Album Review: Sheppard, Kaleidoscope Eyes (Empire of Song)

Pop sensations from Brisbane Sheppard have released 15 singles from October 2019. All except one are here on this third album Kaleidoscope Eyes. A smooth shiny vehicle which does have the faint echo of Lucy in the Sky as the short instrumental title track invites everyone in.

A family group which began in 2009 when siblings George Sheppard and Amy Sheppard started writing songs. Both play keyboards, which dominate their sound. Jason Bovino became the third songwriter, and guitarist. Younger sister Emma Sheppard on bass guitar and Dean Gordon drums completes the band.

Single Geronimo in 2014 was a multi-platinum hit in Australia and Europe. They toured with Justin Bieber.

Die Young is a perfect big arena-sounding anthem and rides out smoothly if a bit generic and formulaic.

I am pleased to say there are a good half dozen which stand out above the endless sunshine.

Somebody Like You has interesting hooks and a seductive groove. George has a good blue-eyed natural tenor and a better Pop Soul falsetto. Like Michael Jackson when he left Motown for Don’t stop Till You Get Enough.

Animals and Amy on lead has a voice like honey and a playful sensuality similar to the current sound of Katy Perry. Musical arrangement has space to breathe with a simple cantering rhythm.

She does the same to Catalina. A seductive synth-driven Pop vehicle which gets heavier half-way through. Feels expansive like travelling across a big open country.

Brand New. Neo-Soul with lyrics taking a more complex and idiosyncratic view on relationships. Some of the inspiration of Prince and the sound of 1999.

MIA and a bit of Funk. Eighties English Synth Pop and a lighter take on Heaven-17. Effervescent and dance-friendly.

Thank You is a heartfelt tribute to mother and George getting very sentimental about getting through the difficult patches of life. Simple and spare arrangements do it again. An acoustic guitar is prominent.

Learning to Fly carries on in similar vein. This time the irrepressible hooks and sunshine mood open out into a little South African or Soweto Pop groove on the backing vocals.

Solid Gold a straight and simple Pop anthem. The world of Less Than Zero the book. Mindless good times and a moral vacuum. I don’t need a reason for feeling good/ Making my way through the darkest woods.

The album was launched in a live-streamed show at Brisbanes’s Fortitude Music Hall. It was seamless Sunshine Pop. This album has opened out significantly from their previous two.

Rev Orange Peel   

Marty Duda has a great video chat with George Sheppard the other day. Watch that HERE