Review – Heaven Scent “2001 demo” CD
Heaven Scent is a five-piece
outfit established in Melbourne several years ago. The local punters have the
power to change 2-week residencies into 3-month spots for these guys so maybe
they’re doing something right on the live music front. In the studio, though,
the follow-up to Am I
Crazy? may be a little further away than first thought.
These four songs are the result of three
months’ ‘furious demoing’ in the wake of the success of Am I
Crazy? last year, and follows more in the footsteps of the second track
from that single, No Need To Cry. We still have the late-80s/early 90s
influence of the Starsearch winners from Tasmania. There’s also a
somewhat Noiseworksesque sound in Hide My Head and Betterway
which, in retrospect, could also be said of Am I
Crazy? This is combined with some Simple Minds Waterfront-styled vocals
from Mr Murphy in Wannabe and Hide My Head. The
schmaltz continues, also, in Hide My Head and Nothings Gonna Change;
although the rock factor saves the former I had had enough by the time the
latter came on.
Betterway was met with the cry
“Aha! Success!” with the view to a follow-up of Am I
Crazy? The “Do you think I’m crazy” lyric, however, may suggest they’ve
run out of ideas 
already. The Noiseworks connection persists but there is a
chunky but under-featured bass-line carrying the tune and some
definitely-90s/00s keyboard and effects work that bring the song to the now. I
look forward to hearing that on The Ms Homegrown show shortly!
WhileHeaven Scent seemed to have things working well for them on Am I Crazy?, the ‘successful “debut” will be difficult to emulate’ comments may have to stick on the basis of these demos. Please prove me wrong, guys!