It’s a hard knock life for our local songstresses, especially those just entering the fold.
How does one go about whetting the appetite of an audience who’s had their fill from the likes of Clare Bowditch, Lanie Lane, Megan Washington et al?
Unfortunately the debut effort from Venus Fire – the brainchild of the multi-talented Hayley Clare – does little to tempt another serving.
Helmed by Tom Spender (Kimbra) and Steve Schram (Clairy Browne), The Sound conjures thoughts of our best female vocalists but doesn’t posses the delivery to lend itself comparable.
Opener ‘Ooh La La’ sums up the shortcomings. Though possessing a swooning electro groove, the track is cruelled by a grating vocal hook. The funky ‘Did You Lie’ trips into a similar trend with a fine build-up before a cringe-worthy chorus detour.
The common factor is these tracks – like the entire EP – hint at genuine promise. Clare possesses a mighty range and her talents are unveiled when she loosens her grip of the reins. Take the one-two of ‘The Sound’ and ‘Cigarette’.
Both are suitably understated, enabling her adaptable vocals and Spender’s bouncy production to connect the dots.
Neither feels forced, unlike closer ‘Self Portrait’, which dreams in introversion and appears to float from a different album entirely.
Though underwhelming, The Sound tantalises with occasional potential. On this proviso, let’s hope a follow-up crystallises Clare’s direction and rewards the songwriter with the success her breadth of talent deserves.
