Live Review-Lior

3rd March-The Basement

Although Liors' support band was wonderful (Busby Marou), the audience was captivated as soon as he stepped on stage. The crowd went wild. He's got this boy-ish charm to him, that makes you think he'd never curse in front of your mother.

I honestly believe he is better live (in real life) than recorded. Even doing an acoustic show, it's more full of life, more free. Free to have moments like forgetting the words and waiting expectantly for the crowd to notice, or having your amp drop out for a guitar solo.. The best thing was, he laughed about it, then chose to do it vocally.

The range and strength Lior shows vocally is only accentuated further by his immaculate guitar skills. He treated us to some solo time, with "Autumn Flow" and a new track "Days to Remember". The string quartet he used, were just amazing, they added a depth, and further complexity of sound, a sense of floating to his melodies..

He talked to us, told us stories, like the many Daniels' (link is purely for vocals) he's never met, but written songs about, or being conscripted (before he was widely known) by a fan to play "This Old Love" whilst they proposed to their partner.

We shared special moments with Lior. He touched us with his humanity and honesty. Everyone walked from the room more lively then when they went in. And whether it was the intimacy of "The Basement" or just a lack of Oxygen, we were taken to a new and glorious place.

Sign me up for round 2.

Pour L'amour

Live Review-Mama Kin

20th January, Newcastle Lizottes.

Elana Stone opened the night, wandering around the stage, tripping over various instruments and telling us little stories. She certainly paraded her vocal talents, only being accompanied by her keyboard or her accordion. She is an interesting songwriter and she has a quirkiness that makes her quite lovable.

As MamaKin swamped onto the stage with her rockabilly inspired dress and her cow boy boots, you couldn't help but be drawn to her. Her support, "Brother Michael" and "Drummer George" (therefore her very own George Michael, as she put it) had Mamas' groove down to an art. Changing positions and instruments to complement her perfectly.

We were treated with yet to be released tracks and stories of her world.. moments of darkness, contentment and joy. She made you feel at home, very true to her name. She writes from such a honest place, songs like "Apple Tree", "The Colour" and "You Tore My Heart Out".

Her toe tapping beats, sultry huskiness and general openness (and a little scotch) made it a musically and well as personally inspiring evening, that I will definitely do again.

Pour L'amour

Autumn Flow - Lior

Independent Release - 2005

Track listing
This Old Love – 3:04
Daniel – 3:50
Gypsy Girl – 3:10
Superficial – 3:52
Autumn Flow – 4:13
Bedouin Song – 3:09
Sitting With a Stranger – 3:15
The Art of Cruelty – 3:35
Blessed – 3:13
Stuck In a War – 3:18
Building Ships– 4:46
Grey Ocean – 3:36

Lior (born Lior Attar in Israel, 1977) released Autumn Flow independently in 2005 and it has become one of the most successful independent releases in Australia, earning Gold Aria status.

The song that caught me originally on this album was "Daniel", such an honestly and an ability to suit the song to your particular mind set. For a debut album, it has such variety, you can see what Lior is capable of.

It starts so simply,"This Old Love", is like a story you've heard before but can't quite remember. The addition of strings makes it slightly romanticized, "let's grow old together". The song begins how it ends, "moving right along.."

"Daniel" is just beautifully composed. It's so metaphorical, of lovers, friends and insanity itself. A pure, honest moment on this album.

With "Superficial", Lior gets a little darker and moody. It seems to be directed at society rather than any one person. That people should be able to see past the external "wardrobe of tricks", and "magazine dreams". The same sort of hapless aggression is present in "Sitting with a Stranger".

"You are sunshine, You are everything good in the world"."Autumn Flow", all about the beauty and love in life. The scales of the acoustic guitar stay in your head long after the song ends. The added horns at the end resound and reiterate this simple point. "will you love me, when the diamond loses it shine?". You can't always control what happens in life, but you control your response, "go with the flow, if that's what the flow wants to do".

"Bedouin Song" is worth a mention, it seems to have that chanting choral aspect that to me, sounds like it comes from a traditional song.

"Blessed shows" off Liors' vocal range, from highs of "I" and lows of "death".

"Stuck in a War", has a nineties soft rock feel. Lior gets an evocative tone to his voice "I've seen you naked, soul free and wild.. I know most of what you hide". It's not about being "stuck in a war" per-se, but it's being stuck in the same place, same frame of mind even though it's destructive. And knowing it too.

Lior has now released a further three albums, one in 06', a live album called "Doorways Of My Mind", and another in Feb 08' called "Corner of an Endless Road", which were also released independently.. The latest being "Tumbling into The Dawn" which his is now promoting with his "by request tour"(head to ticketmaster or moshitx) . But this is a beautiful beginning to such a talented artist. A wonderful introduction to all facets of Lior.

Pour L'amour

Okay Folks,

I'm sorry that I haven't been around so much of late. There has been a whole lot going on in my life right now, and I'm sad to say that my writing got shafted.

I have plenty in store, for those who have stayed loyal!

Coming up

-New reviews including

-A Fistful of Mercy

- Jackson Jackson

- C.W. Stoneking

-Elliot Smith

- Mat Mchugh

-Movits!

-Nick Drake

-Paolo Nutini

-Tegan & Sara

-The Audreys

-Mama Kin

-Brandon Flowers

-New "From My Head", as i have plenty floating around in there!

I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but i have all this wonderful music to show you!

Also, the amount of people that are touring, that I would love to see is very frustrating!

Oh, and people, if you ever get a chance to see "the beautiful girls" live, do it. I did, and they were amazing!

Im off to see Mama Kin tonight (darling wife of Mr Butler). Ill let you know how it goes =]

Love to you all, and ill be back before you know it!

Pour L'amour