I became acquainted with Peter Shambrook about two years ago, when I saw him open for Rick Elias and Margaret Becker. I had never heard of him before and, to be honest, I wasn't expecting a lot. I was pleasantly surprised with his voice and stage presence, as Shambrook gave a performance that made a fan out of me, as well as a large part of the audience.
His two Frontline releases, a self-titled debut and Love Unseen, have shown insights into a musician who writes from personal experience and who isn't afraid to tackle sensitive, emotional issues. A native Australian who came to this country about seven years ago, Shambrook is equally comfortable with singing about his love for God or his love for his wife and child.
Live at Cafe Lido is just what the title suggests-Shambrook performing at a club, which provides a warmer, more intimate feeling than many live recordings have. With a five-piece band and one backup singer, Shambrook plays eight tunes, most of which are from his second album, and one previously unrecorded song. The music alternates between upbeat pop tunes and ballads, and includes several opportunities for the band to jam a little. Shambrook writes some very melodic songs, and you might find yourself humming snatches of them several hours after you've finished listening to the album. Some of the more memorable ones are "Through The Ages," (the only cut from his first album) "Faith Again," "Never Leave You Crying," and "I Believe In You."
Shambrook has a smooth, expressive voice, and does a good job of connecting with his audience. His band does a great job, and the members seem to play off of each other well. I have no idea whether they usually play as a unit, or if they just got together for this recording, but they put on a credible performance.
In a couple of places, Shambrook stops to talk to the audience about his family and his faith-relating some insights on his music. He's an unassuming individual, who doesn't seem to aspire to more than to be able to share his music with people, and hope that it touches them in some way. I think he accomplishes that.
