Album Review: Kylie Auldist - Family Tree

Whether playing 'yang' to Lance Ferguson's 'ying' in soul power station The Bamboos or striking out on her own stage, Melbourne chameleon Kylie Auldist's latest colourful incarnation is as electro-soul diva.

Once again, it's an authentic celebration of an enviable record collection that will cause regular double taking as to who this is and when it was laid down. Chaka Khan's grooves are definitely in there, as are flashes of Whitney Houston's '80s heyday, but the voice remains undeniably Auldist.

Sensational — complete with a fabulously eye-raising video starring sensational drag queens — places all handbags on the disco floor early where they remain for the entire 11 songs (even if the verses sound strikingly similar to Crowded House's Weather With You). We are family, indeed! And while it's nigh impossible not to be reminded of this record or that as Auldist's Family Tree gets mapped out, it's equally hard to resist simply being carried off by the funk-electro vibes. When Good Time Girl rolls around with a fly Grandmaster Flash-style rap (more of which wouldn't have gone amiss), the hands have long since been thrown up in the air both in defeat of finding a truly original hook and not really caring because it's actually a shitload of fun. They don't make records like — Oh, you know. But then, fans of Anchorman's Ron Burgundy can rejoice, for tucked away in Rewards is a bonafide jazz flute, and it's right about now the funk soul sister's latest feel-good mission is complete.