Mia Dyson moves on

11 September 2007 by Erin Schrieber

Struck Down is a step in a different direction for Mia Dyson. As she moves away from gritty rock tunes to put the blues back into Aussie blues and roots, this album allows her undeniable skill as a songwriter and musician to quietly shine through.

This record came together in a quiet seaside cottage in Lorne, and while most of these songs have a definite air of melancholy, they’re by no means depressing.

The title track is slow, sweet and memorable; it’s the perfect opener to this record, catching the listener’s attention from the very first spin. The pace is picked up in Never Felt Young, which sounds more like the Mia Dyson of old. Here she reveals her ability behind the piano, while Angus Diggs on the drums brings great rhythm and urgency to the song. 

With The Blue Sky is a perfectly stripped-back cover of this blues ballad, and here it’s easy to appreciate the maturity and unique huskiness of Ms Dyson’s voice, which soars over smooth acoustic and dobro guitar.  And The Driver turns the long haul roadtrip into a voyeuristic journey, as Mia muses on the stories of those she passes on the road.

Her voice is complemented beautifully by fellow Aussie roots singer/songwriter Matt Walker, who also contributes on Cars Fly By, and plays harmonica on Heavy. 

Don’t approach this album expecting more blues rock to make you dance, because you won’t find much of this here. Struck Down has a much more laid-back vibe; the slide guitar and dobro make for a rootsy country sound similar to WA’s Jeff Lang.  This, coupled with her sharp and honest observations of the world (such as People Will Turn on You with it’s commentary on Australia’s tabloid media) mean this a real grower of an album.

While it might take two or three listens before some of these songs reveal themselves, their subtlety and simple perspective makes Mia Dyson’s third album a pleasant surprise.

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