The Bamboos Do a Captivating Rendition of a London Grammar Classic
Featuring one of Australia’s greatest ever soul voices, Kylie Auldist, on vocals, The Bamboos release the first video from their forthcoming album of orchestral reinventions, ‘By Special Arrangement’. The band’s longtime vocalist utterly owns a stunning version of London Grammar’s modern classic “Strong”, magnifying the solitude and redemption inherent in the original, but delivered in her trademark style.
The single follows on from the incredible vocal performance from Dan Sultan on “I Never”, released in May.
“If you choose to take on an iconic song like “Strong” then you can't be half-stepping”, said The Bamboos leader Lance Ferguson. “Kylie Auldist pulled off the impossible and made it all her own.”
“Strong” is one of just two covers on the album, but it sits perfectly within the eight new arrangements of The Bamboos’ classics. The track is accompanied by a new video that features Auldist alongside Bamboos pianist Daniel Mougerman and drummer Graeme Pogson alongside a string ensemble conducted by the album’s arranger Ross Irwin. Shot with a single camera, the clip is as intimate, moving and rich in detail as the band’s revelatory take on this iconic song.
‘By Special Arrangement’ also features guests and friends of the band Tim Rogers, Washington and is now available for pre-order on limited edition red vinyl, CD and digital.
The album will be launched with a special concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre on August 15th – ‘The Bamboos Present By Special Arrangement: Symphonic Soul’ – which will feature a ten piece string section and some extra special guests. It will be the perfect way to perform for the first time an album that sparkles and swoons with lush settings, sweeping strings, woodwind and brass, coaxing both the epic and intimate from gems taken from the band’s catalogue across their eight albums. Fittingly, the album’s cover image is shreds of their previous album covers brought together, creating a new object.
The album’s stunning arrangements come from longtime Bamboos trumpeter Ross Irwin, who has arranged for the likes of Paul Kelly, Angus and Julia Stone, Passenger, Vance Joy, Josh Pyke, The Kite String Tangle as well as performances with The Adelaide and Queensland Symphony Orchestras. Irwin’s arrangements simultaneously tap into not just the cinematic but also the grand tradition of legendary soul arrangers such as Isaac Hayesand Charles Stepney, as well as classic widescreen soul albums from the likes of Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye. The album was recorded by longtime Bamboos co-producer / engineer John Castle (Vance Joy, Dean Lewis, Gretta Ray).
“Strong” is out now on Pacific Theatre / BMG.
‘By Special Arrangement’ is out on August 2nd.
‘The Bamboos Present By Special Arrangement: Symphonic Soul’ is on August 15th.
Tickets are on sale now from The Melbourne Recital Centre.
