From the first notes of “Too Late for Love” to the charming ukulele strumming of “Say Bye Bye,” Australian musician Anne McCue showcases original compositions, sweet and easy vocal interpretations, and a vast, multi-instrumental background on East of Electric, her latest release.
McCue, a jack of all instruments (guitar, mandolin, banjo, drums, piano, and bass – to name a few), combines her abilities in folk-inspired acoustic arrangements with a pinch of ease and space, keeping the album true to its namesake. With uncomplicated, appropriately placed vocal harmonies and light instrumental arrangements, McCue is able to sonically fill track backgrounds without losing sight of vocal focus – a task that others are unable to achieve. Among the many awards and nominations that have found themselves on McCue’s doorstep, this is one that is held in high regard; tracks like “All I Need (Don’t Try)”, the swaying feel of “Love’s Not Passing Us By,” and the single-worthy “We Are the Same” can easily be imagined sailing the waves of XM/Sirius Satellite Radio’s The Folk Village via the spinning of host Mary Sue Twohy, or even grabbing some well-deserved time on XM/Sirius 14, Bluegrass Junction.
A perfect accompaniment to her sweet vocal delivery, McCue’s vocals echo slight traces early on in the career of pop/rock singer Sheryl Crow, with an extra-healthy helping of soul. With the addition of her multi-faceted folk orchestra (ukulele being unfortunately omitted from her personal album credits), McCue possesses what other musical disciples would only dream of. While her talent in approaching both the soulful and somber is admirable and powerful, the diversity with regard to tempo, key, and arrangement from track to track errs on the side of cautious. However, if McCue’s diversity becomes as solid as her technical musical ability, she will hook listeners even more.
While many artists seem to get lost in their multi-faceted talents and production, McCue does not subject listeners to overly long tracks, which results in a pleasantly paced album that concludes with listeners wanting more. Anne McCue’s East of Electric is proof that all her accolades and nominations are legitimate; take it out for a spin – it’s one that will warrant another.
Matt Jaworski – Muzikreviews.com Staff
August 30, 2009
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