Customer Reviews

Open Sesame

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Leonardo's Bride would have to be the greatest band that no-one's ever heard of outside Australia. And the exciting promise that was woven between every track on their 1997 debut album, "Angel Blood" comes to life on "Open Sesame" in glorious technicolour. From the bombastic fun of "Sonic" to the closing track (which should be a single), "I Love You Honey, But The Season Is Over," this album is not only heartfelt, but beautiful to listen to. For fans who have followed the band for the past 5 or 6 years, this album is like having some old & dear friends round for a deep and meaningful conversation... and one of them just happens to be one of the greatest singers you've ever heard! It's *excellent*.

Jennifer Brown of Sweden, Franziska Kleinert of Germany, Pauline Ester of France, Dido of England, Anna Vissi of Greece, Aimee Mann of the U.S., Chantal Kreviazuk of Canada and not least, Abby Dobson of Leonardo's Bride of Australia! She may be counted among the best female vocalists in the world. Abby's impassioned, nuanced and singular voice, inspired and inspiring, invokes the mystique of Edith Piaf, the warmth and vocal range of Sandy Denny, as well as the pure joy of Clara Nunes' singing.

Picture John Lennon's, George Harrison's, Richard Thompson's and Aimee Mann's songwriting skills rolled up in one, and you've a slight sense of what you're missing in not having heard Dean Manning's songs performed. How I envy you the experience of hearing Leonardos Bride's "Open Sesame" or "Angel Blood" for the first time. Dean, Abby, Pat and Howlen performing as a group, is proof that the sum of four individual extraordinary talents, is greater than the parts.

Dean is one of the best writers of love songs and ballads in the world today. From the introspective "Everybody Wants to Take You Home," to "Alaska," a gem of a love song, on to the pure desire found and expressed in the lines of "Let Me Come Over," it just doesn't stop. You've got to hear the acoustic version of "That Boy," on the "Open Seasame" single! Sweet and unpretentious, just perfect. "Even When I'm Sleeping" from "Angel Blood" is pure magic, the best love song of the 1990s, period.

My favorite song on Open Sesame is "Oh, Yeh." And don't forget folks, that's an Australian Yeh! You'll get the point once you've heard the song. Incisive. Oh, Yeh.