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[ Arch Hill Recordings New Zealand / CD ]
Release Date: Monday, 2 March, 2009
'Marvellous Year' is the second solo recording from the very talented New Zealand singer / songwriter Don McGlashan, formerly of The Mutton Birds, The Front Lawn, and Blam Blam Blam.
On 'Marvellous Year', McGlashan is joined by The Seven Sisters band -- Chris O'Connor, Maree Thom, Joh Segovia & Dominic Blaazer -- who give the songs real energy and depth. Don's songwriting and ability to capture melody and the everyday moment is stronger than ever.
As Don says "I think because I was performing, writing and recording a lot in 2008, I was able to try lots of ideas out -- on the band, in the studio, and on audiences -- so there's a lighter, more relaxed feel to some parts of this record. 'Warm Hand' took a fair while because I was trying to find a sound for my solo stuff. I was gradually assembling the band as I recorded. Now the Seven Sisters is established, and we're used to playing together, so 'Marvellous Year' was able to happen a lot more quickly, naturally, and with less head-scratching. It sounds, to me, more like a bunch of songs written for, and played by, a really good band."
As well as the band input, 'Marvellous Year' was also a joint effort in the production stakes, with Don working alongside Sean Donnelly (SJD). Don says aside from Sean's undeniable musical talent and ears, his input was to: "Challenge me, push me and throw banana skins in my path whenever I got too complacent." The album itself was recorded at Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios, mixed brilliantly by Jordan Stone and features guest backing vocals from Neil Finn and string arrangements by Victoria Kelly.
In 2006 Don composed the music to Fraser's hit movie 'No 2' -- which spawned the APRA Silver Scroll winning hit "Bathe in the River" -- originally sung by Hollie Smith and beautifully re-visited by Don on 'Marvellous Year'.
The title 'Marvellous Year' is borrowed from the Allen Curnow poem "The Skeleton of the Great Moa in the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch" and is also is the title of one of the album's key tracks, a very unique song where you'll hear about many things, including the Briscoes Lady and the Fire of Hades.
Tracks:
1. The Switch
2. Bad Blood
3. Not Ready
4. You're the Song
5. Everything's Broken; Life's So Sweet
6. 18th Day
7. Marvellous Year
8. Radio Programmer
9. C2006P1 (Make Yourself at Home)
10. Bathe in the River
11. Theme From 'The Colossus of Roadies
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