Our latest reviews
Now Showing by Ron Elliott
Now Showing is quick, punchy and pulls you from page to page like a series of explosions. That is, it takes you to the movies. Ron Elliott’s second book comprises of five long short stories – novellas, really – that…
Out of Shape by Mel Campbell
Mel Campbell has a brilliant eye for popular culture, as anyone who’s followed her blog, A Wild Young Under-Whimsy, or her other writing will know. Her first book, Out of Shape, tackles the fashion industry on the issues…
Wildlife by Fiona Wood
It’s the term of all terms for the year tens at Crowthorne Grammar as they embark on their school’s annual outdoor education camp, tucked away in the Victorian bush. As if it’s not enough to be surrounded by your classmates…
Bach: Cello Suites, Wispelwey
Creating arecording like this is the workof a lifetime and I love thatPieter Wispelwey hasincluded a DVD where hetalks about the scholarly ideas associated withthe project. It doesn’t matter if you already havea recording of Bach’s Cello Suites, or indeed…
Stars of Opera Australia DVD
What do you do when you’ve been on a DVD making spree? Somewhat like Opera Australia has been doing in recent years… Why make a ‘best of’ of course! This is great way to experience opera in bite sized chunks…
Grainger, Works for Large Chorus & Orchestra
I am glad that Percy Grainger music has been coming back into vogue recently. His music is always a really inventive blend of contemporary 20th century musical ideas with those rooted in the Bach and Beethoven tradition. This album, with…
Spheres, Daniel Hope
I have to confess I got very excited when I saw the selection of composers on this new album of Daniel Hope’s. I mean, how do you create a line of musical ideas from Einaudi, Faure, Prokofiev, Jenkins and beyond…
Modern Vampires Of The City by Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend are known for their infectious, staccato rock and this album takes some risks. It’s liberally sprinkled with production effects and is musically diverse from start to finish. But all it pays off, saturating you with energetic guitar and…
Wildlife by Zucchini-Clan
What happens if you put three like-minded musicians with a zany knack of dressing together?
Why, you get the Zucchini-Clan - a wonderful musical troupe with a message to share with both young and old audiences.
Fresh from the Adelaide…
Stravinsky: Rite of Spring, Rattle
When IgorStravinsky’s The Rite ofSpring (Le Sacre duprintemps) premiered inParis in 1913, a near riotensured. Eventually it would be recognised asone of the most influential musical works ofthe twentieth century. Simon Rattle, who haslong championed the music of Stravinsky,delivers a…
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