Tobias Cummings – A Trophy review

In 2006, Tobias Cummings released his critically acclaimed debut album, Join the Dots which was nominated for the Australian Music Prize. Cummings’ highly anticipated follow up, A Trophy was produced by the legendary Tim Whitten (Go Betweens, Powderfinger, Augie March).

A Trophy is gutwrenchingly beautiful. Cummings sings with the weight of the world on his shoulders. But rather than pushing a burdenous collective of love and longing, the tales on this album distill relentlessness and fighting spirit. On another site, one reviewer carelessly threw the Chris Martin reference at this record. Yes, the man has a penchant for pianos and an expansive vocal bravado, but he serves up more narrative veracity than any of that lethargic X&Y bullshit.

Tracks like ‘Busy Bees’ and ‘Exegesis’ offer a window of jovial relief to the overall sombre tone of the record, but do seem nothing more than a distraction to serious business. These are well crafted, but that Joshua Tree conditioning on ‘Busy Bees’ seems to lack the speculative aura of ‘You’ve Always Had That Insight’ and ‘The Judge’.

‘Sweetest Poetry’ and ‘Goldmine’ are definite standouts. However, picking apart tracks doesn’t do A Trophy much justice. Join The Dots was no doubt a solid debut, but Cummings has definitely found his home on this album. Crafting a sense of yearning that stings like lemon juice to an open wound, A Trophy is a tour-de-force that shakes with unexpected conviction. A magnificent storyteller. One of the best releases this year, surely.

‘A Trophy’ will be released through Departed Sounds/Other Tongues on the Wednesday the 1st of September.

http://www.vimeo.com/13315347
www.myspace.com/tobiascummings

www.tobiascummings.com

‘A TROPHY’ TOUR DATES:

MELBOURNE -  Saturday 18th September, The Worker’s Club with Ancient Free Gardeners, Brendan Welch

ADELAIDE – Sunday 26th September, Ed Castle with Chris Lloyd and London Road Poets

SYDNEY -  Sunday 3rd October, Raval with Jamie Hutchings (Blue Bottle Kiss)

MELBOURNE – Friday 29th October, Bella Union (Trades Hall) with The Tiger & Me