SUNDAY DROP - SPIN # 107 FROM THE R'NR WITH RYLO RECORD COLLECTION
If you haven't heard of this artist or album, maybe you managed to hear her hugely successful stint on Australia's version of The Voice. I didn't catch her on that show but glad that we've stumbled across this Australian artist now. Vera Blue actually goes by the name Celia Pavey and she released her first record under that name ('This Music' - 2013). For her follow up album, Pavey changed her name for her music to Vera Blue and she hasn't looked back. I remember in 2017 that my wife and I heard a lot of new artists and you can tell how influential that year was just by flipping through our record collection. Vera Blue came on the radio one day with her song 'LADY POWERS' ("Lady, Lady, Lady, Lady Powers") and Night Kat Kiz and I couldn't stop singing it and tapping along. I knew that I'd have to source a copy of her record and I think I ended up getting it locally from JB HI FI (*Boo*, *Hiss* I know, I try to support indie stores where possible).
I have the album cover in my hands and want your opinion on the front cover photograph. Haunting or captivating? I can't look away and had to turn Vera's face over to break the connection. Rumour has it, if you place this album cover in front of your bathroom mirror and say Vera Blue five times, she jumps out of the mirror with an acoustic guitar and sings to you! Only kidding, but the next best thing is hearing her album, 'Perennial' on the vinyl format. It really does fill the room with warmth. Our kids haven't heard her music yet, so I made sure to give this record a brush and place it on the turntable, to provide the best experience for them. We've had a lot of rain recently and the sun has finally decided to say hello from behind the clouds. For that reason we will spin this record in our front sun room and let the kids play with their toys as they listen along.
The track list on the album is split into Chapter I, II and III over the 1 x LP. Vera has included the lyrics printed on the record slipcase and the texture of the jacket is a matte finish. I don't know who she is aiming her songs and lyrics towards, but this artist wants you to come a long for the journey. It's important to her that you understand the album is split into three very distinct chapters and like the title suggests, the album will never die. Instead 'Perennial' can be spun on your turntables (or streamed) each and every year. I like the reference to plants and that even though we go through hard times and moments, we can come back from them stronger.
It was a funny moment yesterday where our 5 year old was setting up his office with his cardboard computer and directing the workflow. He would pretend he was getting important phone calls from family members and then hopping into his car and driving home. Our daughter was pretending to be a robot and saying, "Yes Master" as she walked around the house. Our almost 'Threenager' is pushing boundaries this week and really lengthening out. I've heard her speak a lot more and had a nice moment when we were watching her and mummy's "kitty cats" play footy (Penrith Panthers). When they dropped the ball and the other team picked it up our daughter said, "oh no". I've included a photo of where we usually sit to soak up the sun and those chairs below are the ones our kids sit on. This photo was taken early in the morning on the first day of daylight savings ending. I always prefer this time of year and for some reason my body clock prefers it too. The kids prefer it also when they go to bed at night and the sun is actually setting.
I've noticed that the record doesn't have all the songs that were released on streaming and I've come to accept that from artists. They sometimes have earlier versions of their work ready to press because of the delays in pressing records. If they decide to change a song it usually means it won't be included on wax. A perfect example of this happening right now is with Beyonce and her Act II record missing five songs. I've pressed the button on the turntable and watched as the stylus moved across to the groove. The colour of the LP, as it spins around, is a bone/cream that matches the back of the jacket and the lyrics sheet.
I like each song to be totally honest with you and the only way I can describe her as we listen along are: Kacey Musgraves, Lisa Mitchell, Missy Higgins, Katie Noonan, Julia Stone, Meg Mac and Odette - all rolled into one. Maybe even Lana Del Rey, Kate Miller-Heidke and Adele, because why not. Those elements that make all those artists great, are found in Vera Blue, yet she still manages to make it her own. She can slow it down and pull at your emotions ('COVER ME/PEDESTAL') or speed it up and have you dancing around the room with your wife and kids ('REGULAR TOUCH'). A lot more people need to get behind her music - A truly great Australian artist.
The piano playing on 'PRIVATE' that rolls into electro-pop and dirty bass beats are one example of the range of Vera Blue. At one moment I was asking myself the question, "Is it Alison Wonderland behind the decks collaborating with her?". I forgot to mention that the label for Side B has a picture of her chin and glowing hair being swept around as it spins. 'LADY POWERS', 'REGULAR TOUCH', 'FIRST WEEK', 'GIVE IN', 'MENDED', 'MAGAZINE' and 'FOOLS' are probably my favourite tracks from the record if you had a gun to my head (I understand that I pretty much listed the whole album).
If you are like me and read along with the lyrics as the music plays, then you'll be hooked on this from 'MAGAZINE' on Side B.
"Oh how I wonder what it's like, to be living in your life, it must be kinda nice. Everyone wants a piece of you, Even if it isn't true. They're in love with what you do. I wanna rock up in a red dress, say my name I'm on the guest list. I wanna stay right here in my fantasy, I wanna live like you in vanity".
Once two of every animal were saved and the rain decided to calm down, everyone in our street was assessing the damage. I managed to climb up on our roof and take some photos of the places we were having leaks and working out with Night Kat Kiz what we were going to do. It was nice to sit on the roof and see the clouds roll out towards the horizon. I didn't include it in the photo below, but looking out across the houses and the lake in the distance was peaceful. I know lots of people had flooded homes and lost a lot. We were lucky with that amount of rain falling not to have suffered more. I asked our son if he heard the rain falling and he said, "What rain?". It was only 100-120mm falling in 1 hour, no biggie. He had his umbrella on Friday as he walked out of school and felt proud that he was helping two other kids huddle under it to keep dry. It was such a small umbrella but he managed to find space for his friends. Before we know it the stylus has reached the end of Side B and we place the record back into the poly bag. I usually keep the record of the week displayed in our loungin (lounge room) and it links the week that was for myself and my family.
Thanks for joining us for another Spin from the R'nR with Rylo collection. Have I swayed you enough to go and listen to Vera Blue? Maybe add some of her records to your collection? I hope so. Enjoy the sunshine and hug your loved ones tightly. Sometimes all you need is a hug to fill up your love cup.
Until our next Spin......