About Me
Remember those bands they used to call supergroups? A bunch of legendary music figures gathering, pooling their talents and creating something that is certainly of the moment - and hopefully enduring. Coronet Blue's second album "Welcome To The Arms Of Forever" is one such project.
John Rooney, Sydney based former singer of The Lonelyhearts, was working in Canada and decided to make the follow-up to Coronet Blue's 1999 self titled debut album.
Rooney approached his good friend legendary American super producer Mitch Easter to gauge his interest in working together again. BBC Radio 3's Andy Kershaw once described Easter, musician, producer and engineer, as "the coolest man in America". Easter has worked with the big guns: Suzanne Vega, Pavement and probably best known for his early work with R.E.M. (Chronic Town mini-album(1982), Murmur (1983) and Reckoning (1984)).
Easter has also produced power pop legends such as Chris Stamey, Peter Holsapple, The Sneakers, Marshall Crenshaw, the dB's, Kimberley Rew, and more recently, Rooney's great buddies Anthony Bautovitch and Darryl Mather of The Orange Humble Band which also includes Ken Stringfellow.
Through friends, associates and chance, Rooney managed to assemble a rather extraordinary group of musicians for recording sessions at Easter's "Fidelitorium Studios" in North Carolina.
Easter sat in the producer seat and played guitar. Don Dixon - Easter's REM partner in crime - was there to play bass, being joined by former Small Faces/Faces keyboard player and current resident of Austin Texas, Ian McLagan. Playing drums was the internationally admired Simon Kirke who's been the drummer on all the great "Free" and "Bad Company" recordings.
The Gods smiled and all involved remember the sessions as magical with Easter weaving his production wizardry. Eventually "Welcome To The Arms of Forever" was on its way to Sterling Sound in New York City for mastering.
What's it sound like? Think The Zombies. Think Calexico. Think Scott Walker. Think Todd Rundgren. Think Dwight Twilley. Think the Left Banke. Think The Magic Numbers. In essence, "Welcome To The Arms of Forever" combines the classic sounds of 60s pop music (from both sides of the Atlantic) with the influence of contemporary artists who've gone back and realised this extraordinary musical template.
You can have all the textures and luminaries on the planet and still nothing works unless the songs are there. Coronet Blue's songs are about reconnection, class differences, seemingly irrational behaviour, suicide, friendships and much more... And what album would be complete without a couple of driving songs!
"Welcome To The Arms Of Forever" oozes class, textures, insights and intelligence, all wound up amidst some sublime musicianship, songs and vocal performances. If the planets continue to align there's the distinct possibilty that the key members of Coronet Blue will tread the boards upon the album release later in the year for select shows in the UK, Europe, America, Canada and maybe even Australia.
In the meantime, immerse yourself in "Welcome To The Arms Of Forever". It's class and spirit from start finish.
