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Bubblehead Zine
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
I hadn't seen Tracy Read play since the Cosy Club many moons ago. I remember her songwriting skills and her pleasant but unengaging harmonies that never really hooked me in. But tonight's set, with occassional accompianment by another accoustic guitarist, was all a different story. She prepared the mood with a few serenely strummed, winsomely vocalised songs that had enough piquancy to them to prevent them becoming fairy floss.
Her third song about Buster Keaton was a ripper, that had my fringe flopping and my head bopping from side to side like it was 1994 again. With lines such as 'I'm in love with Buster Keaton, shame he's dead cos I'd like to meet him' brought a smile to many faces in the sparse crowd. Two songs later she was 'taking pills for the pain. listening to country again' that had me chuckly for its simple amiabale truths, something she reflected upon in other song and how 'simple words sound better'.
The sixth song in was just her on vocals, her bruised heart on show, the edge to her voice revealed as it searched for deeper articulation. A new song followed, that began with lingering, waltzing guitars, leading into something more foot tapping and dynamic. As with a few of her songs I was waiting for strings or something extra to rise up in order to eek out just a little more marrow from her words, or maybe just to drown out the constant chatter from the crowd. They finished with a cover which was on the tip of my beer soaked tongue, but i just couldn't place it, but it was sweet enough and a pleasant way to end an awesome set. (Brian)
Oz Music Project
Rosemount Hotel, Perth - Thursday, 11 March 2004
Talented singer songwriter Tracy Read opened the night with her sweetly serene vocals, teamed with lyrics that are both witty and relevant to the veritable pains of life and love. Throwing in an unexpected yet warmly welcomed tongue in cheek song, about 1920's American movie star Buster Keaton. Enabled Tracy's personality to shine through, which in turn made her music all the more joyous to experience. Whether it is through her lyrics or her relaxed stance on stage, either way Tracy Read's music should be embraced. (Kirra Wallace)
Bubblehead Zine
Ozone Bar Friday, 19th December, 1997
..........she was 20 something. Wide eyed. A little nervous in front of the 100 or so people crammed into the smoky little room gorking at her. She played a set of songs you could love tenderly. She stood there in a dark blue Bonds t-shirt with her acoustic guitar which looked too big for her, and she sang these songs that came straight out of her heart (as good folk music always is), and we (the crowd) applauded appreciatively and she smiled bashfully and after about half an hour she was done. (Shane Starling)
Everything is Real(Chapter)
On her self-titled debut album, the songs of Tracey Read glittered like diamonds in the rough, her sweet-of-heart sweetheart's odes buried amidst a mist equal parts room-tone, tape-hiss, nervousness, and diffidence. On only her second longplayer, though, such in-the-bedroom on-the-four-track efforts seem like some kind of archaeological artistic baby-steps, as Everything Is Real finds a set of much assurance and, notably, a recording of top tone.
Coupled with this, Read, too, has graduated from the hum-and-strum school of songwriting, her guitar, now, all dewy and glowing and golden, her reedy, breathy voice now pushed proudly forward with a storyteller's intent. As a result, instead of having to excavate songs from so much silt, this time around Read's tunes are, themselves, enveloping; washing over the listener, as opposed to getting lost in the wash.
From the sugary Sunday-sunshine of the pretty-and-poppy title-track, to All The Wrong Shoes --in which Read sings sans accompaniment, with the only help her coy singing gets coming from the slightest of reverb-- it's a soft, winsome, head-on-the-pillow kind of outing; with the second Marine Girls record seeming a sizeable spark of inspiration; and the whole giving off qualities that are as daggy as: nice, darling, humble, self-conscious, gracious, pleasant.
Buster Keaton 7" (Chapter)
Australian songwriter Tracey's songs have a gorgeous bittersweet and honest appeal - introspective home-recorded bedroom pop
Everything is Real(Chapter)
Talented songstress Tracey is ably aided and abetted on this, her excellent debut album, by Mia Schoen (of Sleepy Township, Huon) and if her lopsided songwriting appeals to you, then this, although stripped to the bare bones of the song (and Tracey's lovely vocals), will too. Wonderful stuff.
Everything is Real(Chapter)
"Everything is Real" is the debut album from Perth solo artist Tracey Read, and fans of mid 90's Sydney indie pop won't be disappointed. Taking the nice pop sounds of The Raincoats, Smudge and Seventeen, Read works with a tempered formula of cute girly vocals with a sparingly dosed lo-fi instrumentation.
Along with friends Guy Blackman and Mia Schoen from Sleepy Township, the album clocks off in sub-par three minute tracks totalling to a very condensed 24 minutes. But as with all things quantity isn't everything. Ranging from the lovely 90's indie pop "Everything is Real", to the more spaced out Dearhunters styled "Summer Night", there's just something endearing about Read's style. This somewhat contrasts to similar vocal styles with bands like New Buffalo: which have opted for more textured and electronically infused sounds.
This brand of straightforward pop is something that has dissappeared off the musical radar over the last couple of years. A bit of a flashback to the glory days of inner-city Sydney indie pop, 'Everything is Real' will instantly appeal to those who still believe Australian music attained perfection in 1996. If you aren't in this catagory, well hey, it's still a damn fine pop album. (Jasper Lee)
Classic, mellow indie ditties from Perth soloist Tracey Read. This ain't your run of the mill singer/songwriter stuff, it's good. (Pheona Donohue)
Tone Vendor
Everything is Real (Chapter)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! Chapter Music's 1998 7" by Perth-based Tracey Read was a cult favourite around the world, but things have been very quiet for Tracey since then. This is her first record since that single. It is made up of eight tracks of beautiful gentle music, played very sparsely on acoustic guitar, drums, bass and keyboards, leaving plenty of room for the lyrics to shine through. Tracey has a real flair for simple and affecting songwriting. She also has a beautiful voice, warm and human and full of feeling. Everything Is Real was recorded in Melbourne with able backing from Mia Schoen and Guy Blackman of Sleepy Township (who also played on the 1998 single), plus Andrew Houston and Matt Rudas, members of Perth band the Tucker B's. In Perth Tracey plays her songs with a band called Those Tiny Lights, which includes Andrew and Matt. An eastern states tour is planned for mid 2002. Tracey's unpretentious and emotional songs are immediately memorable, and her unique style makes for a wonderful listening experience.
Everything Is Real (Chapter)
This is the first record since her debut 7" on Chapter almost 4 years ago for Perth-based Tracey. It is made up of eight tracks of beautiful gentle music, played very sparsely on acoustic guitar, drums, bass and keyboards. She has a real flair for simple and affecting songwriting, and also has a beautiful voice, warm and human and full of feeling. Recorded in Melbourne with Mia & Guy of Sleepy Township (who also played on the 1998 single), plus Andrew & Matt of Perth band the Tucker B's. Tracey's unpretentious and emotional songs are immediately memorable, bringing to mind American pop chanteusses Mirah and April March.
Buster Keaton 7"(Chapter)
A resident of Perth, Western Australia, Tracey Read plays simple and sparse songs with incredible amounts of insight, humour and optimism. Maybe you might hear echoes of early Tracey Thorn/Marine Girls in her songs, which in this case are played with Guy and Mia Sleepy as her backing band.
(Leigh tran)
Everything is Real (Chapter)
Gentle, stripped-down songs that pulse with a quiet cynicism belied by Read's sugary coo. For early mornings and aftermaths.
Everything is Real (Chapter)
Gentle Go-Betweens indie-pop styley CD… clean guitars, up-beat and bouncy… in a word: nice….
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