The music of David Bridie (see at piano above) features prominently here. He is one of my favourite Australian music artists. You can read more about him in my other posts. Home Improvements is the title track from My Friend the Chocolate Cake‘s (MFTCC) sixth studio album released in 2007. When I lived in Australia I saw the group MFTCC many times and even spoke to Bridie and other band member’s on occasions. I have very fond memories of these events. This Melbourne ‘gypsy-like romp and ballad’ group always hit the sweet spot in my musical taste-buds. Today’s song Home Improvements is one of my preferred releases from them. I was captivated by it from the first moment I heard it.
As the SMH article reports below, the group chose an ‘odd’ subject for their single. Home Improvements is all about consumer distractions – the trappings stopping many of us from taking time out to indulge in life’s simple pleasures. “I guess the Bunnings-IKEA home-improvements stuff is something that a lot of people spend so much time on,” says singer-pianist David Bridie. “We get caught up with financial traps, too; that we need this and need that. I’m certain that it doesn’t make us any happier…Home Improvements is part two to I’ve Got a Plan in some ways (which will feature later here in this music library project)”.
What entails the ‘Music Library Project’?
How ‘bout we just forget the home improvements
Just stop the wall and leave things as they are
How ‘bout we go and live in Barcelona
All Gaudí boys and girls in tapas bars
Those girls in tapas bars
How ‘bout we eat our dinner ‘round the table
And throw the television down the stairs
Take turns to tell each other fables
Talk only of the things for which we care
My Friend the Chocolate Cake were formed initially as an acoustic side project in 1989 by David Bridie on vocals, piano, harmonium and keyboards and Helen Mountfort on cello and backing vocals. Bridie and Mountfort were members of an ambient, world music ensemble Not Drowning, Waving who have featured here as well. My Friend the Chocolate Cake took their name from a song title by an obscure Sydney band, Ya Ya Choral. Bridie admitted that one reason they chose an all-acoustic act was so they did not have to carry around amplifiers.
Below, I have added their humorous video aptly filmed at a Melbourne Flea market. I always get a kick out of it and I hope you do as well.
References:
1. Sydney Morning Herald – My Friend the Chocolate Cake
2. My Friend The Chocolate Cake – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
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