Major Chord - The Rabbit Hole (Album)
Melbourne indie folksters Major Chord have recently released their second long player The Rabbit Hole, a blissful forty-two minutes of uplifting pop melodies. Major Chord is the baby of multi-instrumentalist Dan Flynn, the man behind the beautiful songs, and Kate Connor who adds the violins and vocal harmonies.
An accomplished bunch of local musos lend their expertise to the record, that comes complete with a children’s choir on the last track, aptly titled The Last Song. Flynn is a gifted musician, singing tales of the joys of living and strangers he met on a tram to a lush backdrop of acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, Farfisa, Casio, piano-accordion and miscellaneous percussion. His gentle voice will transport you to a better place full of flowers and sunshine and is a nice escape from the harsh Melbourne winter.
Major Chord make dreamy, laid back music with a side of social commentary that is reminiscent of Nick Drake or Neil Young in their least depressive moments. The Rabbit Hole is an intimate and emotional record that instantly appealed to the softer side of my nature. Each song tells a different story. Noteworthy tracks are Under The Tree, Hey, My Name Is Joe, Single File and Home. Under The Tree is a gorgeous opening track, with soft violins and Flynn’s direct, heartfelt lyrics "I know you‘re sometimes impossible, but if this hell, I want to sing". A song about relationships and the difficulties within, to lift you up on a dark day.
Hey, My Name Is Joe introduces multiple characters all dealing with different issues. It sounds like people meeting at the start of a rehab session with lines such as "these pills make me forget who I was before" and "when my valium kicks in, I will be just fine" - now there’s a lyric I can identify with.
Single File is more upbeat and encourages people to live life however they want and not be confined by the expectations of others; "I don’t want to walk in single file, living like a sheep is not my style". Major Chord have produced a charming second record that is easy listening for the masses. Flynn’s musical artistry and story telling prowess is sure to inspire and delight.
If you enjoy the sounds of Iron & Wine and Grandaddy then this may be the album for you.
