MFTCC - Home Improvements

It has been five years since My Friend the Chocolate Cake have released a new album and Home Improvements is worth the wait.

This is an album of contrasts with beautiful string arrangements existing side by side exotic instrumentals and well crafted pop. The album covers territory that will be familiar to those who are already fans of this band who should be bigger than they are.

David Bridie and his band have given us a wonderful collection of songs that lift the spirits. The quirky is not forgotten with the delightful pop ode to unrequited love in Pentecostal Girl. The album juxtaposes different styles well with Let's Go Walk This Town conjuring the romantic while Hymn for the Carnies is a slow and melancholy melody to the circus. In The Weather Coast the band takes the listener to the exotic Solomon Islands and to Papua New Guinea in the string band song John Patap. Helen Mountfort's cellos feature evocative The Forgotten Athletes of Persia together with violinist Hope Csutoros and David Abiuso on accordion.

Home Improvements is a gem of an album from one of Australian music's most endearing bands.

My Friend the Chocolate Cake will be touring nationally throughout April and May. For tour dates check out their website at http://www.mftcc.com/

Review by Ruby