Helen Franzmann and Nick Huggins - Public Holiday at You Yangs Regional Park LP

The ever-reliable Brierfield Flood Press returns with an LP from what I assume is a relatively new duo of Helen Franzmann (Mess Esque/McKisko) and the soundtrack composer Nick Huggins. In the same manner as those early Troth releases or label mate Hana Stretton, this album consists of song fragments that dip and weave through musical sound sources blended with field recordings, room noise, and left-of-field percussive elements. In true collaborative fashion, it’s unclear whose contributions are whose, with synths and keys blending with jangling chains, bells, and buried in the mix details that sound like voices in an aquatic centre. Helen’s voice drifts all through this, running the gamut of British folk-inflected stylings of Vashti Bunyan to the auto-tune utilised by Shabazz Palaces or Lambchop. A record that is equally familiar and friendly as it is mysterious! –Mitch