I’ve got to tell you, the last few days have pretty much sucked. I’ve got the cold that I mentioned which is darkening my mood. And yesterday my mum’s cat, who she’d entrusted to my sister’s friend while she went overseas, went missing. Miss Prissy’s deaf, and about 40 minutes from home, so my thoughts are consumed with wondering about how the poor thing’s coping and whether we’ll be able to find her. Novacastrians, if you come across a pretty, small but adult, long-haired white cat, please shoot me off an email.
So needless to say, I needed something to break out of the funk, and I found it in the form of The Twoks and their recently released EP First Light. The Melbourne duo have created something really fabulous here. There’s a real ’80s pop vibe running through the songs, with their positivity and hooky melodies, but the addition of violins gives them a real twist. There was almost a Dave Matthews Band feel to the instrumentation whenever those fiddles kicked in.
The Twoks grabbed me with the opening song and title track “First Light,” a cheerful poppy number which just makes you feel good. I wasn’t quite feeling all the party chanting of “Hey,” but I’m making a mental note to give it another spin when my mood’s less dark. I was back on board for the breezy island ditty called “Hold On.” The lush layers of “Step Slide” are exquisite. By the closing number “My Place,” I wanted to reach for my hairbrush and dance around my living room.
The Twoks have such a great infectious energy. The songs are fabulous, anchored by the driving drumbeats of Mark Leahy and Xani Kolac’s angelic vocals and violin prowess. Her voice is sweet with just a hint of edge, a little like Susannah Hoffs of The Bangles. First Light was just what I needed to immerse myself in today.
If you like what you hear in that nifty widget, you can catch them at the following shows.
30 October 2014 – New Globe Theatre, Brisbane (supporting Ezekiel Ox)
31 October 2014 – Spotted Cow, Toowoomba (supporting Ezekiel Ox)
5 November 2014 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla (supporting Ezekiel Ox)
6 November 2014 – The Vanguard, Sydney (supporting Ezekiel Ox)
7 November 2014 – The Heritage Hotel, Wollongong (supporting Ezekiel Ox)
8 November 2014 – Bella Union, Melbourne (EP launch)
14 November 2014 – Grace Darling, Melbourne (supporting Ezekiel Ox)
20-23 November 2014 – Mullum Music Festival, Mullum
28 November 2014 – Yay Ya’s, Perth (supporting Ezekiel Ox)
5 December 2014 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide
13 December 2014 – Major Tom’s, Kyneton
