Fallon Cush "April"

Independent, 2012

It’s only pop, when Cush comes to shove

• Fallon Cush return with their second album to once again give the lie to the term 'Americana'. With his relaxed, almost lazy vocal style and easy-on-the-ear approach to song writing, Steve Smith is almost stereotypically ‘the guy from down under’. It suits him, there is no pretence, just consistent Australian flavoured Americana.

• The voice of Bob Dylan blends with the harmony-layered radio-friendly vibe of Neil Finn. The words are personal enough to interpret into our own lives and the partnership with production team Chris Vallejo and Greg Calbi (Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon, The Antlers) has really helped Fallon Cush to flourish. If there is a criticism then it is that 'April' is written, performed and produced with such distinction that there isn’t much room for that raw, honest edginess that similar acts like the Allman Brothers always left open in the mix. It’s just that, after the first poptastic sensations of album highlights “Forever After” and first single “Honey Honey” there is a tendency to find yourself on such familiar ground that what started out entertaining becomes slightly unrewarding. And that shouldn’t really be happening on a record graced with Calbi and the flamboyance of such a celebrated vocal presence as Lily Dior.

  Minor quibbles aside, April is a sound all-rounder. Steve Smith and Fellon Cush have earned their stripes and if they manage to punch their way into the Americana scene beyond their own shores it will be richly deserved.