This is what the critics have to say:
"Melanie creates great, even classic acoustic pop"
Michael Smith, Drum Media
"An absolutely stunning voice"
Craig New, Revolver
"Plucking at the classical guitar is the talent
whispering how good she is"
Ross Clelland, Drum Review
"Good songwriting is next to Godliness & there
are few holier than Melanie".
Craig New Revolver
"She is fresh & talented, divine voice"
Garth Porter
"Melanie Horsnell is part of Sydney's acoustic
renaissance"
Sacha Molitorisz, Sydney Morning Herald Metro.
"An absolutely stunning voice that put me at ease
and laid my fears to rest"
Craig New, Revolver
LOOSERECORD.COM Nov 2006 - myspace review Melanie Horsnell has really pretty hair. She’s also got an incredible voice. Warm and comforting, there is also something that inexplicably makes me think of Paul McCartney on mid-Beatles albums (not that she sounds like a man, but something about the tone of Melanie’s voice). Simply lovely and not to be missed; I wouldn’t be surprised to hear her end up on Grey’s Anatomy or some other prime time show in the not-so-distant future. A vocal knockout.
MUSICAUSTRALIAGUIDE.COM 31 Jan 2006 “I have secrets, I have scars as deep as anybody …” sings Sydney’s Melanie Horsnell on her debut album, a quirky pop record that deserves comparisons to Aimee Mann and Lisa Loeb. It’s produced by former Sherbet member Garth Porter, who is now known as a country producer. An array of instruments (Horsnell plays classical and acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, tambourine, flutophone, mandolin, autoharp and casiotone) bring a circus feel to the album, though the strength and simplicity of the songs shine through. Horsnell sings: “I don’t know if I’m confused because I am or think I should be/I like creating my own tortures in my head.” Horsnell is an artist from left field who could one day be a major mainstream act.
RAVE MAGAZINE 22/11/05
Horsnell's varied effort intrigues and delights
Thank God she's not another Missy Higgins. Melanie sounds at times
like Sixpence None The Richer, but with some cool analogue fuzz gadgets
and more varied arrangements. And she's quite soulfull, even amidst
the quirkiness and fanfare that occupies half the album. Birds (as heard
on triple j) is the most adventurous track with a few key changes. On
a few quirky moments, like I Just Want Some Love, Melanie bounces along
to circus-y clarinet and tuba like Angie Hart down Kelly St. But the
quiet and deeply personal songs, like the mellow Beautiful Excuse, are
where she is most at home. This rainy-Sunday- afternoon-pop album is
full of familiar melodies with simple words straight from someone's
diary, supported (if not distracted) by ambitious Beatlesesque arrangements.
Melanie sounds very familiar, in a good way. You know, when you can't
quite figure out who it is, so you keep listening
ABC.NET.AU (17/10/04)
Melanie Horsnell is one of the strange breed of Australians who are more successful overseas than at home. Her first full length album, The Adventures Of..., was released in Europe before it appeared in her home country. It’s a disc worth waiting for. Horsnell started playing classical guitar as a child, and was already playing in public at ten years old. However it wasn’t until she spent a year in London, writing songs and busking for a living every day, that she decided to pursue a serious career in music. The Adventures Of..., produced by Garth Porter, showcases some of the best of Horsnell’s tunes. It’s a raw, simple recording which belies the complexity of some of the numbers. She sings about everyday life, love, hate, infatuation and working in a supermarket checkout. It’s a deeply mellow and blues-inspired series of songs, probably not one to listen to if you’re already a bit melancholy. But if you like to bask in the human condition, enjoy a good tune and well crafted lyrics, this album has ticks in all the right boxes. Jodie van de Wetering
HAMBURGER MORGENPOST (17/10/04)
Melanie Horsnell, eine junge Sängerin, Songschreiberin und Komplettkünstlerin aus Sidney mit Wahlheimat England, startet auf ihrer CD "The Adventures Of …" ein Revival der ganz anderen Art. Eine Wiederbelebung von Einflüssen, wie sie fast nur Australier oder Südafrikaner hinbekommen, die dann in völlig neuer Kombination einzigartig zusammen gefügt werden.
Stellen Sie sich vor, Edie Brickell schreibt die Songs für eine perfekte Revival-Kapelle, bestehend aus Ex-Mitgliedern von Crowded House, die früher mal Kinks und Bee Gees gecovert hätten, und die auf originalem Beatles-Instrumentarium spielt. Stellen Sie sich vor, diese Menschen packen hin und wieder auch mal alles weg, um nur die Akustik-Klampfe ertönen zu lassen. Stellen Sie sich weiter vor, Dido hätte produziert und Heather Nova sänge dazu. Die fröhliche Heather Nova, die von "Walk This World", nicht jene traurige, jodelig-melancholische, die sonst die Überhand behält. Dazu stelle man sich vor, dass Sheryl Crow und auch Melanie, also die Ur-Folk-Melanie, ab und zu das Mikro übernehmen, wenn Heather Nova mal wieder raus muss, um in die Sterne zu gucken. So also klingt Melanie Horsnell.
Dumm, nur dass wir nun wieder mindestens 30 Schubladen nutzen müssen, um den so locker perlenden, folkig-poppig-nostalgischen Anachronismus, diesen witzigen, geradezu fühlbaren Analog-Sound, diese so schönen Melodien zu beschreiben. Dabei macht Horsnell vermutlich genau das, was sie immer wollte: einfach nur Musik. Hübsche Musik. Spielt fast jedes Instrument, schreibt jeden Song, und sie kaufte sich eine ganze Armada von fantastischen, leisen akustischen Musikern an allen Saiten- und Blasinstrumenten. Aber Horsnell wirkt nicht wie Marque, der auch einfach nur Musik macht, sogar wunderschöne, sondern mehr. Lebendiger, wärmer, blutvoller, kindlicher, erwachsener und leichter. Feminin eben. Mädchenhaft, fraulich, lustig und traurig, launisch und lieb, kompliziert und doch so einfach. Schön. Vielleicht sollten Männer das Horsnell-Album gar nicht erst kaufen, sonst würden sie am Ende noch anfangen, uns zu verstehen. Kati Hofacker
SHAKENSTIR (29/6/04)
Australian Melanie Horsnell is an emerging folk/pop singer/songwriter who is gathering an increasing level of public support at home through her intimate live performances. This album is good enough to raise her profile even further, and perhaps even find her an overseas audience.
Birds opens this enchanting album with the sound of birds chirping, and the first taste of Horsnell’s sweet, high octave voice. Stacked with melody, good lyrics and a distinctive instrumental arrangement, I was more than impressed. Next track, Kiss You Again is a beautiful, quirky love song with delightful instrumental arrangement (including wonderful brass passages), and a vocal that exploits Horsnell’s capabilities more fully. She’s a fine, understated performer who writes personal songs which will resonate with many people.
Sometimes is a highlight with its somewhat darker vibe, and a voice that travels the scale, expressively, movingly and beautifully. Whichever way you turn on this album, subtle acoustic guitar chords and strong melody are never far away. I Just Want Some Love has a strong retro Beatles flavour with more dominant keyboards, and another superb vocal performance which soars to unheard-of heights. That simple guitar returns for the mesmerising Deep Blue Sea, before the soft country vibe of the gently undulating But You.
A strong Beatles flavour returns with Pink High Heels (sounding a little like When I Am 64) before the album closes with the highly original title track. This is a lovely album by a bright young talent who I will be watching with interest.
4/5
PLANET (27/6/04)
Je moet er tegenwoordig steeds harder naar zoeken, maar
échte muziek bestaat nog. En dan bedoel ik muziek die je meesleept en
waar je nog kippenvel van krijgt. De Australische singer/songwriter
Melanie Horsnell (afkomstig van de Sydney nu-folk beweging) is zo’n
artiest die je diep weet te raken. Dat doet ze met klassieke akoestische
popliedjes, voorzien van gepassioneerde teksten. En wie denkt met een
debutante te maken te hebben, zit ernaast. De nu vijfentwintigjarige
Melanie (naar eigen zeggen beïnvloed door Courtney Love en de Bee Gees
uit de begintijd) maakt muziek vanaf haar vijfde. Voor The Adventures
Of…bracht ze in eigen beheer een paar singles en EP’s. Nu is de tijd
rijp voor een debuutalbum dat uitgebracht werd door CRS Rounders. Dat
levert een plaat op met twaalf pakkende, pure popliedjes die je in verschillende
buien brengen. Horsnell ontroert, verblijdt en bezorgt je ook nog een
prettig zomergevoel. Het is de kristalheldere stem die ‘t ‘m doet en
die lijkt soms op Jewel (toen die nog overtuigde, dan), maar ook op
Janis Ian en misschien een klein beetje op Sheryl Crow. Maar bovenal
is Melanie Horsnell een regelrechte verrassing, die het verdient om
gehoord te worden.
Anneke Ruys
(english translation)
We have to look harder and harder for it, but there is still real music
around. I mean music that carries you away and gives you goose bumps.
The Australian singer songwriter Melanie Horsnell is an artist that
can get under your skin with her semi acoustic popsongs with passionate
lyrics. If you think she 's a newcomer you're wrong. 25 year old Melanie
(who claims to be influenced by Courtney Love and the early Bee Gees)
started playing music at the age of 5. Before The Adventures of....
she already released a couple of singles and EPs. And now her debut-album
is released by CRS. An album with 12 catchy, pure popsongs that can
take you through several moodswings... Her crystal clear voice does
the trick and is reminiscent of Jewel (when she was still convincing)
but also of Janis Ian and maybe a little of Sheryl Crow. But most of
all Melanie Horsnell is a true discovery that deserves to be heard.
Anneke Ruys
CTRL.ALT.COUNTRY (23/6/04)
Muzikale verrassingen – ze bestaan nog, meneer. Neem nu dit schatje. Amper vijf was ze toen ze voor het eerst de gitaar ter hand nam. En nauwelijks twee jaar later ontdekte ze ook al de genoegens van het busken. Op haar vijftiende schreef en bracht ze vervolgens ook eigen nummers. En dat zou uiteindelijk leiden tot een jaar vol gigs in respectievelijk Frankrijk, Engeland en Ierland. Na een stel in eigen beheer uitgebrachte singles en EP’s was de tijd dan ook meer dan rijp voor het feitelijke (full) CD-debuut van deze jonge Australische. Zelf citeert ze Chrissie Amphlett, Courtney Love en de BeeGees ten tijde van “NY Mining Disaster” en “I Started A Joke” als haar voornaamste inspiratiebronnen. En vooral die laatste vergelijking lijkt ook wel een beetje op te gaan ook. Alleen moet je er dan wel een kristalheldere stem te situeren ergens in het gouden driehoekje tussen Harriet Wheeler van The Sundays, Kasey Chambers en Edie Brickell bijdenken, want Melanie Horsnell zingt echt wel engelachtig mooi. Zo’n liedje als het door Simon Cox aangedragen “Sometimes” blijft bijvoorbeeld luisterbeurt na luisterbeurt goed voor kippenvel. In al haar kwetsbaarheid toont Horsnell zich daarin tegelijk ook heel erg sterk als ze stelt dat wat haar zo nu en dan kwelt ook anderen treft en dat ze dus eigenlijk helemaal geen uitzondering vormt. Elders, zoals in het speelse “I Just Want Some Love” roept ze een soort aangenaam sixties-gevoel op, dat zowel de Beatles als de eerder al vermelde BeeGees incorporeert. Maar op haar best is Horsnell wat ons betreft in prachtige ingetogen popliedjes als “Deep Blue Sea”, “Beautiful Excuse” en “Roundabout”, waarin ook tekstueel heel wat te rapen valt. Een echte revelatie dus!
(english translation)
Musical surprises - they still exist, sir. Look at this sweetheart.
She was merely 5 years old when she first picked up a guitar. Barely
two years later she discovered the pleasures of busking. Then when she
was 15, she wrote and released her own songs. And that were to lead
to a year full of gigs in France, England and Ireland. After releasing
few singles and EP's, it was clearly time for a full CD-debut from this
young Australian. She cites Chrissie Amphlett, Courtney Love and the
BeeGees in their "NY Mining Disaster" and "I Started A Joke" time as
her primary sources of inspiration. And especially the last seems to
make sense, too. Only you'll have to think of a crystal clear voice
to insert, that lies somewhere in the golden triangle between Harriet
Wheeler from The Sundays, Kasy Chambers and Edie Brickell, because Melanie
Horsnell really sings angelic beautiful. A song like Simon Cox's "Sometimes"
will, time after time, keep giving you chills. In her vulnerability,
Horsnell also proves herself very strong, when she states that what
hurts her every now and then also touches others, and therefore she
isn't an exception at all. Elsewhere, as in the playful "I Just Want
Some Love", she creates a pleasant kind of sixties-feel, that incorporates
both the Beatles as the earlier mentioned BeeGees. But where we are
concerned, Horsnell is at her best in the beautiful pop songs like "Deep
Blue Sea", "Beautiful Excuse" and "Roundabout", where there's quite
a lot to get lyrically also. A real relevation!
HET PAROOL (17/6/04)
Je hebt er elk jaar wel een paar nodig en de dappere
pogingen komen al maanden van tevoren in hele pelotons op je af. Maar
één van de sterkste kandidaten voor de titel Lekkerste Zomerplaat van
2004 komt zonder twijfel uit Sydney, Australië. De artieste heet Melanie
Horsnell, haar debuutalbum The adventures of..., en veel zonnigere,
lichtvoetigere en ouderwets pakkender popliedjes dan de twaalf van deze
vijfentwintigjarige singersongwriter zul je de komende maanden niet
gauw tegenkomen. Vanaf de eerste fluittonen van het openingsnummer,
Birds, zit je mee te wiegen. Met die prettig onbespoten meisjesstem,
die ergens inhangt tussen Carol van Dijk van Bettie Serveert, Janis
Ian en Jewel-toen-ze-nog-leuk-was. Met dat fijne Hammond-orgeltje. En
met die hele bonte stoet aan instrumenten - van glockenspiel tot 'warped
guitar' - die die subtiele, vaak ongegeneerd Beatleske liedjes opvrolijken.
En tussendoor hoor je in de mooie tokkelballad Sometimes de sporen van
het feit dat Horsnell naast een doorgewinterde straatmuzikante ook een
heel aardige klassiek gitariste is. Lach je om die tekst van Pink High
Heels en kun je een weddenschap met jezelf sluiten welk refreintje het
langst blijft hangen: dat van Kiss you again of I just want some love.
Onze gok: je krijgt ze voor eind augustus geen van tweeën uit je hoofd.
© Het Parool
(english translation)
Every year you need a few and the brave attempts approach you in whole
groups months in advance. But one of the strongest candidates for the
title "Best Summer-record of 2004" without a doubt comes from Sydney,
Australia. The artist name is Melanie Horsnell, her debut album The
Adventures Of..., and in the coming months you won't easily find many
sunnier, lighter and old-fashioned catchy songs than the twelve of this
25-year-old singer/songwriter. From the first whistle tones of the opening
song, Birds, you'll sit rocking along. With that pleasant natural girl
voice, that reminds of Carol van Dijk of Bettie Serveert, Janis Ian
and Jewel-when-she-was-still-nice. With that nice Hammond-organ. And
with that complete versatile variety of instruments - from glockenspiel
to warped guitar - that cheer up the subtle, often unashamed Beatles-like
songs. And in between, in the beautiful ballad Sometimes, you hear traces
of the fact that besides an experienced musician, Horsnell is also a
pretty good classical guitarist. You laugh about the lyrics of Pink
High Heels and you can bet yourself which chorus sticks with you the
longest: that of Kiss You Again or I Just Want Some Love. Our guess:
before the end of August, you won't get either of them out of your head.
RON'S ALT COUNTRY (15/6/04)
In iedere biografie van een artiest staat wel zoiets als ...
Jonge Australische artieste komt al op jonge leeftijd door haar ouders - vader was radio DJ en moeder pianolerares - in contact met de muziek. Speelt al vrij snel op festivals en in musicals. Schrijft op 15-jarige haar eerste eigen liedje en treedt sinds die tijd op solo-artieste. In 1998 komt een van haar liedjes op een compilate-cd te staan. Ondertussen is artieste naar Europa en in het bijzonder Engeland vertrokken. Arriveert met vijf eigen composties, treedt op in folk-clubs, exploreert Ierland en Frankrijk en keert na één donkere winter terug naar 'Down Under' met dertig liedjes in haar rugzak. Neemt aldaar (Sydney) twee EP's -"Don't Know What To Say" en "Magic Mirror" - op, die vrij snel uitverkocht raken. Krijgt als meisje met een klassieke gitaar een vaste stek bij het plaatselijke Glebe's Excelsior Hotel en wordt aldaar zo'n drie later gezien als belangrijkste artieste van de 'nu-folk' beweging.
Nu, zult u zeggen, niks nieuws onder de Australische zon. Dit hebben we vaker gehoord. En ... dat is misschien ook wel zo. Toch maar even melden dat de talentenscouts van CRS Europe op 18 mei 2004 haar eerste CD "The Adventures Of ..." hebben uitgebracht. Klinkt als een spannende filmserie, niet? Echter, 't is wel een spannend schijfje van die 25-jarige Melanie Horsnell. Spannend, omdat vooral het eerste deel van de cd leuke, sprankelijke Beatlesque pop bevat met bijzondere muzikale wendingen. Leuk aangekleed ook met allerlei aparte arrangementen. Je komt er liedjes tegen, zoals "Birds", "I Just Want Some Love", But You! of "Kiss You Again," die in een betere Radio 3 wereld - eentje waar de basedrum niet heerst - kleine hitjes zouden kunnen zijn. Denk aan het Engelse Squeeze of zoals ze zelf aangeeft The Bee Gees t.t.v. "New York Mining Disaster" / "I Started a Joke". Prachtige, bijna vergeten popmuziek met een randje americana of australiana in dit geval van een goede zangeres. Ben toch benieuwd of die rare Hollanders van CRS een goede neus voor talent hebben gehad als "The Adventures Of ..." in juli ook in Australië wordt uitgebracht.
(english translation)
In every biography of an artist you'll find something like...
Young Australian artist is introduced to music at a young age by her parents - her father was a radio DJ and her mother a piano teacher. Plays on festivals and in musicals fairly quickly. Writes her first own song at the age of 15 and performs as a solo artist since then. In 1998 one of her songs ends up on a complilation CD. Meanwhile, artist took off to Europe and specifically England. Arrives with five arrangements, performs in folk-clubs, explores Ireland and France and returns after one dark winter to 'Down Under' with 30 songs in her pocket. There (in Sydney), she records 2 EP's - "Don't Know What To Say" and "Magic Mirror" - that are sold out quite fast. As a girl with a classical guitar, she gets her own spot at the local Glebe's Excelsior Hotel and there, about three years later, she is seen as the most important artist in 'nu-folk'.
Now, you'll say, nothing new under the Australian sun. We heard that before. And.. maybe that's true. But maybe we should inform you that the scouts from CRS Europe released her first CD "The Adventures Of..." on May 18, 2004. Sounds like an exciting film series, doesn't it? However, it is an exciting disc from that 25-year-old Melanie Horsnell. Exciting, because especially the first part of the CD includes nice, sparkling Beatles-ish pop with special musical twists. Nicely presented also, with various unique arrangements. You run into songs like "Birds", "I Just Want Some Love", "But You" or "Kiss You Again", that could be small hits in a better radio 3 world - one where the basedrum doesn't reign. Think of the English Squeeze or, as she says herself, The Bee Gees in their times of "New York Mining Disaster" / "I started A Joke". Beautiful, almost forgotten pop music with a touch of Americana - or Australiana in this case - from a good singer. Then you're curious anyway if those strange Dutch from CRS have a good nose for talent when in July "The Adventures Of..." will be released in Australia.
ALT COUNTRY (24/5/04)
Australian Melanie Horsnell can make more of a roots song. Basically she may be ranked among female artists like Kathleen Edwards, Sarah Harmer and, well you can easily complete the list. But as I said, just a song does not suffice for this young singer/songwriter. She turns them into true little adventures with ever catching refrains, so we hear on Melanie Horsnell Presents The Adventures Of.... (Me & My Americana / CRS). Guitar songs are dressed up adventurously with alternately keyboards, horns, (tuba, saxophone, clarinet), tambourine, glockenspiel, all sorts of rhythms, a Hammond organ and various string instruments (guitars, mandolin). Which is exactly why this CD sounds so immensely catching and varied. A song of comfort like Sometimes contains beautiful classic-acoustic guitar strumming, with an additional Hammond to bring out the ‘tears’. I Just Want Some Love (sung in French it’s the bonus track) is a poppy radio song with playful keyboards, a nice loop and horns towards the end. The cheerful But You sounds as playful as they come because of an irresistible organ melody. Melanie sings about (day)dreaming, hopes and expectations and of course love itself. She allows her thoughts to run freely here, as in the highly commendable love song Deep Blue Sea, in which she is plagued by all sorts of thoughts, but eventually finds her peace of mind in a daydream with her beloved on that deep blue sea. Another extremely beautiful song is If You Wanna Be Mine; Melanie Horsnell’s heart is not won over easily, it requires quite an effort:
Have you ever given your heart? Don´t you understand love is more than the touch of another´s hand. Don´t expect my heart just to burn when you want it to, you gotta give in return
The language of a poet I can hear many of you think.
And she surely won’t allow herself to be trampled on! In the cynical
Pink High Heels she tells her cheating boyfriend goodbye. And how! In
a Dixieland setting she is laughing at him. She’s dressed at her very
best, inclusive of her high pink heels, and she’s going out:
So you´ve been cheating. Guess what, I just don´t care. I don´t really
have time for that, I´d rather do my hair.
Right, and that’s exactly what makes me very happy!
Bart Ebisch
A cool, dry spring evening in Sydney brought with
it the promise of something new, something fresh and newly alive. Down
at The Basement in Circular Quay singer-songwriter Melanie Hornsell
was about to deliver on this promise with a gig to promote the launch
of her new album The Adventures Of…
A very groovy and unassuming Melanie Horsnell finally took the stage
to face a good-sized crowd for a Tuesday night. Quickly joining her
on stage was her band, The Inflatable Girlfriends, an odd assortment
of musicians who throughout the night added a bit of their own flavour
to Melanie’s café-styled songs.Every song tells a story, mostly from
Melanie’s own life and Kiss You Again came from a time when Melanie
worked in a supermarket as a teenager and had a crush on a guy who worked
there. This sense of nostalgia fuels her sweet melodies as the swirl
of Clayton’s Hammond seems to act as the good to every bad, the right
to every wrong.
Even the cranky Beautiful Excuse was brimming musically with such lightness
that off-set lyrics like “I'm not desperate, I don't crave you / I don't
need your damn affection”.
Melanie still seemed to be twinged by nerves four or five songs in but
once she was singing found safe and comfortable ground. Tomorrow kicked
off with a real funky bassline before Melanie took out a small measure
of revenge on the male species when during Pink High Heels bass player
Josh, who had backing vocal duties for the night, and had to sing “I
got my pink high heels on baby”.
There is a lonely girl playing her acoustic guitar at the heart of all
Melanie’s songs but there is no doubt tonight with the band behind her,
her music is given another dimension with Iain on drums, Clayton on
the Hammond, Josh on bass and Adam on electric guitar.
The stories Melanie sings about in Mr Accidental, Sometimes and Deep
Blue Sea are about someone wanting, and someone who wants to be wanted
- sometimes nervy, sometimes angry, even a little neurotic but always
honest with a certain fragile and naïve beauty to them.
The set list could almost be the soundtrack to a young girls life, sitting
in a café with a latte, reading a trashy romance novel, stealing glances
at a cute guy across the room, thinking “Should I or shouldn’t I?” The
longer she’s on stage the more comfortable Melanie becomes, explaining
the inspiration behind certain songs and even taking time out to embarrass
her sister who’s in the audience.
Claiming this to be her last song Melanie asks the audience to sing
along during the chorus of I Just Want Some Love – “It’s just one word,
“do” said over and over again”. And this song is a real slice of everyday-Sydney
life: “I take the bus across the Harbour Bridge / Down George Street,
on the L90 / In the elevator they don't say hello / People I don't know
stop and stare”. The song really ends with a lot of bravado as Adam
lets loose on his guitar and brings things to as close to a rock’n’roll
romp as tonight gets.
After a brief break Melanie comes back on stage for a well-received
encore and she is joined by cellist Kate McKay for a delicate and tense
version of Roundabout. Then with the full band joining her on stage
again the night ends in a really positive way with really intense and
groovy songs, Magic Mirror and When I’m in Your Room.
The intimacy of The Basement leant itself perfectly to Melanie’s music
tonight and gave her the perfect place with which to launch her new
album. And it was this last song performed that really summed up all
that Melanie’s music is about: “I am in the corner / The waiting perfume
/ Happier than smiling / When I'm in your room”. The beauty of her music
lie’s in what is just beyond reach and life is all about the journey
to get there.BIG
BAD NOISE (17/10/04)
I was in outer space last night with Bubble Vicious and
Razel gigs at two differnt venues but my dear friend Ned brought me
back to earth quick smart by dragging me down to see an accoustic 'Nu-Folk'
and just plain old folk night.
I have enough sadness and misery and melancholy in my life already and
when I'm out the last thing I need is to be reminded in song. I need
to be taken far, far away to another universe and that's why the likes
of BV, The Glee Club and Beanort are my idols. So deep and meaningful
accoustica is usually a no-no.
Having said all this I can still recognise a talented singer/songwriter
when I see one and Melanie is indeed that. There were around 4 or 5
artists performing tonight and she stood out like ______ . Not only
becuase she is an attractive redhead wearing a bright red outfit with
bright red dangly earings... not only because I can see the craftsmanship
in her material even though its not my style... not only because she
has an aluring voice and can do the guitar thing as well...but probably
most importantly because she achieved one thing that the others didn't.
She managed to make the entire pub shut up and listen...umm, yeah even
me for a while.
Ron Baumann
ALTCOUNTRY.NL
(18/6/04)
(click for review)
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (11/08/01)
Live at the wire-less Sacha Molitorisz has a quiet chat with the rising stars of Sydney's acoustic music scene.
And on Wednesday and Sunday nights at the Excelsior in Glebe you can see Melanie Horsnell and her shifting band of collaborators. Actually, the Excelsior has an interesting musical history: in 1999, after four years of Sunday nights, Sydney troubadour David Lane played his last Excelsior show. (Incidentally, Lane has just released his impressive second album, Put Me in a Taxi.) A year ago the Glebe pub finally found a worthy successor in Horsnell and she's been building her audience ever since.
"Wednesdays are more rocky, Sundays are more cruisey,"
says Horsnell, a virtuoso classical guitarist at age 22. "It was great
last Sunday. We had our one-year anniversary. All these musos came down
- we had 10 people playing - and you could just feel it being alive
again. People were walking away afterwards saying it's great that this
is back again."
Apart from her Glebe residency Horsnell will launch a four-track EP,
Magic Mirror, at the Hopetoun in Surry Hills on Wednesday, August 29.
(For the trainspotters, her EP is produced by Garth Porter of Sherbet
fame.)
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