The Australian Review highlights of latest album 'Long Time Gone' November 2010.

"Fleur possesses a pristine voice... stretching from sotto voce lullaby lilt to animated cowgirl... Long Time Gone merits a place in the record store racks alongside albums by acts such as The Greencards and Nickel Creek..." - The Australian.

ARCHIVE : Capital News April 2011 (Vol 36 No. 4) LONG TIME GONE Review by Ray Montana Long Time Gone is the third studio album for THE MCMENAMINS, FLEUR and SIMON, a brother-sister duo who hail from far north Queensland, and the follow up to highly acclaimed In This Light. Primarily produced by Fleur, and showcasing their talented song writing skills with all the tracks written by Fleur and Simon, Long Time Gone is a blend of many different genres, including folk, country and roots.  From the delightful opening track If It Weren’t For You it is clear that the pair are fine multi instrumentalists and it is Simon’s string playing that makes the acoustic instrumentals stand out, particularly the infectious fiddle on toe tapper Umbrella Town. Fleur’s warm tender vocals are at times haunting and reminiscent of both KIM RICHEY and KD LANG, especially on the ballad Ache Little Heart. Complemented by Simon’s harmonies, together they create an appealing sound. Long Time Gone is a charming album from two brilliant siblings. Independent (MGM Distribution) MCMEN003 www.themacswebsite.com

Inpress Magazine - On the Record

"As is beginning to happen with heart-warming regularity, the influx of young blues and roots players coming through the ranks are beginning to take a serious hold on the musical climate in this country. The bulbous folds of the 'mainstream' are being pushed aside by these 'nu-rooters' (for desperate want of another term...anyone?) an one of the finest recent examples of a 'young' generation playing 'old'music, are brother and sister combo Simon and Fleur McMenamin.

The McMenamins is their aptly named debut release and from the dull thump of the double bass that begins opener Wayside to the valium-inspired, Celtic-driven intrumental as a closer, this is a record from two very talented players. Brother Simon takes care of most of the strings, his mandolin playing is exceptional, the high, sweet picking curls elegantly through the songs and the soloing, particularly on the opener, are magic. Fleur McMenamin is the voice behind the band, occasionally indulging in the dolphin-play like harmonies with her brother, but mainly taking the lead herself in a voice which whilst wonderfully Waif-like, also has a distinctness in itself, at times as full and rich as a good bottle of red, at other times as sparse and gentle as a winding country road.
Only a two piece, for this record the McMenamins have enlisted Jim Elliot (Cruel Sea) on percussion and Greg Royal (Tambalane) on both double bass and electric bass but both these names are only there for support. The McMenamins has obvious touches of the blues, folk and country, each placed in such a way that each song compliments the next, and this being Fleur's first attempt at producing, she'd be reasonably happy with her efforts. Wayside opens in rollicking fashion, classic bluegrass sounds and then leads into (If) The Light Was Right and Alabama, both showcasing her versatile vocal style early in the piece. Simon, again, opens Cherokee with one of the smoothest violin riffs (?) ever recorded.
It's hard to believe this is a debut, especially for a band who's mellow take on a reinvigorated genre is just what the discerning roots music enthusiast is pining for.
- Sam Fell.

 

Online Garage
"Folk is not a dirty word.
In fact in the hand's of the McMenamins, folk has never sounded like so much fun.
Wayside is a pretty ditty that is light and fluffy in all the right places. It's not too bogged down in heady lyrics or empty sentiment.
It's the type of song that you'd expect to hear around a camp fire or on the sound track of a road trip film that doesn't star Britney Spears.
A little reminiscent of early The Waifs, this brother and sister duo are energetic from start to end with their superb use of acoustic strumming, perky vocals and swishing of percussion.
Remember their name, as come next year's festival circuit don't be surprised to see their name high on the bill, as this a duo to watch."

 

MediaSearch
"This is from a brother-sister combo. Fleur has a sweet, gorgeous, country-tinged voice with a relaxed style. It's more than attractive because she can pack a few decent punches to lift the standard above the blandness that this music often offers. The organic sound is concise and simple with Fleur's guitar and her brother Simon's violin speaking for themselves. Fleur produced the record so it speaks well of her well-honed abilities. The songs provide vivid images and poignancy and comes across as a generally comfortable debut recording."

 

Brag Magazine - Live Review
“They delved through a range of different styles within the folk framework; fragments of blues, rock & jazz filtered through to create an unusual sort of unity…. At times… it seemed as if they were conversing. You somehow forgot people were playing pieces of wood, the music had taken on a life of its own.”

 

Sunday Telegraph - Album Review
“This album was recorded in a week … it offers some nice grooves and melodies, and occasional eye brow raising lyrics … highlights are the toe-tapping Cherokee, Go It Alone and Wayside. “



The Dwarf Website - IN THIS LIGHT review
Fundamentally music is so much more than clever lyrics or a catchy melody. Music allows artists to find a common ground with listeners so that they can share emotions, create a mood or tell a story.
The McMenamins have achieved all of these objectives with their latest release, In This Light. While the album addresses a range of subjects and approaches songs in a diversity of styles the underlying theme is life itself.
Every life is filled with drama, love, loss, longing and hope, and similarly this impressive album explores the range of human emotions experienced in response to everyday events. The McMenamins are the brother-sister duo of Simon and Fleur McMenamin who over the past few years have been steadily building a solid reputation on the live music circuit.
Following on from their self-titled debut, In This Light offers a range of musical styles from bluesy folk to harder edged alt-country rock numbers, and everything in between. It is an album which surprises, just when you think you have their style all worked out, they take an alternate path and explore something different. Similar to the elements of life which it addresses, the album switches between songs of longing and loss, to those of love and hope. Moving between tracks with ease The McMenamins have created an intricately woven pattern of real life which all can relate to.
‘How It Is’ is warm and rich, conjuring up the feeling of sun-filled days and fresh summer breezes shared with family and friends. With a happy melody and sweet lyrics, this is a song which smiles. In ‘Pretty Dollar’ the country dial is pushed up a few notches, and with its infectiously quick pace listeners are powerless to resist being swept up by the raw energy of this song. Like the majority of their songs the foot-tapping ‘Pretty Dollar’ tells a directly meaningful story from start to finish.
Changing up the pace, we arrive at ‘The Last Rain’, which has Fleur’s voice dropping down low as we enter deeper darker territory. Just like the time before a storm when energy in the air is building but not yet breaking, the song has a feeling of restraint, holding itself back to perfectly complement the song’s subject.
‘Meet in the Dark’ opens almost like a sea shanty and then melts into a beautiful intimate sounding song with vocals rich in country twang. This is a song which explores the beauty and romance in everyday life events with heartfelt emotion.
The album closes with ‘You Came Along’ an achingly beautiful song edged in sorrow which takes us on an emotional journey in itself, from warmth and love to coldness and loss. Balanced wonderfully with the pared back musical accompaniment the song creates romantic otherworldly dreamscapes helped along by the lyrics which are at their poetic best. This song showcases Fleur’s vocal abilities to full effect and to borrow a line from the song, they are ‘Just Like Magic’.
With this album The McMenamins take you by the hand and ask you to explore life with them for a while, looking at the world through their eyes. It is a journey for all to enjoy.