reviews > TIFFANY ECKHARDT - 'Horse' (Independent)

Written by Peter Dawson

Tiffany Eckhardt should be giving Kasey Chambers a run for her money with her country flavoured songs. Many are familiar to ABC listeners – 'Toyota Corolla', 'Me and My Dog', 'I Love You So' and 'Down to the Sea'.

However the seven albums she has produced are not as well known as they should be. The latest release is 'Horse', produced and recorded by husband and musical collaborator Dave Steel, who also contributes guitars, mandolin, harmonica, percussion and backing vocals.

Based near Winchelsea, Eckhardt's songs are filled with the pleasures of simple farm life. "I've chosen my lifestyle, and that's determined my opportunities to some extent," she says. "I've had a couple of people interested in furthering my career, but they wanted me to move to the city and I just couldn't do it. I've always been a bit of a nature girl. One day I'd love someone to make one of my songs a hit so I can buy a new car."

Cars are often a theme of her songs as with 'Volvo Driver', a rollin' little ditty. Title track 'Horse' is a love song to Eckhardt's favourite means of escape from the difficulties in life: "I go out crazy and I come home sane".

Magnificent mandolin from Steel and a happy plodding bassline from Sandy Brady. With her sensitive lead vocals and rhythm guitar Eckhardt follows with 'Slow Down'. Steel echoes the feeling with tight guitar runs.

'Fairy Child' is about the couple's daughter Ailish. Eckhardt recounts, "I suppose having a baby makes life incredibly chaotic and complicated and joyful and painful ... It simplifies everything, gives you a new perspective about what's important."

Family is obviously of prime importance to her as in 'Throw A Coin' she asks the question, "Am I a good mother? Am I a good wife?" In 'It's Alright' Eckhardt commiserates with the lonely – those without the people who obviously make her life worth living.

'Always Stays The Same' could be about her husband, who accompanies her on a moody slide guitar. She relates, "First time I met Dave I remember this dark, brooding stranger in the corner I hadn't seen before. Someone said, 'he's really big'. I was very impressed. After the gig he said, 'If you need a hand with your music, let's get together'. The sparks were flying!" But it was a long time after that that we started playing music together."

The sombre mood continues with 'Summer Grass' which has exquisite imagery, as with 'Sea Around The Shore'. 'Only Man', 'Walk That Road' and 'Christmas Song' complete a well crafted piece of work.

Eckhardt was a big hit at the Apollo Bay Festival last April, with both her gigs being packed out!