Demos

The Sound of the Ladies - Rosebud

Bruce Turnbull 14/06/2007

Rating: 4/5

Becoming somewhat of a superhero in the underground acoustic scene, singer/songwriter Martin Austwick under his moniker The Sound of the Ladies has be the object of many an affection since the release of his fabulous “Tissue of Lies” EP. And now on the verge of releasing his latest slab of melancholic genius, Austwick will no doubt be putting smiles on faces faster than an abolition of government.

Following in the same steps, “Rosebud” and its four softly saccharine tracks ingrain the mind with their emotional interaction, seeping like a sodden blanket of accomplishment. With his gentle voice creeping over the secondary role of his guitar, the simple, quiescent approach is commendable due to its simplicity and how effective and infective his songs are. “Swimming Skills” being the most memorable, there is a sense of broken innocence haunting the tracks; their smooth, sweeping melodies and unfolding drama a perfect elixir to seeping wounds.

Austwick truly has a brilliant voice, and even though his performance here is a little restrained, the vocal lines still soar above the tenebrous melancholy. While making Jack Johnston look like a failing amateur, tracks like the apologetic “How You Could Have Been in Love with Me” and the seriously uncluttered effortlessness of “One of Those Girls” leave a distinct impression; taking you through the emotions of a man with so much pain to share, and certainly enough to go around.