It's always nice to take a sense of pride in the music coming out locally, and from the
first moments of We Grow Up's sophomore album it's pretty clear that this is one. Opener
Wrote It All Down In My Diary is sugar-sweet '60s pop - harpsichord, trumpets and all. It's
the perfect introduction to the group's capabilities, showcasing the magnetic singing
voices of Anthony Golding and Jonathan Mortimer throughout pinpoint precise verses,
choruses and a fantastic a capella section, before the song draws to a close on the back of a
trumpet solo.
Later on, Mutual Friends' ending is another great example of the band's abilities as songwriters
- an otherwise innocuously pretty pop song, it ends with a subtle cacophony of ever so slightly
out of time instruments, giving it a wonderfully unbalanced twist. Or, try the sweet unabashed
folk of Celia, before the song switches to a multi-part harmonised ending. Or the again, more
simply, the sheer beauty of Actor's Show's soft spoken melancholy.
In fact, the album's only real irritant is the plucky synth strings in Office Christmas Party,
which don't quite gel with the rest of the song. It's such a minor thing that it barely
warrants mentioning though; it certainly doesn't take much that away from the song, and takes
even less away from the album as a whole.
Because the fact is Night Kitchen is an astonishingly accomplished piece of work, and one
that suggests that the band are on equal footing with some of the best songwriters in the
country right now. Add to that the generally outstanding performances, and it becomes obvious
that We Grow Up have produced something pretty damned special, and one that deserves to be
the platform from which they can reach a wider audience. - Alistair Wallis, dB
What a lil' gem. This debut from Adelaide's We Grow Up is Unearthed's Black Swan,
the unexpected surprise no-one could have predicted beyond the fact that their inevitably
must be one. Amid the retro-rockers, the singer-songwriters, the new-wave
neu-wave-eighties synthesiser revivalists comes the thoughtful, well-constructed
pastoral-folk-pop of Night Kitchen. Whether it's the Animal-esque organ on Fingernails,
the Baroque Belle and Sebastian influence on Wrote It All Down in My Diary or wonderful folk-pop
of Celia, "Celia went down to the river / In site of God / In spite of man", that
just wont leave your head (complete with Beach Boys refrain). It is rare to see such
adventure so well executed on a debut, particularly when a band so obviously defies any
tendency towards fad or fashion, rather following their own distinct muse. If you like
your pop music with lashings of Beatles and dashes of Elliott Smith then it is time for you
to get into the Night Kitchen. - Chris Peken, The Alternative Media Group 28/9/08
Night Kitchen is the latest offering from local five piece We Grow Up. If you're into
classic songwriters like Paul Kelly, Elliot Smith, the Beatles or the Finn brothers you will love
this. All thirteen tracks of this magnificently crafted album are a delight to listen to. The self
produced and home recorded work is an absolute credit to its creators, fortifying why We Grow Up
were the 2007 Triple J Unearthed winners.The album has a nice flow to it, each song leading
seamlessly into the next. It just makes you want to keep listening. Classic chord progressions, thoughtful
orchestration and smooth arrangements accompany intelligent and meaningful lyrics to make a great
album. Everything has a place and everything is in its place is a good way to describe Night
Kitchen.
Songwriters Anthony Golding and Jonathan Mortimer have succeeded in their quest to make catchy pop
tunes while holding tight lyrical integrity. I was absorbed by the storylines and enjoyed the music.
The band are currently playing a variety of shows around Adelaide, building on their earlier
successes and expanding their fan base. If Night Kitchen is anything to go off of, go out
and see them live! You won't be disappointed. - Dale Taylor, musicsa.com.au
WHO'S NEXT? WE GROW UP
Winning the opportunity to support Missy Higgins at her Thebarton Theatre show last year,
locals We Grow Up are now preparing their 2008 album Night Kitchen. Filled with atmospheric
passages, fragile liturgies and surprising chord progressions, We Grow Up's accomplished
sound and production on Night Kitchen is an impressively creative calling card akin to Crowded
House at their Together Alone peak. - Rip It Up
