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It’s easy to get lost in the mountains of novelty type releases either coming through my computer or piling up on my desk. There’s a real trend in being ’ultra’ cool at the moment, especially with Melbourne bands. Artists will forever quickly come and go, but I think Andrew Keese could stick around a little longer than most.
While listening to Keese’ debut I couldn’t help but think how good it would sound with a glass of red wine at arms length. Hell, I’d consider taking up smoking again for some of these tunes. The record is probably more adult contemporary than anything else and Keese is a singer/songwriter, evoking intelligent and poignant pop/rock songs.
While not necessarily genre-defying or new, their songs maintain a classic, timeless feel, augmented by carefully wrought lyrics, an impassioned vocal delivery and rich musical arrangements.
Little Possessions sets the pace only giving way to the more aggressive Transmission, which is somewhat a little out of place compared to the emotional twists and turns that really make the record. Desire was recorded and produced by Tony Cohen (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Go Betweens etc) and the production is very layered and educated. You get the impression that Cohen enjoyed mixing the album. This is very evident on the first single, Blessed are the Meek, where string and piano arrangements really begin to boil.
Keese speaks of paranoia, self doubt and internal demons, referring to them as ’Shadows’ in possibly my favourite track, The Shadows. If you’ve recently been dumped, I’d advise that you skip track 8, Singapore. As Keese wails about longing for his partner and finding himself drunk in unfamiliar bars, you can’t help but image yourself in similar situations.
’Desire has many faces, it hides in the darkest of places, so keep a star in the night of your heart and find someone to watch over you,’ sings Keese in title track Desire as the album comes to a positive finish. Desire is a competent debut release but more importantly, the band has successfully pieced together a complete album (start to finish), something pretty rare these days. - thescene.com.au
Discography
"Blessed are the Meek" and "Little Possessions" - digital singles scheduled for release: 16th May 2008.
"Desire" - full length album scheduled for release: August 2008.
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Bio
Andrew Keese and the Associates' aptly titled debut LP - Desire - betrays the theme of reaching for something just beyond one’s grasp.
Musically, Desire is an amalgamation of classic British pop/rock leanings; initiated by Pink Floyd, but tempered and given edge by more modern romantics (and cynics) such as Morrissey, Pulp, The Auteurs and The Jam.
Lyrically, Keese looks beyond musical influences, to literary icons such as T.S. Eliot and W.B. Yeats for his lyrical style, imagery and flow.
Further inspiration came from the chance to work with renowned producer, Tony Cohen (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, the Go-Betweens, the Beasts of Bourbon).
Keese cites Australian contemporaries such as Augie March and The Drones, whose articulate, tense and intelligent music resonates within his own writing. Keese leans towards the dark and mysterious, but wraps his unease or unhappiness in layers of intelligent arrangement, sensitive storytelling and thoughtful musicianship.
Think The Auteurs “Now I’m a Cowboy” or Pulp’s infamous “This Is Hardcore” and you may understand the sonic depths and dualities Keese has reached for in Desire.
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