One Day International

Review by Eamonn Carr, The Evening Herald (Dublin)

Melodic fragility characterises One Day International's tunes, says EAMON CARR

MATT LUNSON CAME FROM Tasmania to Europe, wound up in Ireland on a weekend trip and became so impressed by the local music scene that he stuck around.

An earlier solo album, Miss Vaughan, gave an indication of his talents. But it’s as one-fifth of One Day International that he’s found his niche. Debut albums seldom come as accomplished as the 11-track Blackbird. While some of the credit obviously goes to producer Brian Crosby, who’s worked with Bell X1 and The Cake Sale, for getting things just right, it’s the seamless ensemble playing and gentle sonic seduction that captivates.

One Day International have played support to Lisa Hannigan, Elbow and Cathy Davey. And it's easy to hear how they would complement these artists. Their melodies are rich and textured. Their instrumentation hints at orchestral, with piano, cello and rhythm section. The core principle seems to be fragility, a reaching out in a dream to grasp a fleeting sensation, the swift shadow of a bird in flight, the undertow of the ocean that appears to make seaweed dance.

Lead Balloon has the fractured elegance of Rufus Wainwright on form.

Piano ushers in Lunson's well-travelled voice on Miss Your Mouth before cello and drums lift the mood from world weariness to optimism.

It's a subtle thing, probably best savoured by the fire on an autumn evening with a glass of wine or perhaps as early morning sunlight paints the rooftops a honeyed gold.

As on Shiver, One Day International are not afraid to sound elegiac. Indeed, seldom in pop music do we hear something that sounds as inspired by Elgar's Sea Pictures as... er... early Guillemots.

They don't rock out. At least on this album they don't. But clearly the musicians are first-rate. More importantly, cellist Eimear O'Grady, Cormac Curran on piano, drummer Ross Turner and Danny Snow on bass work brilliantly as a unit.

You may be familiar with Lunson's song, Aliens, which first saw the light on The Cake Sale album when Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy performed it. Here Lunson gets in touch with his inner Jeff Buckley.

The first single, Closed Doors, is probably the most hyperactive track on the album. But it's unlikely to make you spill your coffee.

The band's attention to detail is commendable. The cover artwork illustrations by Sarah Brownlee are a joy in themselves.

- Eamon Carr - The Evening Herald - Dublin

"It’s about time a band wedded the symphonic grandeur of Sigur Rós to pop melodies that soar and swoop like a plastic bag caught in a gust of wind. Gorgeous stuff." - Jason Killingsworth, Paste Magazine - Paste Magazine

Blackbird
One Day International
(Independent Records)
If you like your music moody,
downbeat and thoughtful, this
might be for you. Matt Lunson, the
Tasmanian-born singer of this Dublin
band, has been compared to the
likes of Rufus Wainwright and Jeff
Buckley but Ron Sexsmith might be
closer to the mark. Brian Crosby of
Bell XI has produced a lushly layered
album, combining the talents of
Cormac Curran (piano), Danny Snow
(bass), Ross Turner (drums) and Eimear
O’Grady (cello) to create a piece of
mood music that draws you in. Miss
Your Mouth is the track to download.
- Express It Magazine

It's not all that often a first release is so mature sounding but this is really well crafted and enjoyable. That is down to notably strong musicianship, flowing and occasionally inspired melodies, a nice sense for structure and the excellent vocals of lead singer Matt Lunson.
As is the trend for many a modern pop record, the piano takes over from the guitar as the default lead instrument, unavoidably lending an air of melancholy and wistfulness that complements a strong lyrical sensibility. These songs are in the main (failed) relationship vignettes and the sound reflects that.
In many cases, songs build up from a piano or violin plus voice beginning to a cacophonic close, with strings, horns and a more pounded piano adding texture and depth. Standouts include the opening trio of tracks - 'Closed Doors', 'Little Death' and 'Lead Balloon' - new single 'Miss Your Mouth' and title track 'Black Is The Bird'.
In terms of the sound it's not hugely original, especially considering the diversity of musical backgrounds within this five-piece and arguably, more songs than strictly necessary start quietly before veering into a default near-bombastic setting for the big finish. That is a decent effect to have in the toolbox, and particularly handy in the live setting, but overuse diminishes its effectiveness somewhat.
Overall though, this is a strong record from a band with excellent prospects (who are, by the way, well worth seeing live if you get the chance).
Brendan Cole - RTE.ie

No matter how thoroughly State scours the minimal promo artwork of the debut release from this Irish/Oz combo, there’s still no sign of three words which we assume must be missing from the record’s title: “Original Cast Recording”. For this is a CD candidly stuffed with West End trademarks; intense peaks and troughs, soulful bombast, narrative and soliloquist insinuations, dramatic instrumental interludes and some awkward lyricism which could normally be excused exclusively within the confines of an exciting production (“If you go down to the woods today, you’re in for a big surprise/There’s nowhere left for the kids to play/We may as well run for our lives”).

But for a group who named themselves for a format of cricket match and who named their album after a plainly-monikered thrush, Blackbird is a considerably less boring listen than its creators would allow you to believe. The maturity and agility of these compositions are perhaps most comparable to the presently-AWOL Sufjan Stevens, as orchestral fl ourishes, swish choral harmonies and aptly-positioned beats (provided by Ross Turner of Jape/Cathy Davey) elegantly wrap themselves around skeletal piano to together reach a concordant climax.

One Day International are essentially releasing an ideal ‘summer album’ a few months too late (not to suggest that there’s one perfect time to do such a thing on this wind-stricken and porous blob of rock), but it’s a record likely to ease the cold curse of the winter for those unable to make it to Broadway during the dying months of 2008. - State Magazine

Produced by Bell X1 guitarist Brian Crosby, One Day International's Blackbird is full of melodic and intricate lullabies. Matt Lunson's emotional vocals tell stories of lovers and strangers, while the band's string and piano arrangements draw comparisons to Rufus Wainwright and Keane. - NPR Radio