From the opening track on ‘Staying At Tamara’s’ it’s obvious there’s a certain charm and ease George brings to his music.
From his rich and seductive voice to the easy guitar riffs, it’s hard not to admire his work.
This may only be his second studio album but it’s hard not to consider him a seasoned performer. It comes from his inherent ability to tell stories and get the listener on board early on.
The whole beginning of this album is buoyant and it’s a real pleasure to listen to. It harks back to some of the surf rock of the ’60s whilst feeling thoroughly modern and relevant.
‘Shotgun’ instantly gets stuck in your head thanks to its catchy hook and fun lyrics. I find myself constantly singing along and its melody sticking with me hours after I’ve listened to it.
Lead single ‘Paradise’ (also currently being used in some television promotion spots in Australia) is another tune with an insanely catchy hook. It’s an unusual song but it’s one you could sing along with. I can imagine on George’s next tour that this song will be a fan favourite to get them singing along. The deep tone his voice produces is well-suited to these kind of energised tunes.
That being said, he also paints beautiful pictures through his ballads.
To me, closer ‘The Beautiful Dream’ is the tune of the album with its rich arrangement and stunning lyrics combined with George’s voice. It’s hard not to get caught up in the emotion of the song and feel like he’s singing to you. It creates a strong personal connection and for me is why so many people have fallen for George over the years.
I am always surprised how much I enjoy George’s music and I think it’s a good thing.
One can easily fall into a lull with singer-songwriter artists but George has a way of captivating you through his music.
‘Staying At Tamara’s’ may be an odd album title (he wrote much of it while staying in a home in Barcelona owned by – you guessed it – Tamara), but this handsome and talented artist continues to go from strength to strength with his work.
He’s a modern storyteller and one I really hope to continue to hear from.
This is in the running for one of 2018’s top releases.
VERDICT : 4/5.
MUST LISTEN : Shotgun, Paradise, Hold My Girl, The Beautiful Dream.
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