Half Awake

Sarah Blasko-As Day Follows Night (LP Review)

There is a reason that this blog occupies this domain here at progress.tumblr that goes well beyond my ingenuity on the inter-web or my appreciation for the songs of David Bazan. That reason being, that if there is one thing i crave to find throughout an artists recorded output it is progress. Their desire to continually reinterpret and represent themselves throughout their recorded body of work. That is not to say that i do not laud and enjoy bands who remain in a particularly sound or niche throughout their career. I do however feel that this element of progress is one of the key markers that separates good musicians and good bands from the great ones.

Sarah Blasko is one such artist in whom this element of progress is evident throughout her recorded body of work. Thus far Ms. Blasko has released three full length albums, in July of this year she released As Day Follows Night, following on from 2006’s What The Sea Wants The Sea Will Have and her debut 2004 release The Overture And The Underscore. Each album is of course greatly informed by its predecessor and with Blasko remaining the chief songwriter and sole voice throughout each record there is a natural familiarity with each release. Progress within the work of Sarah Blasko shows itself in both the style of the music that she creates and the themes addressed within the songs. The Overture And The Underscore was recorded in Los Angeles, USA with Wally Gagel the record is underpinned by Blasko’s characteristic melodies and has an encompassing pop sensibility too it. What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have saw Blasko in Auckland, NZ. The record is heavy and while still a pop record with bright moments, beyond the radio-release singles is generally a much darker record. The record is a picture of internal struggle, as it heaves and yearns with a subtle aggressive pain that sits tightly alongside uplifting beauty. What The Sea Wants The Sea Will Have won the ARIA Award in 2007 for “Best Pop Release” and it is easy to see why, it is a cohesive work, equal parts beauty and pain. What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have is perhaps on of my favorite records of the last 5 years and so As Day Follows Night had a lot too live up too in my estimation.

It would be fair to observe that location plays a significant role in the way in which the music of Sarah Blasko is shaped. The first consideration of the impact of location on As Day Follows Night is the manner in which the songs were composed. Much of the album was written on piano. What is more, the songs were primarily written during bussiness hours on a piano inside the offices occupied by her record label Dew Process. It is perhaps not too much of a stretch to suggest that this mode of writing affects the style and tone of the songs themselves and as such affects the record at its base level as it has brought a much brighter approach to the songwriting. This is certainly not a negative attribute for although As Day Follows Night may often seem bright in tone this is coupled with the recurring themes within Blasko’s work of love, loss and life.

The second consideration on place within the music of Sarah Blasko pertains to the actual location in which the album is recorded. Los Angeles yielded attractive pop and Auckland brought out the dank and dark elements of the music. As Day Follows Night was recorded in Stockholm, Sweden with Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn and John. This unfamiliar location, the use of local musicians on the record combined with Blasko’s entering the studio for the first time without frequent collaborator Robert F. Cranny has served to create an album with a pop sound that is naturally familiar but at the same time a firm step into new territory.

One of the most immediately striking features is how sparse the album is, how much space Blasko and Yttling have created. Many of the songs on the record revolve around just a few instruments, often the combination of simple kit drumming and double bass. With this as simple base one gets the feeling as though throughout the entire record that Blasko’s voice is beautifully freed.. The vocal melodies floats above the instruments and truly shine throughout the entire length of the album. When the other instruments do come into play they thrive on the space that has been created, everything seems considered, everything is purposeful and everything is complementary. This record functions beautifully, at points dashing, at points relaxed, As Day Follows Night is a pristine slice of pop and Sarah Blasko only goes from strength to strength.

8.9/10

Download: Sarah Blasko @ Like A Version

I highly recommend buying the special edition, which comes with a bonus EP entitled Cinema Blasko which has Ms Blasko covering her favorite show tunes. For an introduction to Sarah Blasko, download the Triple J Like A Version Performance above.

Buy: As Day Follows Night on iTunes