News

Live Music is Back, Melbourne! Plus: Flipped Interviews are ON!

February 2, 2021

“Startling Originality”

September 24, 2019

So, we put out the first Spirograph Studies album this year, and we've started receiving some reviews! This one appeared in The Australian, written by Eric Myers on August …read more

Sparkly, new Spirograph Studies videos!

March 7, 2019

Spirograph Studies have gotten around to filming a few select tracks from our up and coming release, Kindness Not Courtesy. We had a super fun day at Lorna Practice Rooms in …read more

It is getting to the business end of the year now... This weekend is the wonderful Wangaratta Jazz Festival 2016, and it proves to be a great one! On Saturday, I'm playing with four different …read more

Hi Everyone!

May 15, 2016

So, I'm not very good at posting regularly. Is this a disclaimer? It looks like one. However, what I'm really doing (right this second) is letting you know that even though I don't blog my every …read more

New website… Excited??? Yes. Yes i am.

April 5, 2015

Hi Everyone! Welcome to the new Tamara Murphy website, the HQ of Murphy's Law and many other projects, old and new (more of that to come). Have a look around: check out some music, upcoming gigs, …read more

Murphy’s Law hit the Melbourne Recital Centre

May 4, 2014

Well, it’s been a busy couple of months! We’ve been gearing up for our upcoming show: This Saturday, May 10th, Murphy’s Law are performing Big Creatures & Little Creatures at the …read more

Ben Caplan Tour

January 8, 2014

Happy New Year everyone! I’ve just come off a nice little tour with Canadian singer, Ben Caplan. We started at the Woodford Folk Festival just after Christmas and played at a bunch of places on …read more

Thanks Roger Mitchell!

May 13, 2013

Thanks to Roger Mitchell for taking these lovely pics! I was playing with Cannonball – here is the link to the full article in Roger’s blog: …read more

Keller-Murphy-Browne gig review

January 23, 2013

Here’s a lovely review of the Keller-Murphy-Browne gig on Monday night at bennett’s lane, by Eric Pozza, from his blog, Canberra Jazz… To see it live, go to: …read more

Album of the week

January 14, 2013

We are very honoured by Eastside radio in Sydney, who have made Big Creatures & Little Creatures album of the week!! Go …read more

Bandcamp: we have arrived.

January 8, 2013

It’s a new year and here at Murphy’s Law HQ, we are trying to fulfil our resolutions by getting a bit more organised and putting all of our albums up on Bandcamp for all of our local supporters…read more

Here it is!

November 20, 2012

So, our newest album is available on Bandcamp! Go to http://murphyslawmelbourne.bandcamp.com to grab a copy… This is what it looks like:…read more

A ** band…. (or at least a * review)

November 13, 2012

We just saw today’s copy of The Age, with a great review of our CD launch! …read more

CD LAUNCH shenannigans

November 11, 2012

Our CD launch is tonight!!! Hope to see lots of friendly folk down at Bennett’s Lane!! And in other news, we are now live on Bandcamp!! You can purchase our new album ‘Big Creatures & …read more

Big Creatures and Little Creatures are on their way!

October 16, 2012

Hey All! We’re very excited as our new CD is currently in production! We’ll have pics up here soon of the amazing artwork (by local artist, Jacqueline Murphy), plus we’re doing 100 special …read more

Reviews

Spirograph Studies at the Melbourne Recital Centre, February 20, 2021

How the world of live music has changed. It's all about managing the audience experience, where health and safety now have priority, and audiences need to wear a mask through the whole performance. The foyer bar is closed, there is no merch for sale, no meet-and-greet after the show.
So what is left? The music, of course. In this case, the mesmerising, cinematic compositions from Tamara Murphy, bassist and leader of Melbourne-based Spirograph Studies. Along with Fran Swinn, guitar, Luke Howard, piano, and James McLean, drums, the quartet performed compositions from their recording Kindness, not Courtesy, along with some pieces from their upcoming CD.
I was excited to hear the quartet again, after seeing them at the Melbourne Jazz Festival a few years ago. To my ear, the music invites contemplation, being almost meditative at times, so that the listener travels with the developing melodic motifs, as well as the lovely harmonic changes. It felt like being in a kaleidoscope of sound and texture, inviting many emotional responses. Each performer shines individually for a time, then joins with the others to continue the forward-moving, ever-changing musical journey.
Swinn played some beautiful lines and motifs, with a tone that reminded me at times of Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny, while Howard's evocative piano brought to mind some of the work by Tord Gustavsen. Murphy and McLean created a solid structural foundation, while always having breath and space in their rhythms and bass lines.
In the subtly lit space of the Primrose Potter Salon, I was grateful to be hearing this music, and to be wearing a mask that enabled me to be a part of this wonderful performance. Bravo, Spirograph Studies.

Natasha Moszenin
February 24, 2021

Kindness, Not Courtesy
Album Review
The Music Trust

“This album absorbed me with its understated movement, subtle colour shifts, beautiful melodic interaction, and textural approach to music making.”

Kindness, Not Courtesy is the debut album of the four-piece group from Melbourne, Spirograph Studies. It is an absorbing and distinctive album featuring the beautiful interplay of pianist Luke Howard, guitarist Fran Swinn, bassist Tamara Murphy and drummer James McLean. The compositions are simple sounding but thoughtfully crafted and well-designed vehicles for the ensemble to showcase the eclectic taste and versatility of the players. Their formidable ability makes everything sound effortless and, in every track, we can hear their enjoyment in making music together. Seven of the eight tracks were written by bandleader and bassist Tamara Murphy and the album takes the listener on a lovely journey through delicate and warm soundscapes.

From the first track it, is clear that these musicians are committed to making music together using a collective and textural approach. There is seldom a dedicated soloist, instead, there is space and respect from each player which allows the material to be explored by everyone simultaneously. Where one would normally expect to hear a solo from any of the accomplished soloists in the ensemble, we hear their collective approach to making music together interactively using excellent interplay, warmth, and empathy. On the rare occasion when someone is moving to the foreground for a feature, the high level of interplay and interaction is never lost.
While the album is generally quite gentle and warm, there is a healthy progression and variety to the material. There are not many sharp corners to the music; phrases stretch naturally, and the music breathes. One section leads organically to the next and the listener relaxes and enjoys the journey. The longest track on the album, the almost 10-minute composition Gospel, is an excellent example of this pacing. Beginning with a bold use of space and restraint, the track gradually swells and builds. Instead of feeling empty, the initial space draws the listener in to hear the material gently unfolding with curiosity and trust.
There is a lovely arc to the album and the first five tracks are nicely balanced by the more active final three pieces. The influences and musical tastes of the performers are diverse but merge together very successfully, allowing for the group to traverse many different landscapes as a cohesive unit. In the darker R & R and Gromp City we hear a tasteful use of Rockier musical sensibilities. The final track M31 by James McLean brings another colour to the album. Following the light moving guitar introduction, the performers gradually layer and increase the activity and density over the next seven minutes to construct a captivating textural sound world.
There was not a traditional hierarchy to the music and while this was one of the strengths of the album, it did take my ears some time to adjust. My attention was constantly zooming in and out to hear the beautiful detail each of the players was bringing to the music while also refocusing to hear how everyone was working together to build the colourful soundscapes.
Each subsequent hearing revealed more detail. It was a pleasure listening to the interplay between members and how they move through and explore the beautiful material together. This album absorbed me with its understated movement, subtle colour shifts, beautiful melodic interaction, and textural approach.

Rafael Karlen
https://musictrust.com.au/loudmouth/kindness-not-courtesy-spirograph-studies/ July 27, 2020

All Reviews