David McCormack – Little Murders : Album Reviews

For lack of a better analogy at my immediate disposal, it has been a long time between drinks for Dave McCormack. As prolific as he has been in the past, (and to a certain degree, he still is performance wise) we’ve been held captive by the promise of his next offering since 2004’s Truth About Love. But it appears the wait has been worth it, because Little Murders is arguably his best work to date.

In defence of McCormack’s ‘thorough’ song writing process, I think it’s worth stating that Little Murders is anything but little, clocking in at around an hour in length, consisting of 20 songs. That’s hardly something to be scoffed at. Realistically, that’s at least 2 albums worth of material. In true David McCormack fashion, he openly claims that the main reason for the album sizable content is to give people the option of each creating their own unique 10 song compilation of Little Murders. Whether this is true or not, one cannot help but feel that McCormack has missed the mark ever so slightly, considering the quality of content that’s on offer.

Rather than feeling like a shortlist of songs from which to select your own permanent and personalised album, it comes across more like a few albums in one – such is the albums versatility. It has both  the scope and depth to appeal on a variety of levels.

Fans of McCormack will delight in the well orchestrated craziness on Little Murders, that has previously manifested itself through a variety of incarnations including Who’s Gerald, Custard, The Polaroids and The Titanics. Seemingly the best feature of David McCormack’s song writing is on display in its multi-formed appearance. Whether it’s the out-and-out rock standard of The Good Times Keep Following Me Around, the elevator jazz-exploration of Living Under The Flight Path With You, the alternative rock weg-out A.V.O, the Australian country-pop classic Make Believe or the frighteningly honest album closer I Won’t Let You Down, there is so much on offer here it is hard to believe it all came from Australia’s foremost and self-appointed pub-meal critic.

McCormack’s voice has the unique ability to change between heavy gruff and heart-felt broken love song so seamlessly, that it defies belief that someone could be capable of doing so with such ease.

One of the most poignant moments on Little Murders is Never Lost Control, with McCormack’s brutally honest vocal clarity inspiring belief from even the most unwilling. Regardless of the words escaping McCormack’s mouth, you cannot help but be completely overwhelmed by the sentiment as he sings ‘But I never lost control…No I never lost control’

David McCormack is honestly one of Australia’s best singer / songwriter / performers. If you want evidence look no further than Little Murders. His ability to construct the songs he hears in his head is nothing short of masterful. Every drum fill, every twang of the guitar, every chord of the organ and every chime of the xylophone is placed absolute precision. From the opening drum-synths of Under Your Thumb to the genius of I Won’t Let You Down, David McCormack has definitely on a winner with Little Murders. Much like Ween’s Chocolate and Cheese, there is a pleasant mix of beauty and peculiarity. If it takes another five years to make something half as good as Little Murders, I can definitely wait.

Dave McCormack launches Little Murders on Friday 27th November at the Thornbury Theatre in Melbourne. For more information, visit www.davidmccormack.com.au