Rolling Stone February 2002

Rolling Stone
February 2002

Andrew McCubbin
Dead Pilot
1am Records/Independent
David Olivetti
Singer/Songwriters less equals more approach is outstanding.
Melbourne singer/songwriter Andrew McCubbin has spent most of his playing years working with others (including spells as a guitarist with the Underground Lover’s Philippa Nihill). He’s now focusing his deep, rich voice and gentle acoustic guitar and piano playing towards expressing his own true emotion. McCubbin’s convincing turn of phrase is similar to Smog’s Bill Callahan, while the classic use of string instruments, repetitive phrasing and occasional drums evokes the vast, still atmosphere of David Bridie. Set amongst a backdrop of church organ drone and peeling guitars, lyrics such as ‘I’ll sit around the fire/ waiting for my life to change’ render Dead Pilot truly affecting. ****