Reviews

Album Review: Simon Rand’s Self-titled Album

Simon Rand

Simon Rand

Written by Jacqui James

SIMON RAND IS A talented singer/songwriter from Melbourne who’s just released his self-titled album this month and is Toby Rand’s brother (who I had the absolute pleasure to interview last year.)

You wouldn’t believe Simon and Toby are brothers because their styles in music are completely different. I wasn’t compared to be shocked, but it just shows how everyone’s individuality shines through.

Simon’s approach on this album to music is to use synthesized sounds like how Peter Gabriel and Darren Hayes have done over the years. The second track How Does It Feel? mixes different genres to give it a haunting sound.

My Spine is a more rocky track about disliking someone but still loving them, and losing the fight and giving in to contacting them. Halo is a great Aussie rock sound capturing summery images of sun and surf, with a touch of pop.

I like Waiting For You for its simplicity. It has a positive message and it’s just a sweet song! Simon shows how talented he really is by including a version of How Does It Feel? where he sings the entire song in French.

Earlier this year I saw Simon do a set at Toby’s solo Melbourne show and his demo Knock (which he includes on his album) reminds me of how he impressed me. It’s stripped bare with no synthesized sounds; he’s just showing how talented he is as a singer/songwriter!

I hope we get to hear more of Simon in the future. Simon Rand’s CD gets two and a half out of five frangipanis.

 

Jacqui James

I'm an Australian author and music journalist from Melbourne. I've had articles and poetry published in several magazines and newspapers since finishing my Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing in 2001. In 2010 Gigs 'n Interviews was born. I launched it with my first big named interview and that was Vanessa Amorosi and then in 2012 I felt unbelievably privileged to interview Ronan Keating. I'm extremely proud of what Gigs 'n Interviews has become as it's seen as a platform for emerging artists and entertainers to be heard.

Looking forward to writing more children's books, I hope to change the wrong perception of children and adults with disabilities as I was born with Severe Cerebral Palsy (like Christy Brown who wrote My Left Foot). People can view my books at www.jacquijames.net

If you would like to know more about myself, please visit http://www.jacquirogers.com.au/

Thanks for dropping by at Gigs 'n Interviews

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