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SIMON COMBER: Endearance

He sounds like he’s from Dunedin. Simon Comber’s music conjures up images of an art student who’s come in out of the cold wind and rain, from rugged terrain. A sort of blustery downtrodden sea shanty mixed with folksy Auckland act Bond Street Bridge (without the violins). The lyrics on this, his second album, are often dark and sombre, even in the catchy The Jaws Of Life or the timelessly themed Please Elvis. Musically it’s very good, with acoustic guitars, drums and bass aligned well, though it relies on Comber’s voice which in places proves a little weak. The title track is a brooding guitar instrumental with tasteful harmonics and eloquent slow strums. Whenever the band get going they gel really well. Nobility is a good example, the song starting so quietly then building, while The Crossroads bubbles away like an old Violent Femmes’ 45 stuck on 33. Recorded in Port Chalmers and self-produced, there’s plenty of space on this album, you can almost hear the waves lapping outside. To be savoured with some mulled wine on a winter’s day.

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