Search - My Friend the Chocolate Cake :: Curious

Just Beautiful - Australia's Finest

07/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My Friend The Chocolate Cake have such a misleading name, and the album cover of "Curious" as well would lead you to believe this would be a very lighthearted and silly album. That is if you are someone who is not familiar with David Bridie or his previous project Not Drowning Waving, like most people in the U.S. are. The music on here is so sorrowful, so emotive, so purely beautiful, mixing cello and violin with piano to give for an orchestral sound, and then mixing that with folk undertones and beats and then wrapping it all up in the disguise of pop music. Some of the tracks on here are so gorgeous they make me want to cry like "Malolo" and "Weep" but especially "More Heart Than Me," while others are upbeat and uplifting. It's really nice how Bridie mixed purely instrumental tracks in here between the more pop music tracks, it all blends together so nicely without becoming monotonous. My Friend The Chocolate Cake is truly Australia's best kept secret; why they haven't reached fame over on this side of the globe is beyond me. This album is perfect for anyone not familiar with Chocolate Cake or David Bridie who is "Curious" about what they do. Your curiousity will be rewarded, believe me, this album is BEAUTIFUL! I can't stop listening to it."

Curious as to why this band has no following in the U.S.

kirk colton | Ogden, Utah | 08/10/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You know the press is jumping all over this hip new Vines band out of the land of ozz. The Vines do deserve some of the aggressive media exposure they have been given. I mean, The Vines have a pretty good debut rock record out that emulates almost every popular style of the here and now. Yet, MFTCC, a band that doesn't really care too much about trends and boldy continue to do there own thing continue to be ignored. Yes, I am Curious as to why a band that is playing on such a high and consistant level continues to be overlooked in the U.S. Case in point, Curious, the band's latest was completed very quickly. And the band has mentioned that the whole recording session was pretty effortless. If the resulting music on "Curious" is effortless. Then I am awestruck. Not only does the album contain some of the best songs the band has ever written. But the music is just so moving. This is a band firing on all cylindars doing anything they want. The results are staggering. Just extraordinary. The only bit of complaining I have about "Curious" is that some of the instrumental tracks are recycled from film scores that individual band members have produced. But the arrangements on said tracks are so incredible it is like hearing the songs for the first time. Oh, and one other thing. David Bridie. Remember this name. I don't like to apply the term "musical genius". but Mr. Bridie just continues to amaze. His vocal performance on "Curious" is just marvelous. But his lyrics just keep getting better. I think his solo album "Act Of Free Choice" made him into a better lyric writer. And the fruits of the AOFC breakthrough appear all over "Curious". About only giving it four stars. I think only benchmark works deserve five stars. I think those kind of records only come around once every decade. So four stars in my mind is a great review. Finally, since I want more people in the U.S. to listen to MFTCC, I should mention a RIYL(recommended if you like) If you love Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Kronos Quartet, Bluegrass Music. Celtic Music, World Music, John Cale, Arvo Parti, Peter Gabriel, or even Bond you should not hesitate to pick up this cd. It is an expensive import. But well worth it. And hopefully "Curious" will be released domestically in the U.S. in the near future. end
kdc"