Many years ago, I bought Butterfly Boucher's 2003 debut album, 'Flutterby', from a second hand store. I'd never heard of her, but I liked the look of her album cover, well, specifically the photo of her - she looked like an off-beat, funky kind of girl. So, five dollars later, I owned what would become one of my favourite albums, played on high rotation and well-loved. A few years later, her version of David Bowie's 'Changes' (also featuring David Bowie) was a highlight of the 'Shrek 2' soundtrack, but then she seemed to disappear. I always assumed that she had been consumed and spat out by the industry and gone off to have a regular job like the rest of us.
Fast forward to 2012. A well-known Aussie singer-songwriter, Missy Higgins, released a killer new track 'Unashamed Desire', that sounded quite different to her previous releases. I couldn't quite pinpoint it, but there was something familiar to the sound of the track. After watching the video clip on YouTube, I scrolled down the side bar and saw Butterfly Boucher's name, so I clicked on the link. She and Missy Higgins were singing another great track ('5678!') in a bedroom somewhere, while Missy played the keys and Butterfly played the guitar (watch for the cute little dance break in the bridge, they look like they are having a jolly old time). I then followed the links (gotta love a good old-fashioned 'follow the links' trek through the internet) to the official video for '5678!' and discovered that Butterfly Boucher had released a new album. Long story, I know, but I do love those little moments of fate that lead you to interesting places.
It turns out that Butterfly Boucher has, indeed, been busy since 2003. She released an album in 2009 titled 'Scary Fragile' (which was an ordeal from all accounts, due to contracts and controlling record companies), played bass for Sarah McLachlan on tour, produced an album for Missy Higgins (which included the track 'Unashamed Desire', which they wrote together) and independently released her self-titled album, which brings us up to date, so now I can get on with the review!
The album 'Butterfly Boucher' is a mixed bag. There is the aforementioned track, '5678!', and another song, 'Table for One', co-written with American singer-songwriter Katie Herzig; there is Butterfly's version of 'Unashamed Desire', co-written with Missy Higgins; there is a great track that conjures up images of grit in the city, 'The Weather', co-written with her manager Dawson Wells, which definitely references the sound of her debut album 'Flutterby'; and there are the rest of the songs written by Butterfly on her own, the cream of which are 'Warning Bell' and 'Don't Look Now'. It is probably because of this range of collaborations that there is such a tapestry of sound on this album.
For me, not every track is a winner, but this album is definitely worth a listen. Butterfly Boucher makes interesting music, songs that make you stop and think, and now that she is releasing her music independently, she is free to enjoy the process. In the end, her joy and sense of fun shine through this album - this is the music she wants to make, and I, for one, want to hear it.
You can buy the album 'Butterfly Boucher' and listen to selected tracks on Butterfly Boucher's website.
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