2009 was a tenebrous time for music fans in Australia…
Not only were their teleboxes suddenly bereft of Harold Bishop’s tuba (wah-wah), but their radio charts were also being completely Joe Mangled by none other than The Black Eyed Peas.
“Will.oy.am” (it’s an accent thing) and co.’s 3 number-one singles (“Boom Boom Pow”, “I Gotta Feeling” and “Meet Me Halfway”) spanned a godless 14 weeks in total at the top spot – in what is now referred to in history books as ‘The Great Pea Plague of ’09’.
Fortunately, there was however, a saviour and shiny beacon in the dark by the name of Bertie Blackman. In the same year, Bertie released her critically acclaimed third album ’Secrets and Lies’, which went on to win ‘Best Independent Release’ at the highly coveted ARIA Music Awards.
Finding its way into the hands of producers Lee Groves (Goldfrapp, Gwen Stefani) and Francois Tetaz (Kimbra, Gotye) ‘Secrets and Lies’ was a departure from the Sydney-born siren’s more traditional folk-inspired roots; a purring, polished hybrid of pop, rock and electronica that brought with it a fresh injection of hope…
Fast forward to the now and Bertie is ready to release her 5th full-length ‘The Dash’ (out October 31st) and if latest single ‘War of One’ is anything to go by, it’s going to be a doozie.
Over a pummeling bassline, 80’s-style riffs and oriental string motif, Bertie’s bewitching vocals and icy-blue coos bleach the air a shade of ‘John Hughes’ with every breath. It’s a glistering cut of disco catharsis running straight out of detention and onto the thunderous dance floor…an anthem for 2014 that is sure to make your heartbeat go ‘boom boom’ and most certainly ‘POW!’
Check it out yourself: