Walk-A-Bout, The: Things Are Looking Up EP

An Aussie-American collective hailing from Long Island, New York, The Walk-A-Bout released their self-titled debut album in 2017, and now follow it up with the six track EP, Things Are Looking Up. The name of this release instantly paints a picture; ‘down on our luck and only one way we can go’ seems to be the ethos on show here, an Ausmericana style brought to bare in a reasonably stark setting and with no little soul. You’d expect the title track to be an upbeat holler of good times and positivity and yet, the mid-paced mood and vocal drawl from Darren ‘Sully’ Sullivan grounds things in a forceful but melancholic situ.

“That’s Just The Way It Goes� continues the theme, a phasing keyboard motif adding a real 70s feel to the low strummed but well intentioned ideals. The mood is similar, but here things click resolutely into place, making for an EP highlight. Dave Christian on electric guitar and Kevin Anderson on guitar (there’s a lot of acoustic strumming to be found here, so I’m guessing that’s from Kev) lock in tight and while The Walk-A-Bout go about their day at a slow and steady pace, there’s no doubt they forge an interesting path as they do so. If anything “By My Side� brings proceedings even further into enigmatic territory, but the guitar solo mid-song knows how to sting, while “Consequences� adds the first real upturn in mood, a blues-harp shouting the song’s introduction before a more jaunty beat takes up the theme. Reverting to type “Oasis� eases back into the more languid style, while closing cut “Drifting Tide� continues once again in the same steady atmosphere.

Across these six tracks The Walk-A-Bout do a good job of snaring your attention and individually each song has a lot to recommend. Collectively, however, you could suggest that there’s possibly too much of a reliance on similar themes and ideas and while it’s difficult to pick fault with any of the songs presented, as a full release, Things Are Looking Up doesn’t quite pack the same punch. Still, if laid back Americana with a little twist sounds intriguing you could do much worse than add these songs to your playlists.

Track Listing
1. Things Are Looking Up
2. That’s Just The Way It Goes
3. By My Side
4. Consequences
5. Oasis
6. Drifting Tide

Added: December 8th 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: The Walk-A-Bout online
Hits: 833
Language: english

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