Babe Rainbow – Changing Colours (Eureka 
Music/AWAL/Flightless Records)
Release Date: Out Now
The weather in the UK has not got
the memo that it is summer and you may be reading this in a place where summer
is a distant hope/memory but if you wrap your ears around this latest album
from Australian collective Babe Rainbow then you’ll feel the sunshine pour out
in to your life. ‘Changing Colours’ opens up with ‘Zeitgeist’ and immediately
you can feel the warm, salty sea breeze bringing in the gentle melody and soft,
Beach Boys-esque vocals. ‘The Wind’ keeps the warm summer evening vibe going
with a cheeky Latin rhythm before ‘Your Imagination’ brings in Jaden for a
super chilled track that is as hazy as it is timeless.
There is a very definite uptick
in energy on ‘Ready for Tomorrow’ as the slide guitars mix with a disco beat
and those dreamy vocals to create a track that exists outside of the world of
mere genres. ‘California’ has a real rootsy Americana feel as the twanging
guitars and shuffling rhythm make you feel like you’re on a wagon trail
crossing the Rockies. ‘Rainbow Rock’, by contrast, has a real late 60s vibe
with warped vocals, dirty guitars and the kind of full, warm drum sound that
you just need to hear on vinyl if you respect your ears at all. We’re only at
the halfway point here but I’m sure you can agree that we’re dealing with a
special collection of songs here. Not convinced? Well let’s keep listening.
‘New Zealand Spinach’ kicks of
the B-side with a little country, a little rock’n’roll and a whole lot of heart
before ‘Thinking Like a River’ melts into your ears like butter on hot toast,
filling every gap with warm, sweet goodness. There’s a sweet, intimate innocence
to ‘Curl Free’ as the gentle strum puts you in mind of the Kinks or the Small
Faces in their more laidback moments while ‘Smile’ brings back that hazy, lazy
summer energy with meandering guitar melodies layered up and topped off with
those gorgeous, sunshine infused vocals. The rattling piano melody of title
track ‘Changing Colours’ feels like something of a Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid reboot but the chugging guitars of ‘Different Stages of Life’ bring
back that Kinks vibe for one more retro inspired slow dance.
I’ve listened to this album a few
times now and hear different influences each time but the main sense I get is
that this is a band living in a state of creative purity and bliss who are
focusing on the songs and the vibe rather than trying to fit in with any genre,
scene or style. That’s probably why I like this record so much – it is a
timeless piece of art and that is a rare thing these days.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/thebaberainbow