State Laughter

Found this sealed at a local store 15+ years ago. Would buy anything from the 80's/90's NZ scene I could get my hands on. This one ended up becoming one fo my favorite albums. The vocal style of the Jefferies brothers and also Alastair Galbraith and Michael Morley has had a profound effect on my singing and my sense of melody. They all have these dual track vocal takes that sit in the same place....but the natural imperfections in delivery from take to take give this beautiful depth to the sound. I've sort of run with this idea and I end up double (at least) tracking most tracks I record. It's like thinking of a song as an orchestra to me. Just finished reading Grahams book and it was interesting. This record, which was the most important for me in his oeuvre, seemed to be a transitional record of sorts. While it is technically his only solo album, it is essentially the first Cakekitchen record. A transition from his more collaborative 80's projects involving his brother Peter. It's a record I want to drink wine to in 68-72 degree weather outside....possibly alone, in the sun. Half a bottle in warmed by the sun....eyes closed here and there. I don't allow myself much rest in life. It's always onto the next project. Always worry about imaginary deadlines, creating masterpieces that no one will care about, plating my food that I will inhale in 5 minutes beautifully....records like this are for the times I allow myself a break....time to enjoy life and stop for a minute. Graham lived in squats, took jobs he didn't like, lived under the radar....reading his book humanized him to me. Listen to this one drinking straight out the bottle outside this spring for me. Was so happy that this finally was back in print. An album I always want to share with people. (this is the red vinyl version)