iOTA - Beauty Queen of the Sea (Album)
» Come Together Day 2 - Luna Park, NSW - June 11, 2006
The six times Aria Award nominated star, iOTA has produced an original sound on his fourth album, Beauty Queen of the Sea. It seems to form a meld between David Bowie’s Changes album and Blurs, Park Life. The album has been on my cd player ever since it arrived. It brings joy and happiness to my otherwise dull and meaningless life.
But enough of the theatrics, as a side noter his myspace page states that he changed his name to iOTA nine years ago and is also playing the character Hedwig, in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a transsexual rock opera.
On the release of his first album he was categorised by the press as the Australian Ben Harper, though from this album, I fail to see how he is related to the current roots rock explosion. I feel that there really is no one to compare this guy to, he certainly is a one off original.
This album is very listenable, but don’t take that the wrong way, it’s not easy listening, but really enjoyable listening. The first track, is quirkier and strange, you think, ugh oh is this is going to be some experimental music piece. Some Religion with its haunting keyboard tracks has a very psychadelic quality to it..
However he then surprises us as the second track, The Girl That Killed The Girl That Tried To Kill The Boy, rocks up the pace. It starts with a thumping drum beat and dance tune, that gets your toes tapping.
Later on, Primitive had the soulful quality of the ballads in the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The catchiest track on the album is, Handle On It, it is extremely radio friendly, on this track he really sounds like David Bowie. The lyrics are simple and graceful; the riffs catchy, the drums providing a pounding beat.
Back to the soulful stuff with, Everyone Wants Someone They Can't Have, this guy will run you through the whole gauntlet of emotions like a tawdry love affair.
The professionalism of this man pours out of the album, if I lived in Sydney I would defiantly go and see him in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, his sound is so rich and powerful.
According to the press release this is a sum of all his preceding albums, as IOTA says, “Anything is possible, This music theatre thing is really getting me yet at the same time if I can keep making music and releasing it I’ll be happy. Then I just need something else to surprise me. Isn’t this where I an supposed to say I’m looking forward to a long and illustrious career in music”
Judging by the quality and depth of this album, I would say that it would be a sad day in Australian music if IOTA stopped, keep writing, singing , performing, what you do is great.
