Album review : CASSIDY PARIS – Bittersweet

Frontiers Music [Release date : 21.11.25]

Bittersweet is Australian songbird, Cassidy Paris’s second long player on the Frontiers Music label, a follow up to the debut, New Sensation.

Paris was “discovered” in her youth, and subsequently mentored, by Paul (Danger Danger/ Defiants/ Darkhorse) Laine. He guided her through the recording of two successful EPs, each a calling card that ultimately led the Frontiers label to her door.

The relationship has lasted, and has gone beyond the advisory, to writing material (with Steve Brown) for this new album.

Presentation is as important as content, that’s the advice she’s been getting.

I’m not sure that dancing on a bar counter, scantily clad, gyrating like she’s got an itch that she just can’t scratch was the advice they had in mind.

That teaser trailer video of ‘Nothing Left To Lose’ doesn’t do a lot for the third wave of feminism. If it’s meant as parody then many will miss the point.

‘Finish What We Started’ and ‘Can’t Let Go’ have Paul Laine’s fingerprints all over them… the country rock tones echo his Dark Horse years. Both are head and shoulders above the generic openers. Both strong songs. A perfect fit for her voice.

Paris has gone some way in casting off her eighties AOR straitjacket, leaving only the best remnants behind.

That said, in the right hands, the sense of drive and urgency that renders the best melodic rock so compelling can still be achieved by precise, uncluttered arrangements (as well as good songwriting).

The feelgood, lyrically strong ‘Undecided’ is one. An upbeat pop/rock song, pushed along by punchy, piercing axework.

‘Sucker For Your Love’ is another. A brash, brazen, chart aimed slice of accessible rock. ‘Anybody There’ just about falls into this category too. More reined in, more considered, but has the momentum.

And that will take her somewhere, no doubt about it. ***1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

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