AFTER the cold and late-night synth isolation of Husky's 2017 album Punch Buzz, Stardust Blues is like the warm embrace of your favourite old jumper.
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Last year the Melbourne indie-folk four-piece converged on their soon-to-be-demolished spiritual home, the Westbury Hotel, to write. Those ideas were later recorded in the studio live to 24-track tape. It helped forge the intimate vibe.
It also doesn't hurt that Husky Gawenda has swooped like a musical magpie re-purposing familiar sounds, old and new.
The synth-drenched riff of Light A Cigarette sounds like Lonerism-era Tame Impala before Gawenda's melody steers close to fellow Australian indie band Holy Holy. The Foxes Of Caulfield is also influenced by Kevin Parker's fuzzed-out psych-pop. On Quicksand the influence is more White Album-era Beatles and Dirty Water steers into Americana territory.
Husky never attempts to rush the listener. Stardust Blues is made for quiet contemplation. These are well-crafted songs that reveal themselves slowly through repetition.
3.5 stars
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
