Review – Cradlemint “Blend”

Independent album

Mark Stuart Crocker and Cradlemint came to my attention in 1996 through their self-titled debut album and to be honest I can’t remember much about it at the time of writing – I am sure (or hoping, really) someone somewhere will fill me in! But time has moved on and four years later I have in my hand now their third outing “Blend” which is an excellent meld (trying hard to avoid the title to describe the product!) of all things in today’s musical market.

Cradlemint is Melbourne-based; the vehicle for Mr Crocker with input from keysman Richard Riccio and other contributors. The muse for this record came from all over the place – you have your serious music (8 Million Ways – the up-beat opener about the down-sides of life: like an ‘answer’ to Shivers; and Fish), a meld of They Might Be Giants and Frenzal Rhomb punk/humour (Toadstool, Geronimo, Purple Patch), even the influences of Sydney’s Teddy Sexuals (Koala Bear) and Urban Guerillas (Patterson’s Curse, Daughter…, Big Star, Porcupine).

It’s a great collection which should earn them a lot more and better-quality airplay than the 1996 outing, if not recording interest, with no corners cut in any aspect of this release (the cheesy synth-drums were part of the overall feel of Daughter… and very fitting!) Cradlemint “Blend” independent album – for those whose taste is not limited to one genre «««««

PG (Jacky) Gleeson