We return with our album recommendations series for the summer ahead, revisiting records by The Districts, Gotye, Everything Everything, Ben Salter and Bring Me the Horizon! Get stuck in…
BEN SALTER – The Stars My Destination (2015)
Ben Salter is a musician who has stood the test of time. While it has been five years since the release his debut solo album, The Cat, his career has expanded over 15 years with bands such as Giants of Science, The Gin Club, The Young Liberals and The Wilson Pickers. There is no doubt he knows how to write and produce a cracking tune. But more than this, The Stars My Destination suggested that he is right on the money when it comes to finding that sweet spot where every piece makes sense, and compliments the other. What is left is an inspired, seamlessly beautiful listening experience.
The title track perfectly projects the notion of stars and space and the enormity and weightlessness they portray. As Salter sings in the chorus, “Tonight the stars are my destination. You know the stars are my destination”, all of our cares in the world dissolve into the background, and we are compelled to hit the road and begin this magnetic journey into the distance with Salter by our side. It’s a wonderful beginning.
There is a little bit of everything in this album; Salter brings out every instrument he has in his musical arsenal, and as he pulls off rock to pop with hints of jazz and soul, there is no denying he’s at the top of his game.
GOTYE – Making Mirrors (2011)
By Sosefina Fuamoli
An evocative record from one of Australia’s most treasured contemporary songwriters, Gotye’s Making Mirrors still stands up as one of my favourite Australian releases. “Somebody That I Used To Know” aside, the album spawned some incredible alt-pop songs that were demonstrative of Wally De Backer’s unique songwriting style. “Eyes Wide Open” exuded great drama, “State of the Art” was an abstract painting in musical form and “I Feel Better” was an excellent traipse through the vibrant pop soundscape Gotye well established.
EVERYTHING EVERYTHING – A Fever Dream (2017)
By Larry Heath
With A Fever Dream, Manchester group Everything Everything, who have been pumping out quality product for a decade now, may have peaked. This is a perfect record. While their last album Get To Heaven contained some of their most popular songs to date, it felt like a disconnected bag of wannabe singles. The complement being that pretty much every track could have been one. The quality was high, but it never quite felt like a self-contained product. With A Fever Dream, they have corrected their course and made a stunning record, with a perfect beginning, middle and end – while still managing to fit in some of the best songs the band has ever produced. “Ivory Tower”, “Desire” and “Run The Numbers” are among the many standouts, while “White Whale” is as good of an album closer as you’ll ever find.
Beautifully produced, intricately designed, catchy yet intelligent – A Fever Dream may just be the album of the year. Everything Everything are touring Australia over the new year. They’re sure to be unmissable shows.
THE DISTRICTS – A Flourish and a Spoil (2015)
By Dylan Marshall
One thing A Flourish and a Spoil had going for it is the DIY aesthetic in much of the record. Enlisting producer John Congleton to help out on the album, The Districts’ garage-esque recording style definitely worked in their favour, allowing the listener to connect with the songs as if they were written especially for them. “Chlorine” is a little reminiscent of the earliest material of Alabama Shakes, with its slow burning build throughout the track, and from its subtle and quiet opening, to the hypnotic drum beat and whirlwind close over the latter stages.what sets The Districts apart from similarly situated acts is that they’ve been doing the band thing for a while now, and sophomore release A Flourish and a Spoil went about showing just how well they have their music down pat.
BRING ME THE HORIZON – That’s The Spirit (2015)
By Jana Angeles
Bring Me The Horizon took a huge step in terms of the direction of this record. Although their previous albums seemed to be the peak of their career, it wasn’t long until That’s The Spirit had me hooked. Having heard “Doomed” for the first time, I was astounded by the elements used in this track. The build-up in the beginning of the song with its electronic beats brought a new dynamic to the band – one that was nostalgic of Linkin Park’s nu-metal/electronic approach in their music. Sykes’ vocals are portrayed very well and although less harsh from his usual screaming vocals, you begin to realise how well it works with the instrumentation. The edgy hard rock vibe encounters something that strikes as appealing to the latter.
———-
