Aussie four-piece SLOWLY SLOWLY’s latest offering, ‘Forgiving Spree’, has one simple goal – to be “a really solid rock album that has no filler on it.” It’s a bold and daring claim to make ahead of release, and off the back of a second Top Ten album in the Australian charts upon release, it’s a high bar to follow. With Ben Stewart at the helm, writing impactful, emotive and catchy rock songs, are they able to reach and maintain these lofty ambitions?
Title track ‘Forgiving Spree’ is a bouncy start to the album, packed with bold guitar licks and Stewart’s huge, yet refined, vocals. It’s a fantastic sign of things to come as the album progresses through; ‘Gimme the Wrench’ is simply colossal, and it’s not hard to imagine how well-received it’ll be on their next tour. Despite how early it is in the album, it’s easy enough to state that ‘Gimme the Wrench’ is a definite highlight.
‘‘Love Letters’ is a sugary sweet love song; dripping with both tenderness and power, Stewart’s lyrics really shine through, showcasing the utter adoration he holds for his wife, a recurring theme throughout the album – lines such as, “When I’m out of your reach / but you’re the only one who can hear me” may seem almost too saccharine, but they fit the tone of this album so incredibly well. ‘How Are You Mine’ is similar; fun guitars and clever drum work comes together to create a hugely entertaining track dedicated to his muse.
Therefore, ‘Hurricane’ is quite a stark contrast that’s sandwiched between them; on first listen, it could easily be mistaken as another love song (“My heart is thumping / my throat keeps lumping / I’m part of something bigger than me”), but belies something darker and more heart-breaking. It’s an open and raw regaling of the loss Stewart and his wife faced when she miscarried; despite the delicate subject, Stewart has recounted what is a tragic story with gentle grace.
‘All Time’ will be the perfect summer soundtrack – when the sun makes an appearance again – and leaves you feeling giddy, thanks to the buoyant and lively atmosphere. Then there’s ‘That’s That’, a simply wonderful and curiously fun celebratory break-up song, with lines of “Well, that’s that / I’ll never be the one you’re thinking about” that will be sung with some gusto and enthusiasm.
‘Meltdown Masquerade’ is simply infectious and is packed with melodies and delicious harmonies, and is another standout on this release. Signing off with a flourish in the form of ‘Born Free’, SLOWLY SLOWLY dial things down in a rather bruising and heartfelt manner, which feels a touch jarring after packing the rest of the album with songs that are more likely to get crowds dancing. However, that’s not to say it’s a bad song – the opposite. It’s a brilliant look at the wide range and scope the band possess, and shows their tremendous talent to lean into both upbeat optimism and aching realism.
SLOWLY SLOWLY have brought a huge and vibrant splash of colour to a grey and miserable winter month. ‘Forgiving Spree’ is testament to the band’s power and is a brilliant and creative piece of work, and does what they set out to do – they really have created a solid rock album with no fillers.
JESS TAGLIANI