There’s nothing more pure than an artist who’s come in to being by playing gig upon gig.
The trail can be cruel, but not when you’re twenty-two year old Melbourne songwriter, Alex Lashlie.
Having bunkered down almost exclusively solo to turn his crafted tales into something for the masses, Lashie has now been joined in the studio by Jeff May on co-production duties.
The ringing tones of Lashlie’s vocals kindly remind of The Frames’ Glen Hansard with a nod to Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes.
No small praise, but it’s the precious, rattle of an acoustic guitar’s strings rising through the mix that hold the record close to home.
Skilful but measured equally by way of the free melodies from the Bon Iver echoes in opener “Troubled Dawn”, there’s so much to like.
Scattered about the tracks are glimpses of Lashlie’s idyllic view of the world.
Deep thoughts are given time to calm at each offering before the shadowy gloom of closer “End Of The Earth/Baptise Liquid” rings out.
A favourite among the city’s Southside gig goers, Lashlie has become one to call their own.
The upsurge in folky melodrama may have peeked across trend-clinging hipsters, but there’s always room for one more.
