With distinct echoes of Cocteau Twins and The Sundays, the third album from Australian indie pop singer-songwriter Harriette Pilbeam is beautifully awash with dream pop guitar effects and her high, sensual breathy vocals, largely co-written with her partner Joe Agius and produced by Jay Som. The title is partly inspired by the flavour of herbal tea she uses to soothe are voice but thematically these songs are all about the overwhelming, exhilarating, and transforming side-effects of infatuation, even if the entirety of the love story only lasts for one night, and captures the bittersweet and salty flavours of that root through a taste of longing and obsession. Highlights include the bright wash and soaring melodies of Only One Laughing with something of that vulnerable vocal ululation of Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries, the distinct thrum and sugary dreaminess of the title track (“All I need is your liquorice kiss”), Carousel’s caressing rhythm and further Cocteau Twins and Liz Fraser feel, the fragile ecstasy of Sage, and while all the tracks carry the mood and level of the album, or the dizzying feeling of Anchor, but none more than Lose It Again with extra rich layers of textured guitar and a combination of lyrics and sound carrying that floating feeling of insecure love: “All the time we thought was wasted / All the while we had it all along / Floating on an endless sea / Your ripples always carried me to shore.” A deliciously uplifting sound capturing the many mixed emotions tossed around at sea, and the woozy excitement when falling in love. Out on Secretly Canadian.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Feel free to recommend more new songs and albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar X, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: