Review’s Isolation Room: James Reyne’s intimate duo take on Hammerhead

From his home on the Mornington Peninsula, the former Australian Crawl frontman offers a superb duo version of a hit from his 1987 solo album. | WATCH

James Reyne plays Hammerhead, performed at his home on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, for Review’s Isolation Room – a video series starring top musicians, writers and artistic performers. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

One of the pure joys of songwriting is when the tongue and the pen converge on a set of syllables that have never been sung in that particular combination before.

James Reyne has racked up plenty of those moments in a recording career dating back to 1980 with the Victorian rock band he co-founded, Australian Crawl, but there’s a curious gem in a single from his solo debut that continues to titillate the ear 34 years after its release.

“Some silken slip of evil,” he sings in the chorus of Hammerhead, conjuring an image that marries perfectly with a shark circling its prey.

Or it could represent the creeping terror of a drug addiction, or feeling trapped in a toxic relationship, or however else listeners have chosen to interpret those words since the song was released in 1987.

“The old gag with me, because of the first couple of Australian Crawl records, is, ‘I don’t understand what he’s singing!’” Reyne told The Weekend Australian. “But then sometimes, you’re not attuned to hearing things like ‘silken slip’.”

“I like the alliteration of it, and that’s always a good songwriting trick: when in doubt, chuck a bit of alliteration in there, and that will usually get you past a bit of a block,” he said.

For Review’s exclusive Isolation Room video series, Reyne has recorded a superb duo version of Hammerhead at his home on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.

In a welcome break from his work as a fruit and vegetable delivery driver, musician Josh Owen joins him on guitar and back-up vocals. “He had all the right passes to come down here: he’s an essential worker, because without him, I’d be nothing,” said Reyne with a laugh.

Since releasing his 12th solo album Toon Town Lullaby last year, the singer-songwriter has had precious few opportunities to perform songs of any sort – new or old – before a live audience, owing to lockdowns and interstate travel restrictions.

James Reyne at his home on the Mornington Peninsula last month. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

Still, among the disappointments and uncertainties shared by so many performers across Victoria and NSW, there remains one shining date on the calendar which Reyne is working toward.

For the past decade or so, the frontman and his bandmates have upheld an annual tradition of performing at The Corner Hotel on Melbourne Cup Eve, which this year falls on Monday, November 1.

That night, the band will play a live-streamed concert from The Corner in Richmond on the eMusic Live platform, and $5 from each ticket sale will be donated to the music industry charity Support Act.

If restrictions allow, hopefully a few punters will be able to join them in the room, too. But like so many Victorians, they’ll just have to wait and see.

“It doesn’t generate income or anything,” said Reyne of the streamed concert. “But it’s good to play, to keep your hand in and to remind people that we’re here. We will be doing shows at some stage, in one form or another.”

To rewatch our Review’s Isolation Room archive, click here.