Heart Holiday Murray

21 Apr 2011

I pretty much fell in love with Holiday Murray at first sight and sound, encountering them the first time as support band for The Plastics album launch at The Assembly a good couple of months ago. Combining boyish good looks, quirky yearning lyrics from a time long forgotten, sweet harmonies and a bouncy tightly layered sound, Holiday Murray were definitely on my radar.

So it was with a decent sized amount of anticipation that I attended the very, very cosy and toasty Frieda's on Bree for their media album launch last week. Frieda's was overflowing with trendy young hipster Cape Town creatives and musos, just showing the amount of support this relatively young band has managed to secure in such a short space of time.

Holiday Murray is definitely a live band, tight as can be without losing any charm, they confidently and competently woo their audience. So much was I impressed by their live show that the album sounded a little flat in comparison when first listened to. That immediate charm was somehow lost. But after listening a couple of times, the album can be truly appreciated on other levels without the distraction and influence of young hot male prettiness, winning smiles and a greatly appreciative crowd.

Favourite tracks include Stop Thief!, with its plucky guitar, swelling harmonies and slightly gloomy lyrics hidden in an infectiously catchy and up tempo little number.

Homeless Happy is beautiful, if only for the incredibly mature combination of intricate violin and strong beat.

Copper Wire slows things down a fair bit, with the simple backing track focus moves to James Tuft's mournful and drawn-out vocals.

The first released track, Jirrey, has become a firm fan favourite at live gigs, which is really not surprising at all. Jaunty mandolin, cheeky kazoo and sweet uplifting lyrics could inspire even Eeyore-like characters to get bouncy.

Antagonizer is ridiculously pretty, with its short punchy verses and sweeping chorus: "Nobody escapes me like you do."

The last track, Be a Bird, beautifully brings this haunting 10-track album to a perfect close. (Well almost, there is a purely instrumental hidden track a few minutes after.)

Aptly named Holiday Murray are as sweet as a bunked-off school day on a sunshiny summer morning. Kick off those shoes, loosen that tie and take a little break, a little nostalgic holiday.