MAZZ MUSIKAS - 'All hits-No misses' - Belgium
MARISA YEAMAN 'Pure Motive' (Deep Pearl)

It does not happen too often that we receive a new female songwriter from Australia. Nevertheless, they are very interesting songs on this CD. I can only remember Kasey Chambers, Audrey Auld and Penelope Swales. Now the pleasant surprise of Marisa Yeaman turns up.

'Pure Motive' is her first full length album after the local exposure of three previous EP's, that I suspect are no longer available. Marisa has been brought up with great influences like Cat Stevens, Jackson Browne, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Simon & Garfunkle. But I also suspect female songwriters like Carole King, Carly Simon, Ricki Lee Jones and Joni Mitchell, as some influence can be heard in her music.

Marisa's family house was sold when she was four years old, and they travelled around Australia in a caravan. Those circumstances can be found in her songs, there are quite a few road/travel songs on 'Pure Motive'.

Very important for her musical career was a meeting with Andrew Pendlebury who is co-writer of five of the thirteen songs on this CD and co-producer also. He is described by Marisa, as 'my second voice'. Part of the songs are only presented with piano and acoustic guitar, such as Lonely Puppet, King Tide, Little Girl Lost and the delightful finisher Gasoline & Fire. Four very clever songs.

Other high points are No Fences which is already featured on an Australian sampler, the bluesy Nightskin with Dobro guitar and Harmonica played by Dave Steel, and also Holy Water. In addition to guitar Marisa also plays accordion on some of the songs, Ed Bates playing the great country instrument Pedal Steel is evident. Despite these sounds, we cannot speak of country music in this case. No, this is a very beautiful pure songwriters CD with a spread of acoustic songs. The beauty is in it's simplicity. I hope the good word spreads and that she becomes better known, it is rumoured that she will tour the Netherlands next year. We hope she does not forget to bring Andrew Pendlebury with her.
Ben van Hoegaerden