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Darren HanlonLittle Chills Candle/MGM Usually when it is suggested that an artist has "matured" it means they've become boring. However, Darren Hanlon's growth has not killed off his childlike charm that is the hallmark of his songs. 'Little Chills' has maintained his boyish charisma, but his recording style has developed in leaps and bounds. The trademark lyrical smarts abound as do the delightful songwriting characteristics of his debut 'Hello Stranger,' but this new recording has a more atmospheric feel and greater variety of instrumentation and guest artists. Wrong Turn begins the album in unfamiliar territory as it floats through in an almost surreal fashion. Second off the mark is the obvious single A To Z, a classic acoustic pop song in Hanlon's unique mould. Hanlon continues to effortlessly amuse the listener with lyrics like "Our guest is dressed by hand-me-down / And hair designed by pillow," but it is the unexpected additional features that are most impressive; upon these eccentric lyrics in The Unmade Bed, he allows Doug McCombs (of post-rock legends Tortoise) to layer a fat, distorted bass line. Similarly, he transforms the simple pop brilliance of his ode to the game of Squash, and then he slides a brooding electric guitar solo underneath. Hanlon continues to smash expectations with Brooklyn Bridge telling the tale of a gentle love song of a couple who are fans of heavy metal t-shirts, then soon after a banjo solo it metamorphoses into what could be called an emo rock song complete with background screaming. If there was one word to describe this man it would surely be "quirky"; he weighs every word so carefully yet so playfully, telling stories about intriguing occasions like getting caught out in bad weather wearing shorts. Darren Hanlon could always write the quirkiest acoustic pop songs in Australia, but 'Little Chills' sees him brazenly experimenting with his formula - and what he has produced is solid gold.  |
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