon Lightfoot. Not stylistically within the music, however within the various vary of topics and deep thought in his lyrics, each hallmarks of Lightfoot.

Thomann’s earliest music affect was his father who performed piano accordion and cherished swing jazz bands, romantic European classical composers, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

In Seventies Tasmania, he immediately discovered the draw of the guitar irresistible, becoming a member of a band referred to as Blackwood Creek and from there, fashioned his personal type of nation blues and nation rock.

Mark describes his songs as “nostalgia rock meets indie on the street to Tamworth winding up in Memphis.”

The title monitor “Plastic Flowers” is upbeat and “heavy”. Thomann sings with a robust baritone vary voice and has wonderful diction, one thing so extremely vital contemplating the thought and time he has spent on his lyrics.

“Ain’t Know Method” has a cheeky musical introduction. It’s central level is a type of “get up and scent the roses” – stay life to the fullest and don’t get caught up an excessive amount of in dramatic world affairs. A easy way of living.

“This Nation Makes Music” additionally hints at life’s easy pleasures –“I’ve bought the solar on my again, a breeze in my face, possibly I’ll catch me a fish or two”.

“Seven Lengthy Years” begins with a heavy electrical guitar intro, joined by the complete band, together with some wonderful brass function passages. This tune defines the “nation rock” style most clearly on this album.

“The place’s Summer time Gone” is a medium tempo nation/folks tune that includes the wonderful fiddle enjoying of Dave O’Neil. On this, as with most of the songs on this album, references to nature, the seasons and the surroundings function prominently.

“Sugar Daddy Blues” begins with a protracted guitar intro, morphing right into a blues type with the complete band. The lyric suggests recommendation for a younger girl who wants to maneuver on from being supported by her “Sugar Daddy” and discover her personal approach by means of life.

The closing monitor, “Coming Again” is a reflective ballad with simply guitar and bass accompaniment. After years of absence, a younger man is coming again to his real love.

I loved listening to this album very a lot. Though nation rock and nation blues usually are not types that I normally hearken to, listening to these songs opened up a brand new musical door for me. I’d like to listen to extra.

My solely reservation is there are not any vocal harmonies on any of the tracks. Thomann’s voice is evident and highly effective, however some harmonies in locations would add one thing particular.

“Plastic Flowers” will likely be launched on the Canberra Irish Membership, 4pm on February 5  and also will be launched digitally on the identical date. The album will likely be out there on the launch live performance and in addition will likely be stocked by Songland Information in Cooleman Court docket, Weston.