Julia Deans: Modern Fables

By Shaun Chait

One thing Julia Deans has always had as a songwriter, is that when she
gets it right, she gets it right, and at least half of this debut solo
LP from the Fur Patrol singer really sparkles. Little Survivor begins
the journey with the opening bars horns sounding reminiscent of a Fat
Freddys’ track. That quickly gives way to a dark, rather beautiful
jazz inspired number with some lovely phrasing. Skin is an interesting
Eastern-tinged chant, the country ballad A New Dialogue (for which she
is a Silver Scroll finalist) is lyrically alluring, and closing track
Ice Cream is probably the most ‘different’ song she’s written – an
electronica/Deep Forest sounding instrumental with atmospherics taking
me all the way back to counter punch Bottles and Jars. For all this,
The Wish You Wish You Had is the clear standout track – an absolute
Kiwi pop gem. Although this album is more stripped back than a Fur
Patrol record, there is plenty here that is lifted straight from the
FP songwriting catalogue – witness Modern Fables and Recovery. Away
from her long time bandmates absent this time, guests here include
Shihad’s Karl Kippenberger, Dino Karlis (Dimmer) and Aaron Tokona
(Weta, Cario Knife Fight). Recorded between Berlin, Christchurch and
Melbourne, with Deans and David Wernham recording and producing,
‘Modern Fables’ reaffirms Deans as a charming pop songsmith.

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NZ Musician

August/September 2010