OCEANIC SESSIONS by Leah Flanagan
Recorded over three years (2013-2015) at Midnight Oil legend Jim Moginie’s Oceanic Studios in the Northern Beaches of Sydney, the album reflects the mentoring collaboration between Moginie and Flanagan.
“Before I recorded my last album Saudades, I spent some time in the studio with Jim working on a bunch of songs that I had written but wasn’t quite sure what to do with. It was a wonderful learning process for me as I’ve never spent a great deal of time in the recording studio. Jim gave the confidence to trust in my own ideas and the time to experiment with sounds and instruments I hadn’t used previously in a live or recording environment. I’m proud of these songs and our little collaboration”. Said Flanagan.
OCEANIC SESSIONS captures the many shades of reflection and refraction of human interactions. You’re captivated by Flanagan’s enduring vocal deliver from the opening song: a yearning rendition of Don Walker’s ‘Girl With The Bluebird’. The album shifts between sweet echoes of ‘Minor Birds’ to nostalgic, smoldering blues of ‘Bay of Broken Dreams’. Tracks ‘Waiting on the Good Man’ and ‘Chloe in the Window Box’ are inspired by the poetry of Sam Wagan Watson, which Flanagan originally wrote for ‘Midnight Muses: It Begins to Tell’ performed at Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Sydney Festival. Other highlights on OCEANIC SESSIONS includes ‘You Belong to Me’ performed in duet with fellow Darwin artist Ursula Yovich, the heart achingly raw ‘Bring Her Home’, the original demo of ‘Tell You’ from Flanagan’s second album SAUDADES and ‘Silver Linings’ a crooning, day-dreaming love song about the beauty of contrast.
The third release from Flanagan is the perfect match for a nostalgia filled evening for those who love the crooners and those who appreciate sophisticated music sensibilities and a timeless voice.
Tracklist
| 1. | Girl With The Bluebird Tattoo | 3:07 |
| 2. | Minor Birds | 4:05 |
| 3. | Waiting On The Good Man | 3:28 |
| 4. | You Belong To Me featuring Ursula Yovich | 3:27 |
| 5. | Bring Her Home | 2:58 |
| 6. | Chloe In The Window Box | 3:55 |
| 7. | Silver Linings | 3:18 |
| 8. | Bay Of Broken Dreams | 3:37 |
| 9. | Tell You (Oceanic Version) | 2:46 |
Credits
Oceanic Sessions by Leah Flanagan
Produced by Jim Moginie and Leah Flanagan
Engineered by Jim Moginie at Oceanic Studios, Sydney, NSW
Mixed by Richard Belkner at Free Energy Device Studios, Sydney, NSW
All songs written by Leah Flanagan except “Girl With The Bluebird” by Don Walker and “You Belong To Me” by Jo Stafford & Gordon McRae.
“Waiting on the Good Man” and “Chloe in the Window Box” are inspired by the poems of the same name by Samuel Wagan - Watson from his book Smoke Encrypted Whispers.
Photography by Tessa Bonney.
Musicians:
Leah Flanagan - Vocals, electric + acoustic guitars
Jim Moginie - electric guitars, keys + synths
Tom Jones - Double Bass
Dylan Hartas - Electric Guitars
Matt Earl - Drums
Niall Anderson - Keys, Synths and prepared piano
Ursula Yovich - special guest vocals
License
All rights reserved.Recommendations
A life lived in the laid-back tropical climes of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia, Leah brings a refreshing and unique authenticity to her work, with a voice that resonates like sweet moments of peace amidst the chaos of a crowded room.