As leader one of Australia’s most consistently creative and critically acclaimed rock bands Bluebottle Kiss, Jamie Hutchings has written and released over 130 songs, toured relentlessly in Australia, the US and Europe and played alongside bands as diverse as Beck, Midnight Oil and Dinosaur Jr.
Despite being signed to major label ‘Murmur’ (alongside Silverchair) the band’s unique fusion of the traditional and experimental elements of rock and folk were at odds with and perhaps ahead of the t...
As leader one of Australia’s most consistently creative and critically acclaimed rock bands Bluebottle Kiss, Jamie Hutchings has written and released over 130 songs, toured relentlessly in Australia, the US and Europe and played alongside bands as diverse as Beck, Midnight Oil and Dinosaur Jr.
Despite being signed to major label ‘Murmur’ (alongside Silverchair) the band’s unique fusion of the traditional and experimental elements of rock and folk were at odds with and perhaps ahead of the times and BBK have always been regarded as somewhat left of centre. Indeed to those who entered the band’s world, it was clear that there was no one else vaguely in the same building.
It is somewhat of a surprise therefore to find that Jamie Hutchings’ new solo album ‘His Imaginary Choir’ is a warm and user-friendly collection of concise, narrative driven songs. Hutchings grew up around Sydney Harbour and the city is reflected in the album through pictures and blurred scenarios where characters struggle to connect with one another as Hutchings revels in exploring the simple notion of how we imagine we communicate.
Inspired by the exotica movement of the sixties and the singer/songwriter movement of the early seventies ‘His Imaginary Choir’ is built on a foundation of light and barely contained joy. Using simple yet alien arrangements and minimal studio resources, the album layers percussion & instrumentation with sublime, almost child-like choral arrangements. Siblings Sophie and Scott Hutchings and multi instrumentalist co-producer Tony Dupe bring this Imaginary Choir to life, creating a delightful and deceptively naïve sound which defines much of the album and breaks the boundaries of convention.
His Imaginary Choir firmly cements Jamie Hutchings reputation as one of Australia’s most relentlessly adventurous and intelligent musicians.
reviews
"It's another step along an evolutionary pathway that continues to reinforce Hutchings' reputation as one of Australia's most gifted songwriters...though these 11 songs are all built around the traditional singer-songwriter framework of acoustic guitar and the human voice, Hutchings manages to separate himself from the pack by layering the album with a diverse array of often-unexpected sounds...a remarkable chapter to his already highly impressive discography." - MESS AND NOISE
"Given that Australia has only got around to giving the likes of the Go-Betweens and Ed Kuepper their rightful due in recent years, it's going to be a long wait for Jamie Hutchings. Yet the Bluebottle Kiss frontman continues, seemingly without pause, to grow his body of work to canon status. Impressive."- SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
"A low key, rewarding late-night listen that proves that there's life after blown amps and feedback." - ROLLING STONE ****
"In an unexpected turn of events, this unassuming lil solo effort could well prove Hutchings' strongest work to date". - THE CANBERRA TIMES
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