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Media Release 

Heart Over Mind - Album Review - Fasterlouder.com.au. May 2008. 

Heart Over - Album Review - the dwarf.com.au, May 2008. 

Heart Over Mind - Album Review - Xpress Magazine. 3rd, April.

Heart Over Mind - Album Review - Bob Gordon. 5th, April.

Dave Mann Collective Bio.

Archives.. (old reviews..) 

Media Release

The new long-awaited CD from the Dave Mann Collective sees the band in full flight crossing the terrain from the organic blues and roots into the more universal rock landscape. A rich, sonic journey stamped with a sustaining "classic" quality in the form of a distinct two-part suite denoted as "mind" versus "heart" songs; Broadly highlighting the rockier side versus the more balladry... Lyrically - thinking versus feeling, the harder versus the softer side.

Instantly captivating from the onset, the band charges in full steam with a couple of very "live feel" jams that give evidence to the bands reputation as a dynamic live/festival act. Into a set of melodic, hook-laden pop numbers that tributes the band's many and varied influences melded into their own style.

A natural flow into lower gear to the more introspective ballads depicts the epic journey through the experience of relationships. Sublime ambience and organic washes punctuated by heart felt crescendos of dramatic intensity characterize this soulful part of the set. Rounding off with an intimate ditty of innocent naiveté. With this album the band has documented it's natural evolution as an edgier more substantial musical entity. Dave Mann, a formidable songwriter, conjuring cathartic lyrics delivered with dynamics of strength as well as unabashed venerability... either way, he sings his heart out. At the core, is a rockin' three piece, enhanced by sometimes subtle, sometimes fully orchestrated layers of augmentation. Throughout, there is an evolved sense of musicality in the real meaning of the word. Melodic beauty and raw energy exists with spontaneous improvisation and textural sound scapes in a rich tapestry of this sonic journey.
Heart Over Mind is an outstanding testament of artists in prime creative form.
 

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Heart Over Mind - Album Review, Fasterlouder.com.au.

The anticipated second full-length album from the Dave Mann Collective hit the shelves this month, showcasing both the ability to Oz-Rock with the best of them, as well as reflect matters of heart and soul in song.

Heart Over Mind is aptly titled, for it illustrates how The Dave Mann Collective seems to approach both their lives and their art. The opening track is pure unadulterated Oz-Rock, catchy and simple, it takes you back to summer nights at the local pub, when everything was chilled and easy. It is a journey album that could easily relate to life, relationships, history, or whatever scope you wish to put it under. The difference in tone between the first and last tracks reflect the furthest extremes of head and heart.

The beginning of the album, the mind part, has a spontaneous, live feel to it. Tracks like Fishing, Everybody’s Girl and I Always Said highlight the intelligent and rational observations one makes about life and new friends. These songs contain people you have met, but they don’t intrude, and so work well when your heart strings don’t want to be touched.

The title track, Heart Over Mind is the pivot point of the album, and reflects that moment when your heart begins to make more decisions than your mind. Necessarily more personal, the second half of the album describes beauty, pain and longing, and interestingly, is more heavily-produced than the first half, almost as if to make up for the lack of rational head-influence in the songs themselves.

Musically, part two is ambient and soaring, even dipping it’s toes into some psychedelic guitar soup at times. Mann makes more use of his vocal skill, allowing moments of pure emotion to creep into his delivery, while the instruments flow around the stories he tells. Grace Emily is a particularly beautiful example of the way music can be used to reflect a state of heart. The tracks on this half of the album are predominantly in a minor key, and the heart allows the silences to remain, adding to the intensity and depth, unlike the head, which is more inclined to fill the empty spaces with babble to protect itself from introspection.

The Dave Mann Collective are touring Heart Over Mind around Australia.

Fasterlouder.com.au. May 2008.

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Heart Over Mind - Album Review, thedwarf.com.au

A second album is always going to be a tough one, with a first album no one really knows you and you are creating a musically footprint for others to admire, enjoy and follow. The Second Album has many expectations; will it rise to a new level? Or will it try to mirror the first to keep the die-hard fans happy? The guys from Dave Mann collective have been quite bold and innovative in their approach to this album, clearly following their ‘Heart over Mind’ has paid off.

The music has been divided in to two parts that can be easily listened to as two small albums or as a stimulating journey from the mind to the heart. The first section of the album is an intentional passage through the course of a life lived with head, mind and logic overpowering the heart. Musically the ‘mind’ part has deep rhythmic and rock beats, providing a powerful symbol of strength and control for living and loving. You cant help but tapping your feet and maybe breaking out in some lounge room dancing to the song ‘We’ll Be Fine’ as you sing along to it you’ll realise that a ‘go-nowhere’ relationship has a time and a place to use your head and get out or at least ‘Its just for a while that we have to part…’ and then convince yourself that ‘we’ll be fine’/ by chanting it out as a mantra in the chorus. ‘Heart over Mind’ opens up the thinking that in life sometimes it is better to follow your mind over your heart and especially in the song ‘my time’ Dave Mann Collective invites you to “…enjoy here and now, Every now and then you need to remind yourself to breathe, see the beauty in simple things/”

The title track provides the distinct divider between the two sections and a beautiful transition of thinking to feeling. “Heart Over Mind” has a raw honesty in the lyrics expressing knowledge of the place for the heart and the mind while still recognising that ‘The difference is unkind, now I must decide”. Melodically this song perfectly compliment’s the deep rhythm and pace of the first section of the album, and the slow gentle rock of the second half.

The transition has been made and now its time to slow it down and allow the soothing Ballard’s to seep through the veins from your mind and into your heart. The raw honesty of a naked heart is honourably expressed in this part of the album; lyrically the guys didn’t shy away from delving deep into the agony of a beating and bleeding heart in ‘Locked Out’ and ‘Grace Emily’. One of the most powerful and humbling Ballard’s is the song ‘Reach out’ inspired by the movie “Rabbit Proof Fence”.

The message is clear; following your heart is usually a bigger risk, but more rewarding and worthy of the risk.

Lisa, thedwarf.com.au.

Heart Over Mind album review.

Xpress Magazine. April 3rd, 2008.

The anticipated follow-up from the DMC has finally arrived. Clocking in at just over an hour, the collection of 14 songs encompasses two sides of this dynamic group - consisting of Dave Mann on guitar, Roy Martinez on bass and Jade Masters on percussion.
The first half is a full on mix of bluesy, crowd pleasing rock with live favourites All That I Want, Fishing, We’ll Be Fine and Everybody’s Girl and the like getting the studio treatment, with the long polishing period paying dividends.
Title track Heart Over Mind signals a change of pace to slower, more atmospheric numbers - including the mesmerising track Reach Out (inspired by the movie Rabbit Proof Fence) along with the songs about loneliness on the road and love in Locked Out and Grace Emily, which introduce some effective keyboard and string highlights.
Whilst the second half risks some overproduction on Crashing Down, the overall album is a damn fine package from these local lads, showcasing everything that is great about this band’s song writing, musicianship and powerhouse live shows. The next big thing from the west?

STEVE GROVES.

Heart Over Mind album review. (Bob Gordon)

DAVE MANN COLLECTIVE - HEART OVER MIND
 
Where does one go to make a difference that’s all the difference?
 
For Dave Mann, his band’s second full-length album needed to capitalise on their trademark strengths, yet take them to new heights musically. With this in mind he took bassist Roy Martinez, drummer Jade Masters and live engineer James Newhouse to his family’s 100 year-old house in Margaret River (a blissful three hours south of Perth). 
 
It was a chance to escape from domestic distractions whilst being at a home away from home...
 
We just relaxed and had a good ol time, Mann recalls fondly. We got the songs down as they wanted to come out. It was a really nice environment down there amongst the trees, without the distractions of the city.
 
It’s been a place that I’ve been going to throughout my life... it’s just got a great energy about it. We could really focus and get inside the songs.
 
If there was a vision for Heart Over Mind, Mann says it was simply to do it differently from the first Dave Mann Collective album. This was a time for the band to indulge them selves (in the best possible way, of course) without being overly confined by time or budget constraints.
 
We wanted to just get in there and see what we were capable of, Mann explains, to see what we could do with the resources we have, the skills we’ve got and our experience at this point. It was really quite a joint effort between myself, Roy and Jade. We’ve ended up with an album that’s quite a big production in the end.
 
The result is what one might term a  fulsome album. New attention was paid to arrangements and instrumental parts, a string section here, a didgeridoo there. Rather than come up with a concept for the whole album, the band wanted to see how far they could explore each song individually.
 
It was a really collective effort, Mann says. Everyone really put in their 50 cents worth. Sometimes people get this idea from the word Collective as though it means that I just grab whoever I can at the time, but we’re a really tight unit now, a solid line-up. The guys are really committed and really into what we do. I’ve opened my door a lot for their creative input and it was really quite a big effort from everyone.
 
The creative burst for the album was led by Reach Out, a dramatic, soundscape-driven track inspired by the film, Rabbit Proof Fence. The song has been a  standout for some time now in the band’s live sets, but had proven difficult to record during previous attempts.
 
“It has such a spontaneous, improvisational aspect to it which has been really hard to capture on tape, Mann explains. We thought in going to Margaret River it might work down there... we feel we’ve gotten as close as we can replicating it on CD to what we do live. We knew if we could get that song down right then we were well on our way to having a good album.
 
The title track sums up Mann’s take on not only songwriting, but life itself.
 
It tells a story of following your heart over following your mind, Mann says. It seems to be the path that’ll give you the right answers and the most fulfillment. That sort of encapsulates the 14 songs as a whole.
 
Also especially close to Mann’s heart is the song, I Always Said. While it represents a different direction musically, for the band, in a lyrical sense it evokes the journey that the singer/songwriter has gone through and the sense of arrival he has since discovered.
 
It paints a picture of me realising that I’ve achieved a lot of those goals that I set out to do, he ponders. Back in the day all I wanted to do was make a living out of playing my music and releasing CDs.
 
Now I find myself there - here it is, here I am. I’ve really got to take it and enjoy each minute of it because it’s everything I’ve ever worked for. I’m in a position that I’ve worked hard for, now I’ve got to set the bar further ahead and move it towards the next level.
 
Heart Over Mind is the next level for the Dave Mann Collective. Step right up...

Bob Gordon, X-press Magazine.

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Dave Mann Collective bio.

“Collective” is the operative word here because it truly describes the essence of the Dave Mann Collective. Dave - who personifies the dinky-di, ”favourite Aussie son”- has rounded up a melting pot of musicians who make up a collective “slice” of Australian culture.
Banding together bass player, Roy Martinez with roots from 6 nations and a musical swag that encompasses a multitude of worldly influences, as well as Jade Masters, a drummer of indigenous lineage, bringing his tribal, rhythmic roots. Together they create a collective musical experience greater than the sum of the parts.

Dave Mann Collective has supported artists such as The Whitlam’s, Pete Murray, The Cat Empire, Eric Bibb, Thirsty Merc, Jeff Lang, Diesel, Jeff Martin and Lior. Dave Mann Collective has also played major Australian festivals including the West Coast Blues And Roots Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Fairbridge Festival, Blues at Bridgetown, Folk Rhythm & Life and Peat’s Ridge Festivals to name a few.

As front man, Dave commands a striking stage presence; not only for his towering stature, but moreover for his impressive dynamism. He can morph from his laid-back folk crooner persona - with a voice that melts into musical nirvana- to the energetic burst of the iconic pub-rock front man, belting out an impassioned cry as if his life depends on it! Coupled with his battle-scarred acoustic guitar as his weapon of choice, Dave delivers his bittersweet songs with musical virtuosity and red-raw emotion. The songs themselves are artistic gems in the tradition of the timeless classics: strong, memorable hooks; heart-felt, profound lyrics that depict Dave’s autobiographical take on life. From the uniquely poetic view of the everyday, thru to the weighty narrative of social/political issues. No matter what format, Dave is highly individual in his expression… in every aspect, one can feel the ache, the elation and the passion of his beliefs all presented by a seasoned well-traveled artist whose style still remains fresh & constantly evolving, yet instantly recognizable. There is always a resonance of familiarity - with soaring melodies channeled from the musical “ether” and then set in stone. Crafted expertly like true artisans into sometimes organic, less-is-more understatements to orchestrated sounds capes… from classic 3-minute pop anthems to the odd experimental seed that turns into a no-holes-barred roller-coaster jam. The band plays with a fervor & intensity that is characteristic to the DMC style - seasoned musicians on top of their craft. The live show truly depicts the dynamic range of the band’s talents… diverse yet characteristically their own.

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  Archives... (old stuff...)

Soulshine Review - Fly By Night Club.

When you walk out of a gig truly amazed at the ability of the musicians you just witnessed, as you do that of Dave Mann Collective, you can’t help but ask yourself what kids are listening to these days?

Dave Mann Collective, together, forms one of the most scintillating acoustic blues, folk-rock acts gracing the Australian pub scene today. When you walk out of a gig truly amazed at the ability of the musicians you just witnessed, as you do that of Dave Mann Collective, you can’t help but ask yourself what kids are listening to these days? Vocal quality a strength, together with the exquisite talents of pianist Tony Burke, bassist Roy Martinez and the cracking percussion of Jade Masters produces a unique sound that can only be commended.

Since I saw DMC last time supporting Lior almost a year ago now, they have moved from strength to strength. Recently releasing the ‘Everybody’s Girl’ single as a precursor, together with the ‘All That I Want’ single tour, to the much-anticipated new album ‘Heart Over Mind’ due out later this year. Their live performances no different, progressing from a constant soft acoustic sound characterised by the crowd favourite ‘Wake Up’ to the revival of old school reggae tunes and a sweet blend of folk rock.

The start, a slow building introduction to ‘Alysha Sky’, taking the crowd by surprise-creating an immediate sense of awe. The performance building up with new song, ‘Crashing Down’, a moving turning point for the act. The mood lifting with the familiar ‘Fishing’ and crowd favourite ‘Everybody’s Girl’ getting the crowd into the groove. Then finishing with a tremendous rendition of Bob Marley’s ‘Stir it up’, and a moving climax - ‘Reach Out’. A stupendous slow burning climax from start to finish.

Photo and review By Jordan Mulroney.

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West Coast Blues & Roots Festival

Jordie Kilby Senior music producer TripleJ & presenter of TripleJ's Roots 'n' All.
"One of the highlights of my recent trip to the Fr...
"One of the highlights of my recent trip to the Freo Blues and Roots Festival was seeing the Dave Mann Collective. Dave and his band have spent many years honing a unique earthy roots sound that had me hooked from the moment they hit the stage. Dave's vocals are strong and the band behind him cook. Check em out any time you get the chance......."

Pete Murray support, Kings Park, Perth. Nov '04. Perthsounds Ezine

"Dave Mann Collective has to be one of the most pr...
"Dave Mann Collective has to be one of the most promising acts in the country. Great voice, some tasty guitar playing and most of all some nice tunes."

Xpress Magazine, Sun May 8 '05. Brett Ladhams.

Dave Mann Collective oozed a confidence and collec...
Dave Mann Collective oozed a confidence and collectivism that couldn't help but impress the already brimming venue. The majority of the Dave Mann Collective set is an upbeat take on roots rock, with a nice pop twist for good measure. Combine this with a healthy stage presence and you have a band destined to win over any new crowd…

Volume Mag, Newcastle. Sarah Hall, Volume Magazine.

The Dave Mann Collective came on stage, and there was a new atmosphere in the room. Girls were sitting on the dance floor watching the three, very beautiful, Fremantle boys and everyone was suddenly smiling at each other. Magic!
The Collective took the first half of the gig slowly and I would have liked to see them warm up a little bit quicker. Feet did get stomping though and the girls switched from sitting on their asses to shaking them.
Dave pulled a chair onto the stage so he could slam into his slide guitar even harder. "It's a little more home grown when you're sitting on a chair." He explained.
Where these three guys found their special little brand of magic I don't know, but it's there. I hope it stays.

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Endless Page LP, Sydney Morning Herald Erik Jensen, Sydney Morning Herald

"The Dave Mann Collective's debut album pursues warmth through understatement. The Perth-based trio craft root-rich pop that borrows from country, soul and reggae to arrive somewhere around Xavier Rudd sans didgeridoo. On "Butter", Mann's slide guitar and the patter of mandolin turn bucolic restraint into subdued attraction, while "Alysha Sky" recalls Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Tuesday's Gone", bearing the same emotional bruising. DMC find splendour in their reservation, fashioning hippie lullabies and whisky-soaked love songs that are as pleasant as they are searing with intensity."

Endless Page LP, Groove Magazine. Sylvester Fox, Groove Magazine

I was sent an advance unmastered version of many of these tracks a full year ago. I couldn't stop playing it. And the same goes for the final version. These were my thoughts then about some of the songs and they still ring true. "Who you are (Not you've got). Uplifting message and a good analogy for the album as a whole, which is what you see is what you get. "Extraordinary". Reggae anyone? Don't let this one fool you, it's into a monster chorus on the forty-five second mark, totally blowing away any thoughts of chairman Marley. "Endless Page". This is a beautiful song no other way to say it. Exquisite Dobro. "Surrender". This is my favourite production number. The combination of "kettle" drums, Hammond, bass and acoustic guitar is magic. "The Child Within". Half time country whisper with soul. Perfect drums from Brent Whitworth. "Don't take it personally". Another down tempo hit. "What I Did". A great lead line. Expert poetry on this one, the words bounce off each other. Roy Martinez's bass line is pure mastery. Like a good wine these tracks just get better with time, this deserves to do as best as it can!

Endless Page, Vita Magazine. Vita Magazine.

Endless Page is the perfect late night album, best listened to with a glass of red wine in hand – a recently broken heart is optional. This soulful collection of blues tinged ballads from up-and-coming local band Dave Mann Collective is a winner from start to finish. From the reggae tinged Extraordinary, through to the alt-country stylings of The Child Within. Like the music of the John Butler Trio (also from WA) and surfer-come-folk singer, Jack Johnson, Endless Page reinvigorates and rewrites blues, roots and folk music for modern audiences.

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Endless Page LP, Drum Media. Drum Media, (street press) Sydney.

This is a piece of summer groove that emits a charm from the speakers instantly. In the tradition of some of the more traditional Australian songwriters, Dave Mann puts a swing and a swagger into this recording. At times there is a certain Pete Murray attitude in the lightness and colours on the album, and it has the new sound of roots/folk about it. Hailing from Perth, Mann has definite crossover content to his album even though this is a pretty simple recording without much studio effects.

The big opener is pretty indicative of Mann's muse. "Who Are You" is uplifting loose and joyous to listen to. "Butter" is at the opposite end of the spectrum with a basic banjo and snare sound and the whole thing feels very rural without any country twang, thank God.

The acoustic backing of the band suits the acoustic lounge vibe that's so popular in Sydney now. Jordie Kilbey's roots programme has played some of these tracks and you get a real feel for Dave Mann's live set as the songs sound as if they have been played by the band straight to tape in the studio. "Through The Eyes Of Another" is a perfect example of the up beat "live" vibe on Endless Page.

Don't expect any amazing chord changes or over wrought lyrics, Mann sings from the heart and from the frets on his acoustic guitar just feeling happy the band is grooving in time. The additional instrumentation of Hammond and slide is great in helping lift the album from its brief doldrums. "Closing Time" hints at more depth. The title track is one of the better moments almost imitating Beck in the verses. It's well worth a listen even though the band isn't doing anything particularly new or clever. Dave Mann no doubt will hit a venue near you and could quite easily become very popular. Mention should be made of the simple yet endearing artwork that makes this one a keeper.

Endless Page, Xpress Magazine.
Xpress Magazine

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Dave Mann Collective – a three-piece currently high on the hot list of emerging musical talent in WA – is carving its own niche in the ever-strengthening roots/rock movement with a typically classic "delicate one-minute, ballsy-the-next" musical feel.
Endless Page is the first full length album from DMC and showcases a diverse cross section of musical influences ranging from the alt/countrified blues of "Child Within" and "Alysha Sky" to pop tinged roots-rock of the radio single "Who you are" and even some threads of reggae such as found in "Extraordinary". Lovers of the Dave Mann ballad will also be appeases by the beautiful "Surrender".