Press
Reviews
Be Here Right Now
“Title track Be Here Right Now – if not the whole EP, depending on who might be listening to it- whispers Coldplay, with a tinge of cheer- the kind Chris Martin seems unable to reproduce in his musical endeavours, but abundantly so in his casual persona.
The quirky and charming songwriting of frontman Dion Read is still as ever-present as in The Shoes & Gloves EP. “I’m so in awe of the way you can smile when you haven’t had your coffee” he croons over the band’s piano-based pop stylings on In the City, an endearing modern-day love song (certainly a realistic one.) “I don’t know how you do it but you make the most out of your horrible work clothes” he tells some faceless lover, whom we can only imagine is as effervescent as our protagonist.
Make my Day settles for somewhat more songwriting-by-numbers lyricism but is still airily pleasant. The EP ends with the heartrending Air Balloons, where Dion tells us, “I know that I’ve been a disappointment to all of you, but that’s okay, ‘cause I’m still young and foolish and that’s just what we do” and you believe him because he sounds ever so remorseful.
Dion Read is quickly rising in my top recommendations list, and not just because he’s a top bloke, but also for his original lyricism and ability to foster a sort-of young and upbeat Tim Freedman vibe. Check it out, and try and tell me I’m wrong.”
“Last year, Dion Read & Co. had one of the more promising debuts with their Shoes & Gloves EP. Now the Aussie piano power popper is back with his second EP, and it’s another treat. Since it’s de rigeur to compare piano power poppers to Ben Folds, let me analogize in this fashion: Read’s new EP is to his last one what The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner was to Whatever and Ever Amen. For the Folds-unfamiliar, the new EP is more understated affair than the first, which doesn’t mean it isn’t fine in its own right. The title track is the peppiest of the bunch, while “The Blame” recalls Folds’ “Don’t Change Your Plans” from Messner. And the closer “Air Balloons” is a wonderful ballad that ranks up there with “Smoke” or “The Luckiest”. Don’t let this one be an afterthought.”
The Shoes and Gloves EP
“Dion Read is almost the textbook example of the quirky piano pop meister, with his opening track “If I was there for you.” It has echos of Ben Folds and that song from Apple’s iphone commercial by Orba Squara. It’s got a nice melody and the follow up “Unloving You” is even better, with some sweet multitracked harmony. This four track EP is an impressive debut worth a spin on the ipod. Hey, Apple can you use Dion’s song for the next tv spot? 8/10″
“An impressive debut from this piano-based Aussie. He cites the Bens (Folds, Lee, Kweller – and Affleck) as influences, and you can hear certainly hear them (OK, maybe not Affleck). It’s only four songs, but it’s worth every penny as the quality is high. Had this one come earlier in the year, I’d have found a spot on the top 10 EP list for it.”
“Charming. Dainty. Smile. Delicious. Sweet. Quirky. These are the words coming to mind as I absorb the opening track- If I Was There For You- on Dion Read and The Afterthoughts’ The Shoes & Gloves EP.
Lyrics like “What’s your boyfriend’s name? Are you sure that he’s not gay? I guess it’s true what they say, not funny ha-ha, but slightly funny strange” make Dion instantly endearing. A slightly softer- and more amusing- Josh Pyke, a less country Ben Kweller, Dion sings the kind of songs that make girls want to take their men home to Mama. Or whomever they have at home. The Triple J endorsed Unloving You bursts with catchy, jangly piano and Dion’s particular husky vox. The way he says “you” in songs isn’t detached- it feels like you. No, this song isn’t for anyone else, it was written for me, you think. The Ben Folds influence is clear: not in a defamatory way, simply in their sharing of pleasing harmonies, delectable piano and humorous, quaint lyrics. I am constantly surprised, when listening to this EP, that Dion & The Afterthoughts- that’d be James on bass/synth/table tennis spectating and Kyle on drums and gristle- have not been snapped up by some indie label and plonked into major airwaves so everyone else can love them too.
Serious rounds off the 4-track EP in a stunning cloud of keys and gorgeous vocals from Mr. Read, and I am intensely disappointed I have no more to listen to. If you like the kind of indie-acoustica that is slathering all over the music industry these days- both underground and mainstream, it’s everywhere!- Dion Read beats all of that. Pavarotti once said; “Compare music to drinks. Some is like a strong brandy. Some is like a fine wine. The music you’re playing sounds like Diet Coke”. I believe bands like The Shins are Diet Coke (nay, Coke Zero!); all flash and gash, no real flavour, mostly artificial. Dion Read is the sweet wine lulling me off to sleep. Get into ‘em, kids.”
Interviews
Coast FM 22/11/07 with Mary-Lou Stephens on Sunshine Coast ABC Radio.