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December 2002 | |
Interview: Trade Secrets Industrial: It’s About Overtime, Stupid Unions: Full Steam Ahead Bad Boss: The BBQ Battle Axe Economics: Different Dimensions of Debt History: Raking the Coals History Special: Wherever the Necessity Exists History Special: Learning from the Past History Special: A 'Cosy Relationship' Politics: Regime Change for Saddam International: World War Corporate: Industrious Thinking Review: Jack High Culture: Duffy’s Song Satire: A Nation of Sooks Poetry: Mr Flexibility
The Soapbox Awards The Locker Room Bosswatch Month In Review
Lessons from History
And On the Seventh Day – Satan Joins Union Casuals Written Out of the Script ACTU Examines The Cap Option On Hours No Sweetener for Diabetic Workers Pressure Goes on Apartheid Employers ASIC Turns Blind Eye on Dodgy Boss Family Test Case a Priority Campaign Brutal Bashing Sparks Prison Strike Minister Challenged by Cleaners Uni Backs Down On Regional Review
State Based Organising Gino on the Gong
Labor Council of NSW |
Culture Duffy’s SongBy Zangers
************* We're talking 13 tracks of localised anguish, pursuit and introspective commentary in one CD, 'Issues'. Opening with the driving road track "It hurts", Sundial's debut album is a collection of tracks that don't hurt, don't offend and are easy to listen to. Featuring fully fledged flanged guitars, this album opener is a track that when played live illustrates how tight Duffy's song writing and playing can get. Some standout tracks on the album include "Something going on", "I will fall" and "Room with a view." Hooky chord progressions, chorus lines and strong lyrics are a feature of these songs, and it's the lush string arrangement on "Room with a view" that is one of the standout moments on the album. An interesting inclusion is the track named after the band. Part southern delta blues, part folk, it's a twanging acoustic guitar tune complete with whistling, slide guitar and violin. Having spent time working at the Labor Council of NSW, chief policy adviser to the NSW Treasurer and in recent times offering economic advice as a consultant; Mark Duffy has been a busy man in NSW political circles. Where he has been hiding his penchant for song writing, I don't know. Perhaps the Premier Bob Carr may one day write a critique of Mark's first major attempt as a leader of an up and coming group! After all, it was a young Mark Duffy and Michael Costa who, as junior officials of the Labor Council launched a stinging critique of the newly appointed leader of the NSW opposition in 1989, belittling his chances of electoral success. Maybe then the score will be one day settled! As he told ABC radio in a recent interview, Mark Duffy spent time in a ska band back in his hometown of Adelaide. So his interest in music is not new. Duffy has also written songs for local singer Shanley and the award winning Wendy Matthews. Co-produced by Michael Szumowski, Daniel Denholm and Louise Taylor, "Issues" has the right level of production unlike many new bands that try to go over the top. Enlisting the support of gun producer Daniel Denholm was a masterstroke for Duffy. Having worked with artists such as The Whitlams, Mark Seymour and Midnight Oil (to name a few), Aria nominee Denholm adds a strong influence to the album's final sound. 'Issues' doesn't really cover any new musical territory but if you don't mind the sound of the Whitlams, Karma County or the Cruel Sea, then this probably right up your alley. Overall, what you have is an album that is slickly produced, songs that are well structured and melodies that stick in your head. A pretty good effort first up.
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