Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird (CTBNF) last lit up the firmament with the majestic ‘Smiles of Earth’ album back in 2022 (see my review here). And the sun shines brighter in the Autumn light down under, with news of another album on the way through the redoubtable Double Drummer. Today, an early taste of what’s to come arrives in the form of the magnificent new single ‘Rosewater’.
The layered orchestral sounds augment this track with the drama and theatricality of Lachlan Rose’s vocals: a big band sound that is a feature of CTBNF. With the flair of eighties bands like ABC, the emotional tug of Sigur Rós and the suave majesty of Tindersticks, ‘Rosewater’ continues the upwards trajectory of one of Australia’s greatest musical outfits, whose output is way too sparse by far. And thus all the more treasured.
A rolling piano sparks off the track with layers of vocal choruses in the ether, Rose’s voice displaying an extraordinary range with an anthemic, cinematic instrumentation fringed by flutes and horns. There is a gospel feel, euphoric and joyful. It is as vast and immersive as the desert skies over Australia:
What a brilliant return. ‘Rosewater’ is available to download and stream via all the usual sites.
CTBNF have a series of gigs coming up showcasing each of their albums. Sadly for those without tickets – all shows are already sold out as a testimony to the band’s popularity.
[…] from a soul gospel style found in earlier single ‘Rosewater‘, ‘Mercury Rising’ is the most fluid, ambulant slice of sinuous funk you could […]