Review: Andrew Keese and the Associates "Desire"

"Desire", produced by renowned Australian engineer Tony Cohen (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), is the ambitious new CD by Melbourne's own Andrew Keese & the Associates. You can tell from the handsome packaging of the CD and impressive layout of their web site that these guys are perfectionists and scrutinize things down to the last detail.

The strong suit of this band is Andrew's lyrics. He spins yarns like a seamstress on speed, and each of his songs tells a story. Some of the stories are more like a saga, so several of the tunes spill into 5-6 minute territory. The songs are generally slow but richly textured, definitely begging to be listened through headphones while you are reclined in front of a few candles. In many respects, "Desire" reminds me of the kind of music done by another band we recently reviewed called Only Makebelieve.

If you are looking for quick catchy hooks, riffy guitars, or sing-a-long anthems, you need to look somewhere else. Unfortunately, those are the types of tunes that strike my fancy, so I am having difficulty digesting most of the tracks on "Desire". There is a strong Morrissey quality to Andrew's voice that complements this style of music rather well. The production and engineering wizardry on the record are remarkable - it is a sonic treat. In the end, I feel "Desire" is best reserved for listeners who enjoy intelligent lyrics drenched in sober and slow music.

A couple of tracks are more immediately accessible are should have broader appeal. "Little Possessions" is a very enjoyable, reflective piece and the upbeat "Transmission" is a worthy soaring rocker. After a long stretch of ballads, the CD comes back to life with the rich and rocking title track.

If you are a fan of artists like Morrissey, Nick Cave, or Tears for Fears, do check out Andrew Keese & the Associates. You've got nothing to lose, as the band is generously offering "Desire" for free in its entirety as a download here.

iPOD-worthy: 2, 3, 5, 11

Andrew Keese & the Associates on MySpace. Official site.