WARREN FAHEY’S AUSTRALIAN BUSH ORCHESTRA

Warren Fahey is a multi-skilled purveyor of all things Australiana. He is an authur of such titles as Classic Bush Yarns, Eureka, and While The Billy Boils. He was a founding member of the bush folk band The Larrikins and established the Larrikin Records label. This album sounds exactly like what you’d hear at a primary school barn dance or a Boy Scouts/Girl Guides social. It’s predominently instrumental. When there is singing it’s simple and repetitive, similar to that of a barn dance caller. The sounds come from fiddles, mandolins, accordions, double bass, both bowed and plucked, along with a lot of upright piano. It’s a well-played, well-produced recording with Warren Fahey taking advantage of the broad base of musicians he has built up into a network over the decades. Despite all this, the album is quite limited in its versatility, variety and unfortunately its appeal. It might be the kind of thing you could buy for a old bushy uncle or father-in-law, but the Gen Y and Gen Xers might think it’s a bit drab and old hat.

**1/2