Project Description

MOREDIDGE BROTHERS

Royal Tea

(Album Review)

28/02/18

Review by Chelsea Wood

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If you take traditional Blues, add three Aussies, an Italian and a Didgeridoo, you get MoreDidge Brothers. Sounds like the opening to a joke, I know, but their debut album Royal Tea, well and truly cements the quartet as serious artists on the Aussie Blues scene. Hailing from Western Australia, these guys have made their name and built their ever-growing fan base through their high energy national pub/festival shows and their unmistakable sound. Their unique blend of Blues, Drums, Dance, and ‘Didge,’ have made their sound distinctive in a festival environment. Their debut EP, Let’s Dance, saw the band reach the top five in the Regional AMRAP Charts, for a total of five weeks, spending two these in the number one spot.

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2018 so far has proven to be the start of a big year for MoreDidge Brothers, kicking off with the release of their 10-track debut album, Royal Tea. With the help of producer, Matt Gio (San Cisco, Birds of Tokyo and Gyroscope, just to name a few!) the band have expanded their sound, leading the band to push the genre boundaries between Blues, Country, Rock, and even Reggae, also highlighting each member’s talent and passion. This sonic experimentation also comes because of the (now quartet’s) new line up, with the band recently welcoming Bass player, Nate Lansdell, who is primarily known for his work with Empty Pocket. Identity wise, MoreDidge Brothers have welcomed 2018 with a name change from Moordijt to MoreDidge, as both a mark of respect to the Noongar people and their culture, and as a subtle nod to the emphasis of the band’s music.

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Royal Tea opens with the relaxing summery track, Down by the Beach, that combines a folk-rock feel with the beautiful sounds of the Didgeridoo serving as an undertone. Meanwhile, Alright, Alright, Alright’s relaxed beat brings in the Reggae genre. This genre also sees Giving It Away as one of the most recognisable tracks on the album, combining elements from Blues, Roots, Rock and Reggae together, creating a track ready for festival crowds. Varro’s husky vocals and fast paced guitar riffs in My Queen, show the band’s diversity when embracing elements of the rock genre. The two instrumental tracks on the album, Fast Slow and Studio Didge & Drum Jam allow each member to explore this genre further; Fast Slow shows fast paced work from the rhythm section while Studio emphasises percussion work.

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The Didgeridoo on the album was played by old band member Jamie Gresham. Jamie’s technique and skill shine through on DUI (Dancing Under the Influence), while during Hurricane, his Didge work serves as a prominent feature. Mid album tracks, Meet You and The Ham are similar in style to Giving It Away, in the sense of them easily being ready to be festival favourites. Meet You explores the connections between Country, Blues and Roots, while The Ham serves as an ode to the band’s hometown of Rockingham with the track’s playful bass line, lyrics, and overall style reflecting the beach side location.

Ultimately through Royal Tea, MoreDidge Brothers have shown their diversity and growth through the exploration of a wide genre range. Their sound is well polished, and they easily manage to make modern Blues sound beautiful. It’ll be interesting to see what else 2018 has in store for the band, as well as what success the album will bring.

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