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If the musical career of Tobias Cummings was a novel the story to date would be easing its way through the first chapter. He's spent some time playing around Melbourne solo and with his band (long-time friends Brendan Halliday and Will Mahon on guitar and bass as well as Adelaideian Jeremy Kirk on drums). He's had successes with radio, competitions and compilations and now, with the release of his debut EP, You Incomplete Me, comes the first major plot-point. It's where the real story begins.
Tobias has always been inclined toward simplicity and when its coupled with an almost obsessive interest in song-writing as an art-form the results are complex songs cloaked in a subtle and gentle ease. It's a unique and compelling sound that draws the listener back again and again. There's no fist-in-the-air, anthem shouting here but neither are there any shoe-gazing, tortured young man mumblings.
If you were clutching for contemporary comparisons, artists such as Will Oldham or Wilco's Jeff Tweedy might fit the bill but to the golden ears at In-Fidelity the music would not be completely out of place on a 60s Transatlantic compilation album alongside the (largely unheralded) sounds of artists such Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and Richard Thompson.
The five song EP, You Incomplete Me, was recorded at Atlantis Recordings with David McLuney (Mick Harvey, Spencer P. Jones) and Tobias sharing the production duties. The recordings took place over a month or two at the Melbourne studio and not too long after its completion found its way onto In-Fidelity's Bruce Milne's desk. Whilst the label might normally be associated with quite a different sound, the quality and maturity of Tobias' recording was impossible to ignore. It had to be embraced. The warmth of his voice and music wash over you from the outset of You Incomplete Me.
The second chapter is about to begin and In-Fidelity is proud to play a part in presenting the first release from Tobias Cummings.
-B.M. Tobias Cummings Website:
http://www.tobiascummings.com |
