Winter is finally admitting defeat and spring is, at last, beginning to show itself. Patience for loose, melancholic jams will soon wear thin and tastes will veer towards the concise, poppy and endearing.
It’s no coincidence then that Pop Singles release their debut LP, All Gone during this tumultuous turn of the season. All Gone doesn’t exactly break new ground, nor does it tread too heavily on the collective influences of this Melbourne three-piece. The arrangements of these 11 Smiths and Go-Betweens influenced tracks are sparse at best, yet the potent simplicity of Tam Matlakowski’s lyrics lingers long after the first spin.
What All Gone captures best is a mood; the desire to hold on to a state of mind that’s obviously fleeting. Matlakowski isn’t the most subtle of lyricists, pining heartedly on album standout Are You Still There?
“Has something come between us/Have I grown old?”
It’s this wary frame of mind which not only defines Matlakowski’s lyrics, but also their sonic impact. The Greatest Feeling and the title track show flashes of brilliance, but by refusing to take a leap, they remain reticent and rely on catchy, jangly hooks to get by.
It All Comes Out, which borrows from some of Nirvana’s finer work, is another that might have benefited from some amplification. Yet like much of All Gone, the track stays stagnant in the middle of the road and at the worst of times, struggles to find its footing.
For those days when we walk aimlessly, All Gone will provide ample support. But when decisions are made, All Gone may be left behind.
BY JOSHUA KLOKE
Best Track: Are You Still There?
If You Like This, You’ll Like: Other people making decisions on where to go for dinner
In A Word: Jangly
