Angus and Julia Stone - A Book Like This

(Muso's Guide, February 16, 2009)

Album review

Like the very first kiss with a new beau, an album’s opening track can tell you all you need to know about the relationship you’re about to embark on.

Its tenderness, its very sweetness holds the key to your future, and whether you should hang around and make it to the second, or bolt before the whole affair has a chance to progress.

An enchanting strumming which speaks of warm comfort and heady delights woven into a mid-tempo beat greet the ears as the debut record from one of Australia’s hottest acts puckers up, and the clinch only gets sweeter.

Sydney natives Angus and Julia Stone may be brother and sister, but their vocal deliveries could scarcely be more different on this debut record. Hers, fractured and emotional, with Emiliana Torrini vowels and Bjork intonations. His, gently soothing, with more than a hint of the Jason Mraz about its soft, mellow pronunciation.

The brother/sister combination is a nice hook for the band, but there is so much talent from both parties that it could be a duo of any provenance. On opener, duet ‘Mango Tree’, the pair’s distinct voices intertwine with each other, leading the listener round an intricate melodic journey and enveloping them with the truly sweet sound of folk. As far as setting out their store goes, ‘Mango Tree’ is fairly indicative.

The vocal duties are shared - Angus leads on the heart-wrenching ‘Just A Boy’, Julia on new single ‘Hollywood’, which has a naivety and guilelessness that just begs to be adored, with lines like “I blame you Hollywood/For showing me things you never should/Show a young girl/In this cruel world”, namechecking The Sound Of Music, Pinocchio and The Little Mermaid among others.

Album highlight is ‘Silver Coin’ - piano, guitar and cello making the most of each other, with Angus’ innocent yet sensuous vocal draping itself over every note leaving you longing for more. Just like the perfect first kiss.