Review – Sharyn Bothe “Best
Defences”
independent mini-album
Sharyn Bothe was introduced to us by way
of the Big
Backyard “SxSW 99 sampler”, which
is more of a pity seeing that her independent mini-album “Best Defences” has been around the place since at least February
1997. While based in the Western Victoria town of Horsham,
she has clocked up quite a few Ks between home and Melbourne
where most of the production took place. She also has a definite handle on her
muse, which takes an adult-pop/jazz bent through the seven tracks herein.
As suggested by comments on her contribution
to the BBY CD, Tori
Amos seems to have been a profound effect on Sharyn’s
work with You Are My Strength, (I Never Had Much To) Confess and Life being so Tori
you’d be forgiven for thinking it was. And then there’s the latin/jazz of the
title track and The Child Wife, at
home in the smoky bar-rooms of the hep cats! But wait – there’s more! Andrew
Denny lends a distinct Rex Goh (Roy & HG’s The
New Beatles, Brothers
of Oz) touch to the title and Aborigine,
while the heart-rending They Believed
stopped me in my reviewing tracks with the personal pain expressed so
beautifully and vividly.
Sharyn’s musicianship, vocal
ability and creativity shine through this record to the extent that two
questions have to be raised - where’s the follow-up? And why has this one been
overlooked by those that can bring her to the spotlight she deserves?
Sharyn Bothe “Best Defences” independent mini-album – an excellent collection that deserves more
than it is getting «««««