Sample a slice of contemporary country from the last 20 years; mix in an alt edge; sprinkle a pinch of indie pop and the result: a rivetingly bright album that blossoms from whichever angle you take in its charms. Fanny Lumsden is an accumulator of tangible and verbal praise in a recording career that appeared to hit a high with the 2020 release FALLOW. That plateau may need to be revised when the traction of HEY DAWN motors on to listeners old and new. The latter is most pertinent as this Australian musician has Europe in her sights backed by a summer visit and seeking fresh ears via promotion. This brand new ten-track album will only need a minimal push as it bristles with a sound designed to court inquisitive souls seeking music that matters.
Alluring songs backed by a stellar soundtrack and a voice born to sing roll into a pleasurable single listen sitting where a varied tempo sweeps you up in an imaginative haze. Highs spring up on a daily basis until you just accept that a special recording is in your midst bridging the gap between artistic creation and receptive consumption.
The three singles released ahead of the formal album launch reflect the raw credentials of the record's ingredients. The jangly joyful twang to 'When I Die' reverberates around its staging post, while nostalgia literally drips out of 'Ugly Flowers'. 'Millionaire' is a melange of killer indie country pop awash with a catchy melody and carefree theme. If these were the sole riches, you wouldn't be shortchanged, but the sub quota continues to crowd the top shelf.
Leading the way and breaking from the newbie pack is 'Great Divide'. This gives the album a burst of life in the number two slot courtesy of a memorable chorus that echoes like rock 'n' roll royalty. This energetic uplift comes off the back of the evocative opener 'Hey Dawn' when simple piano accompanies a scene setting slow number adorned with harmonies and a slightly ascending beat at the end when a touch of brass appears.
Just over thirty minutes later, the curtain is brought down by a sensitive finale that gets to the crux of what has been set out on this record. 'Stories' is an apt title for an album brimming full of them. The sound strips back leaving the emotive vocals of the album's architect to depart on a tender cloud.
Lumsden's vocals find a new range on the mid-placed track 'Lucky', a song that wanders into folk territory and is heralded by the roots-infused vibes of mandolin. This leads into the familiar terrain of twangy alt-country in the escalating charm of 'Soar'. Another rich offering of feel-good fare.
The twin tracks that bring up the full complement of HEY DAWN reside at different ends of the running order. 'Enjoy the Ride' is a coming down piece in the penultimate slot in a similar roots frame as one or two earlier moments. A neat jigsaw part that is slightly distant from being in the engine room of an album in full flow. In contrast, the lively and vibrant 'You'll Be Fine' is core to the album's early lift and is synonymous to the feel of country and indie pop colliding.
Fanny Lumsden and her merry band of accomplices have conjured up a resonating gem in HEY DAWN. New ears will be refreshed by its breezy splendour and malleable effort of entwining significant songwriting in an assortment of styles that prove complementary. No doubt the live reception will ramp up Down Under upon release and maybe get a a European renewal sometime in the future. For now the accessible riches are well worth diving into.
