Sweetwater

The sophomore album from Melbourne band The Glorious taps into the laid-back, raw sounds of classic folk music.

The trio have crafted a set of twelve tracks that expand and build upon the band’s penchant for timeless songwriting.

The record moves between slow croons (‘Highs And Lows’, ‘You’ll Always Be Free’) to slightly more breezy tracks (‘These Blazin Nights’, ‘Sweetwater’).

There aren’t any strong contrasts between many of the songs and the whole record is quite relaxed, meaning it becomes a little tired around halfway through.

That being said, there are a few surprising moments nearing the end of the album. ‘You’ll Always Be Free’ brings a noticeable change of pace and is the only track that doesn’t heavily feature guitar strumming or drum beats.

Instead, Dave Mather’s emotionally charged vocals are teamed against the simple notes of a piano. The track seems a touch out of place against its fellow songs on the album given its significantly different musical arrangement.

It comes as no surprise that the trio has plans to take the new album to the United States given their classic American folk inspired sound and that it features a track entitled ‘Memphis’.

That’s not to say that local references don’t make their way into the record. Notably, closing tune ‘On The Capital City Trail’ seems to be a refreshing nod to Melbourne’s renowned walking/bicycle path.

Sweetwater is simple and calm; it invites people to listen as opposed to outright demanding their attention. Although not a groundbreaking feat, this album feels genuine and deserves a listen if you’re looking to relax and unwind.

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