Magic Dirt – Girl
Girl – Magic Dirt
By Chris Peken
In the immortal words of our now Federal Minister for the Environment: “let’s rock!” Geelong may have the AFL premiership but their loudest and longest running musical export is refusing to rest on anyone else’s laurels. Album numero six, Girl, sees Alita and company synthesis the two elements that they have explored over the last decade plus. Opening with three odes to the raucous, riffing high-energy pop/grunge that has made them popular Magic Dirt are off and running. But by the time you have put the Girl to bed the closing tracks like Tremor and Cupids Bow have returned you to their darker exploration of noise and late night grind. In the midst of this, perhaps appropriately, these two sides are linked by the Velvet Underground meets Joan Jett via Crimson and Clover inspired Always. Some bands need to put the expectations of fans, record companies and themselves behind them to make the albums they need to make. This is a real Magic Dirt album.
*** 1/2
