I was asked to interview My Friend The Chocolate sometime in the mid-90s and my reaction was blunt: "Do I have to?". I didn't know the band's music, only the reputation of Not Drowning Waving and the fact that David Bridie was being touted as a genius songwriter. Sitting in what looked like a velvet-covered piano bar, I had to endure a set by the band. Of course, that was the very moment I joined the throngs of devotees and developed deserved respect for the adept musicianship and tunes that have become trademarks of this contemporary pop-edged chamber orchestra. After 15 years, My Friend The Chocolate Cake have defied an unusual name to boast a massive following, Aria Awards, 5 great albums and sold-out festival dates. If you're still saying "huh?", here's the perfect opportunity for you to catch up on the last decade and a half of inspired music: Parade (The Best Of My Friend The Chocolate Cake). There's some beautiful folky, uplifting instrumentals on this collection, but my personal favourite is the lyrically-rich Talk About Love, which I would place in my Top10 Australian love songs. It's a track that makes me completely stop and listen. That doesn't happen often. Amid the brooding cello, floating violins, shuffling snare and subterranean bass, Bridie's voice drifts through these tracks, telling stories with poignant prose that never drifts into the realm of self-indulgence. This style of music could quite easily become unapproachable and high-brow, but it's this act's honesty that allows every fan to understand the music and be a part of each renowned performance. Parade is one of the few 'greatest hits' packages that dutifully represents the desires of its audience.

Browse the ENCYCLOPEDIA of Australian Rock & Pop

Tracklisting
1 Talk About Love
2 The Black Dog Follows
3 More Heart Than Me
4 Lighthouse Keeper
5 The Romp
6 Let's Go Walk This Town
7 A Midlife's Tale
8 Throwing It Away
9 Throwing It Away
10 Here Comes The Sirens
11 Vandorlo (Live At The National Theatre)
12 Nanny's Farewell
13 Cello Song For Charlie
14 The Gossip
15 I Like It Like This
16 Television Theme # 47
17 A Song From Under The Floorboards
18 My Friend The Chocolate Cake (Live At The National Theatre)
19 It's All In The Way

Full listing of MY FRIEND THE CHOCOLATE CAKE releases