KATE MILLER-HEIDKE, END OF FASHION, MADELEINE PAIGE
The Hi-Fi: 02.05.09
Madeleine Paige only continues her gradual rise to national acclaim with this evening’s polished and professional support slot. The Brisbane songstress has a charming and confident stage presence and her songs are spectacularly well-written – ‘It’s Over (And Over Again)’ being a particularly gorgeous lament. The support and backing vocals of fellow singer-songwriter Chloe Turner, meanwhile, elevate Paige’s performance to truly world class standard with lush harmonies and effective instrumentation. Turner’s own impressive material even weaves itself gracefully into the set. One is even forced to question why only Paige’s name appears on the bill.
TIME OFF
MADELEINE PAIGE – The Voice Behind The Noise
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Flawless second EP from bell-voiced local songstress
Brisbane’s Madeleine Paige may have initially struck artistic gold on her debut offering Angels In The Architecture, but on her sophomore EP The Voice Behind The Noise, she doubles that feat. Nurtured during her ‘escape-from-the-city’ stays in Mullumbimby, NSW and co-produced by Matt Redlich (Hungry Kids Of Hungary, Edward Guglielmino), the five songs here chime, sigh and take the listener into different places – in different ways. Kicking off with the sprightly piano-pop of Ditty, Madeleine reverts to a slower tempo for the languid My Love Looks and wistful highlight It’s Over (And Over Again), Chloe Turner’s angelic harmonies and Dane Pollock’s crying guitar solo going straight for the heart strings. It’s hardly a coincidence, then, that the following melancholic number is called Hearts In Arrest, such is the established intimacy level. Fellow local luminary Tara Simmons provides the subtlest cello arrangements throughout and there’s an Andean touch to the concluding Along Came A Spider, its charango strums and loping, stop-start pattern as curiously affecting as its nursery-rhyme lyrics. Barely 18 minutes long, The Voice Behind The Noise is both a compelling addition to the home-grown songwriting canon and a CD you’ll want to spin over and over again – just like that old Frente record.
DENIS SEMCHENKO
Rave Magazine
Turn off your phone and get out of town
Away from the chaos and deafening sound
And when all is peaceful and darkness falls
You’ll hear The Voice Behind The Noise
This is the concept behind Madeleine Paige’s stunning sophomore EP “The Voice Behind The Noise”. In October last year, on a friend’s recommendation, Madeleine left behind the daily grind and spent some time alone in a cabin in the wilderness and her creativity flourished. Through these visits to the idyllic Mullumbimby countryside, the songs on this glorious EP were born.
Uninspired by the sterile nature of traditional recording studios, Madeleine gathered her very talented friends and headed into the comfortable home studio of Matt Redlich (Hungry Kids Of Hungary). The EP was recorded over a weekend, with everyone playing live together, without any click track or headphones, to capture the energy that you feel when great musicians get in a room and jam it out. Everything on the EP, from musicians to production to art and photography, is done by Madeleine’s friends. This not only fosters a special artistic community in Brisbane, but also ensures that everyone understands her and what she’s trying to achieve.
The Voice Behind The Noise is an artistic coming of age for Madeleine. The pretty simplicity of her debut EP “Angels In The Architecture” was a fine introduction and critically acclaimed (single of the week in various street press, and national airplay on Triple J, ABC and community radio); but there’s a certain diversity, complexity and depth of meaning in this latest work.
Together with her fellow chanteuse Chloe Turner, Madeleine has picked up some impressive shows, including supports with End Of Fashion & Kate Miller-Heidke, and a well-received East Coast tour. Her live show is impressive, with audiences instantly captivated by Madeleine & Chloe's golden voices and mix of playful indie pop and divine lullabies.
The Voice Behind The Noise will be released through MGM in May ‘09 in will be available in all retailers, with the iTunes version having a special bonus ambient remix by acclaimed Sydney artist Daniel R Muller.
BUY MADELEINE'S NEW EP "THE VOICE BEHIND THE NOISE" HERE:
BUY MADELEINE'S DEBUT EP "ANGELS IN THE ARCHITECTURE" HERE:
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