If I’m completely honest, I couldn’t tell you a single thing about The All New Adventures Of Short Term Diary, except for the fact they have a very similar name to The All New Adventures Of Us (now known as Tanaou) and the fact they appear to be just one boy and one girl – Dave and Amelia. With a lack of information present, I had no expectations of what this six-track CD may be like, so I was very plesantly surprised when I did press the big play button. …Short Term Diary play a gorgeous acoustic guitar/piano blend that really tugs at the heartstrings. It’s very hard to pigeonhole the duo precisely, although suffice to say the tracks here are of a very high standard.
‘Only Effects Me’ and ‘The Forever Kids’ are two lovely, lovely songs, combining delicate vocals and polite guitar strummings to marvellous effect. The piano adds an extra layer too, making the songs all warm and welcoming. Dave’s vocals are particularly impressive on ‘Grown Ups Are Always Thinking Of Such Uninteresting Explanations’, a track which, when you’re not expecting such subtle beauty, really stands out for its fragility. …Short Term Diary prove, over the course of 6 songs, that you don’t need to have amps turned up to 11 to make a massive impact.
If there is a downside it would be that the vocals probably don’t flex themselves as much as they could – at times being more adventurous would certainly add an extra layer of emotion, while the structure of the songs themselves is often limited to a verse/chorus/verse scenario that makes them become a little flat over time. These are minor errors mind and fans of Nathaniel Green or other such lovely, heartfelt bands will lap this up.
www.shorttermdiary.homestead.com
Paul