Blake Scott released his debut album Niscitam last year. Better known as a member of The Peep Tempel, Blake is revered for his character driven lyrics and pointed songwriting, evident across the band’s three critically acclaimed albums.
In its review of the album, The Saturday Paper stated, “Blake Scott’s new solo album, Niscitam, shows off his prowess as one of Australia s most important songwriters.” The Australian described the album as a “quintessential and challenging yet wholly rewarding career-best effort.” Niscitam was heralded by The Guardian Australia as one of the best Australian albums of 2020 and was nominated for the 2020 Australian Music Prize.
The crowning glory is Swift’s version of I Contain Multitudes, from Dylan’s new album Rough and Rowdy Ways. “It’s a love song, and a prayer,” she said of the song. “And it’s about his life, but it’s also about what art and music and literature can mean to humanity. And to me that’s an extraordinary thing to meditate on, particularly when our social interactions are so limited.” All of the above could be said of Blonde on the Tracks itself.
– Andrew Stafford
The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You
We Will Always Love You is a miraculous-sounding record, infatuated with the universe and the infinite nature of energy, light and – especially – sounds that echo in the void for eons. Sample-based music is inherently tactile; artists like the Avalanches pick up and tool around with old vinyl that’s traded hands before. And on this record, they’ve leaned into that tactility and the sensoriality of music, turning images into sound and back again (Star Song