After 25 years playing guitar for legendary New Zealand group
the Bats,
Minisnap is Kaye Woodward's first attempt at leading her own band. Consider the attempt to be a ringing success, since
Bounce Around is a thoroughly charming record that captures everything good about
the Bats and adds to it. No huge surprise there, since Woodward is a vital part of
the Bats sound, her lead guitar lines and vocal harmonies helping to add some sunshine to
Robert Scott's often gloomy songs. Turns out when left to her own devices Woodward is made up of 100-percent sunshine, and
Bounce Around is one chiming, bouncy NZ rocker after another. "New Broom" is the heavenly pop hit of the bunch, but every other tune is graced with a singalong chorus and bright melody. Woodward's voice is feather light but never weak, certainly strong enough to carry an album on her own, and full of gut-busting emotion on the tender ballad "In the Morning." Credit also goes to bassist Paul Kean, who scales back the twang on his bass (which helps differentiate this from a
Bats record) and recorded and mixed the album. The sound he gets is intimate and soft but also captures the energy and verve of the performances. From start to finish
Bounce Around is classic New Zealand pop and the only cloud that threatens the sun it brings is this -- why did it take so long for Woodward to step out on her own? Was she always writing songs this good? Do we have to wait long for more? The
Minisnap faithful deserve to know! ~ Tim Sendra