In the mould of The Panics, and The Triffids before them, Melbourne five-piece Love Migrate inhabits a distinctly Australian sound.
It’s music that conjures up cinematic images of jagged coastline swamped by grey clouds and frosty mornings in the hills. It all sounds a bit serious and moody, and it is but not in a depressing way.
Following their debut Australian Music Prize nominated record Plagued Are All My Thoughts, Like White Ants In The Fence, frontman Eddie Alexander sings in the EP title track “I’m ready for change and hope that it’s good.”
Whilst this offering doesn’t indicate a huge shift in what’s come before, it is good and further solidifies what fantastic songwriters they are.
These four songs really are beautifully arranged. They’re simple in structure but rich with orchestral flourishes, whilst remaining restrained and subtle. ‘Falling Through’ is a great example of the group’s harness of dynamics in the most upbeat track of Dissolved.
The title track immediately transports you with its understated guitar lines underpinned by the pulsing bass. After numerous listens ‘Dissolved’ becomes absolutely infectious, especially in the chorus. It highlights Alexander’s strength in creating nuanced melodies.
The frontman’s vocals are a huge part of the Love Migrate sound. There’s a constant vulnerability in his voice that allows us to connect with the themes of personal isolation and contemplative lyrics. However with that comes this constant shakiness that’s most prominent in ‘I Was A Stranger’, to the point of becoming irritating.
