Donavon Frankenreiter - Recycled Recipes (EP)
» Falls Festival - Marion Bay, Tas - December 31, 2008
» Pete Murray + Donavon Frankenreiter - Wrest Point, TAS - April 22, 2006
Apparently this album came about from Frankenreiter hanging around and jamming with band mate Matt Grundy in between tours. One of those behind the headlines forces that pops up on just about everyone’s album sleeve at sometime. Frankenreiter’s last full-length album, Move By Yourself, was a more electric sound for the surfy bonfire folk musician, so I was interested to see where he went with this project, especially after seeing the track listing. Recycled Recipes is a concept album, paying homage to some of Frankenreiter’s musical influencers, and giving something special to his fans.
The Recipe includes a stick of 70's Canadian acoustic pop sensation Bruce Cockburn, before he got all political and weirdo. Two teaspoons of Wilco from the 2004 creative picture book album A Ghost is Born with the brilliant track ‘Theologians’. Three ounces of Dr. John’s ‘Such a Night’, from Martin Scorsese's documentary The Last Waltz. Four drops of a mellow sounding ‘Fortunate Son’, with none of the anger or helicopter visions conjured by the Creedance Clearwater Revival original. Five chopped unusual choices from The Band’s watershed 1975 album Northern Lights-Southern Cross. Frankenreiter completely transforms the mournful heartbreak ballad ‘It Makes No Difference’. Finally, add six cups of the epic Bob Dylan with ‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright’. Another song of loss, but with a tint of release and appeasement, written at the time Suze Rotolo had moved to Italy indefinitely.
Frankenreiter manages to interpret each track with tenderness and genuine respect, whilst inscribing his own spirit into the recording. The overall feeling is one of being sung a lullaby. The intimacy captured by Frankenreiter, even through other peoples song writing, is truly remarkable. The man himself has said that something special was captured, and I wholeheartedly agree.
