“beguiling harmonies” Uncut Magazine UK
“melodies are given extra depth by the vocal harmonies of Winstanley and Vanessa McGowan” www.themusiccritic.co.uk
“Their songs are as pretty and romantic as the Southern Cross itself. Sweetened by Cy’s mellifluous delivery and double bass player Vanessa McGowan’s gorgeous harmonies, they sound like love letters between Amy Mann and a slip-sliding Paul Simon.” The Crypt Sessions
Her Make Believe Band
Live Reviews
http://www.muzic.net.nz/articles/reviews/45603/her-make-believe-band-6-feb-harbourlight-lyttelton
Her Make Believe Band is a talented acoustic duo made up of Cy Winstanley and Vanessa McGowan. Formed in the UK, the band have been touring the country recently – I was lucky enough to catch their Lyttelton performance.
Winstanley moved to London in 2004, writing and performing around the UK. This included support for the Violent Femmes at The Forum, he also played at the Royal Festival Hall, The Borderline, Cornbury Festival and Toast Festival. In 2007 Her Make Believe Band was formed when Vanessa moved to London after studying jazz bass at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. There she had performed with an impressive array of America’s jazz musicians, performed in New York and also toured Costa Rica.
On this tour they played as a three piece (featuring David Khan) with each of them singing at some stage; Winstanley on guitar, McGowan on double bass and Khan on banjo. This line up cut back from their recorded four piece – Sebastian Weiss and Tom Greenhalgh also feature on their album AM Radio (Vanessa orchestrated this album release on their own label Old Oak Music).
Their music is a soft soulful mix of country/jazz/folk, all genres I think of as being “live”, so it’s no surprise that they had that somehow silky quality to listen to. With one mic set up between them, singing backing vocals over each other’s shoulders (which worked really well!), their voices all sounded absolutely amazing.
It felt very suited listening to their grounded, heartfelt songwriting in the shelter of the Harbourlight ….the audience at tables… the fairy lights…. it was all rather touching really; one of those melting experiences you get with good live blues/folk music.
I really loved this gig, if you get the chance you should definitely see these guys – you’ll be glad you did!
14 Mar 2011 // A review by Mmdelai
Album Reviews – AM Radio, Old Oak Music, 2009
“In Cy Winstanley they have a potent songwriter with a voice gently reminiscent of Paul Simon, while fellow Kiwi Vanessa McGowan adds beguiling harmonies” Uncut Magazine
“…a masterful blend of Americana fused with Jazz, Soul and Pop… A truly worthwhile addition to anyone’s music collection” (4.5 out of 5) www.themusiccritic.co.uk
“A stunning debut album… Winstanley’s songs are intelligent and original” Country Music People Magazine
“Beautiful melodies with a fragility that is a joy to behold… a little gem of a release.” Crack Magazine UK
“Their songs are as pretty and romantic as the Southern Cross itself. Sweetened by Cy’s mellifluous delivery and double bass player Vanessa McGowan’s gorgeous harmonies, they sound like love letters between Amy Mann and a slip-sliding Paul Simon.” The Crypt Sessions
“Celebrated as one of the most exciting new alternative country acts around, Her Make Believe Band have undoubtedly created some beautiful and original tunes…They have the right mix of smart lyrics and sweet melodies that appeal to the old romantic in me.” Morning Star
*****
Her Make Believe Band: AM Radio (Old Oak)By Graham Reid
01/04/2010
This delightful album by two expat Kiwis Cy Winstanley and Vanessa McGowan has been quite rightly picking up favourable notices in the UK where they are now based as part of the group Her Make Believe Band.Certainly the references to Paul Simon (for lightness of touch and literacy in places) make sense but there is as much pop here as folk which tips it right into that category which hooks you in with melodies and keeps you there by virture of the words as much as anything else.But there is also urgency here (Nobody’s Business) coupled with an emotional tension (“I never thought we’d live like ball and chain,” on the separation ballad Lonely Soul) alongside a sense of intimacy.That’s Why I Like You The Best recalls Simon at his pre-Graceland peak where McGowan nails in some lovely harmony vocals. Yet Having You Around rocks out through brittle distorted vocals and a thumping backbeat from the four-piece band, and DPH pulls in some glockenspiel.So an even measure of folk and pop, angst and enjoyment: very hard to dislike and if you ever had a soft spot for the best of solo Paul Simon, a touch of throbbing folk-rock, singer-songwriters like Josh Ritter, or enjoyed some of that Mike McGear album which Elsewhere essayed then this is for you.Very sharp stuff.
*****
www.themusiccritic.co.uk
4.5/5
The debut long player from this quirky band hailing from Auckland, but based in London, is a confident and infectious piece of work. Based around the song-writing talents of Cy Winstanley, they produce a masterful blend of Americana fused with Jazz, Soul and Pop. The bubblegum melodies are given extra depth by the vocal harmonies of Winstanley and Vanessa McGowan, with Winstanley sounding uncannily like a cross between Paul Simon and Tim Finn.
The previously mentioned vocal harmonies are used to great effect on the album opener Welcome Home, a song that sounds like a long lost 10,000 Maniacs masterpiece. The production is excellent, allowing the songs to breathe and beautifully warm. The title track and The Last Hour however, manage to steal the limelight. Building slowly through out, both are lovingly crafted slices of Americana.
This is an easy album to get into, sure the lyrics are throwaway, but the music is seriously good. Sometimes you just want to listen to something that isn’t trying to change the world. It does have its tender moments though on Lonely Soul and I Can’t Help Dreaming Of You, both having a feel of Neil Young, Harvest Moon era, about them.
This is a record that is hard to pigeonhole and all the more enjoyable for it. A truly worthwhile addition to anyone’s music collection.
On a non-musical note, the digi pak packaging of the cd is made from 100recycled cardboard and biodegradable paper foam. A nice touch.
*****
Crack Magazine November 2009
Her Make Believe Band AM Radio (Old Oak)
This is the first album from New Zealander songwriter Cy Winstanley, and he’s put a band together who remind me very much of Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci in that they combine beautiful melodies with a fragility that is a joy to behold. Add in some light folky stylings and the requisite amount of alt country noodlings and you’ve got a little gem of a release. DP