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Slim Volume: Come On In

Although this is ex-Mutton Bird guitarist, David Long's first solo album, Slim Volume is a collection of Wellington uber-musicians playing David's songs. The result merges David's soundtrack talents with the same pop smarts that won him a Tui for producing Fur Patrol's album. Though they are wrapped in unpredictable musical landscapes - a modern subtext of samples and odd noises - there are plenty of pop gems here. The title track artfully skirts around its chord sequence, refusing to resolve until its final bars ... aaahh. It's a highly organic stew featuring the voice of Long and of Peter Daube, the Wurlitzer piano, banjo, voice and euphonium of Steve Roche, Janet Roddick's trombone and voice plus drumming from Neill Duncan, Chris O'Connor and Fur Patrol's Simon Braxton. The other Furries make appearances and Julia Deans's eerie interpretion of Inside My Skin (originally on The Mutton Birds' 'Envy of Angels' CD) is a highlight as is the instrumental Togo, full of drunken faux-Pasifika slide-guitar. This is totally David and totally New Zealand.

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