The Divide
Self Titled LP
Reviewed by Stu Wright
6 September 2007
‘The Divide’ are an Adelaide based folk rock band, consisting of husband and wife Jeremy and Emma Owen, and brother Tim Owen. Their self-titled album ‘The Divide’ was recorded at Mixmasters Studios, mixed by Richard Belkner in Sydney at FEDS and was mastered by Oscar Gaona at Studio 301. On paper, it all looks good. However, it is on repeated listening that things unfortunately go astray.
‘The Divide’ grabbed me at first, with nice guitar sounds, some lovely string arrangements and good harmonies. The real strength of the group are the heartfelt and highly emotive lyrical arrangements; from a friends accidental death by drink driving (track 11, Cavalcade Procession) to Jeremy missing Emma when in N.T (track 5 Malachite For Monica - Emma plays bass on this recording incidentally), going to Yorkes camping (track 10, Yearly Pass), lamenting time not spent with a Great Uncle before he died (track 1, Last Breath) to a love song (track 6, Same Way Tonight). Jeremy’s emotion is obvious and lyrically his writing is quite good, and there are definite influences from Ben Folds to John Lennon in his delivery…quite good but at times perhaps too derivative to be described as truly original.
Three tracks on the album feature The Zephyr Quartet (a string quartet), a feature being track 8, "J", which is sung by Emma Owen, and I must say is a desperately welcome change of pace, the other standout track being ‘The Same Way Tonight’. Musically, ‘The Divide’ can play; however it isn’t their musicianship that lets them down on this release.
I’ve been ultimately left disappointed by the bands overall lack of depth and diversity. Unfortunately, there is a repetitiveness in the songwriting and arrangement of the material presented on ‘The Divide’ that cannot be overlooked, with some songs ending without really finding a groove and others that are simply mediocre from inception. Strong words, but this is honest objectivity.
Most of the progressions are predictable and many vocal melodies are shared between songs, so much so that one does get lost in the songs on this release, but not due to the captivating nature of the writing; ultimately it is the ‘sameness’ of the compositions that let the band down. Whittled down I believe ‘The Divide’ Album could have made a good, solid E.P., but there are too many repeated sounds and ideas here to make, in this reviewer’s opinion, a viable album release. Which is a shame, as ‘The Divide’ can play, and play well…it’s ultimately a lack of diversity and arranging ability that lets them down.
