Goodnight My Darling - Album Review: Goodnight My Darling
If it hadn’t been
for an unfortunate clash with an event I had to attend, I would have been at
Whammy a few weeks back to hear Goodnight My Darling, (Maxine Macaulay), and now
I have listened to her debut album I so wish I had been able to make it. Still,
at least this is now available so those of us who were unable to make it to the
tour (last two dates this coming weekend in Wellington and Kapiti) can enjoy
this relaxed pleasant romp through different elements of soft pop rock, singer
songwriter and shoegaze. This is not a solo release, rather it is a full band,
but I must confess to not knowing who was involved and whether it is the same group
of musicians throughout, as she says, ““It represents a collective experience,
with the pandemic being at the forefront of my mind, but deeper than that, a
snapshot of time and space. This relates directly to the themes in the songs
but also applies to the making of the album. For this project I really reached
out collaboratively, more than I have ever done artistically, and this has
elevated my work.”
What I can say is that she has a wonderfully clear vocal style, which is never forced yet somehow is always at the very centre of everything, so even if the band are playing in a more abrasive and rockier style (such as on Let Me Sit Awhile) she appears to be somewhat removed, the calm before the storm, the eye of the hurricane. The songs all contain different flavours, although they are centered around indie rock and pop with large elements of shoegaze, but that covers a multitude of styles and the result is a very broad album indeed. We can have picked acoustic guitar and the feeling of psychedelia (He Died In May) or something which is dramatic containing country style lap steel (The Carriage), yet whatever genre she is playing is the one which seems to be the one she should be spending more time in as it sounds so natural. Maxine is at home with whatever she is doing, and surely it cannot be too long before she is picked up by a label, as this is a fresh sounding release with loads of promise and Goodnight My Darling is an artist I am going to keep an eye on.
Ed's Note: At the time of writing, Goodnight My Darling has 5 more shows to go on her tour, more info here. The Goodnight My Darling Album is a solo release in that it is all Maxine’s own music - but she is
accompanied by her band - which includes Ingrid Saker
(lead guitar), Kim Andrews (drums), Connor Taumoepeau (synths) & Mitch Kirk
(bass). With the
exception of the drums being recorded at The Surgery in Wellington, the album was recorded & mixed by Toby Lloyd at Tiny Triumph Recordings, then mastered by Robin Schmidt @ 24-96 Mastering in Berlin.
About Goodnight My Darling
With elements of shoegaze, folk and dreamy melody, Macaulay says her ever evolving vibe is a poetic expression of her life and the places around her. Her songs take you on a cinematic journey, while her ethereal vocals lull you into a quiet sense of peace and appreciation.
Goodnight My Darling started as an electronic project when Macaulay released her EP of self produced songs Levitate. She then joined forces with a band to create and release her latest nine-track self-titled album, with a mix of soul-stirring tunes including ode to love, loss and rebirth The Carriage, Until I Return and the story of a relationship’s end in The Trees Have Eyes.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Goodnight My Darling
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