That Johnny Marr guitar jangle. That Grant McLennan lyric set. That Lucksmiths chorus. Sure, this is a musical mosaic, but it's also an entirely arresting work of art on its own accord. It hits with all the pensive, reflective joy of a bittersweet Sunday morning. It's not often you can honestly say "I wish I wrote this song," but a myriad of singer-songwriters will be serving as the proverbial Spartacus on that front after hearing this.

A lot to appreciate here from a production standpoint - the bass is thick and steely, the electronic ambience builds and swells, the synth-strings layer in really nicely. This hits a sweet spot somewhere in-between Digitalism, RUFUS DU SOL and Bronski Beat. A very pleasant, pleasing listen.

I have to pay the bait and switch of this song - luring you in with the quaint acoustic guitar before switching gears to the full-band arrangement. It works really well, although I feel like there should have been a bit more layering to the guitar work and a bit more low-end to the bass to really add that sense of contrast. The constant through the whole thing is Hope's voice - fuck me dead, the kid can sing. No matter what style she's going for, she sounds fantastic. Overall, I think this is impressive and gives us even more promise for whatever may come next from her. There's Hope for the future yet.

After I saw Spacey Jane open for Charly Bliss at the end of July, I spent almost an entire day listening to their song “Balmy.” I couldn't get enough of it. I haven't had quite had that same click with “Good for You” just yet, but I still think it deserves a listen. It's a bright, upbeat rocker that boasts all the calling cards of preppy 2010s indie yet still manages to get a little sting in the tail. Good for them!

Man, you kids fucken swung for the fences on this one hey. I think I heard a kitchen sink in there somewhere - absolutely no expense spared. This sounds huge, and a lot of work clearly went into making it happen. I am thoroughly impressed by the execution here - especially considering this side of the metalcore world isn't normally my thing. Above, Below - more like Above, Beyond.

After catching Egoism live by chance at the end of last year, they have quickly escalated into one of my favourite current Australian bands. They offer up a really fresh musical dynamic, mixing their die-hard love of indie with some really sharp pop sounds. “What Are We Doing?” further explores this dynamic, creating something shimmering and resplendent – fitting, given the song's reflective nature. There really aren't many bands coming out of Sydney that can quite match what Egoism are doing right now, and you're only doing yourself a disservice by ignoring them. Bonus points: A chorus with the words “Hey, listen” in it, which reminds me of playing Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

I feel obliged to tell you that probably not since maybe 2017 have I queued up a song on here by an artist I've never heard before, and found myself singing along within the very first listen. This is a gem. The horns are a perfect touch, the delivery reminds me of Elvis Costello at his most upbeat and the melodies across both vocals and instrumentation are entirely infectious. I am so impressed by this. I want this to get on the radio. I want to get absolutely fucking SICK of this song because I hear it EVERY time I switch on the station. Best of luck to you lot.

So this is really the tale of two songs - the pleasant jangle of the verses and the mean, snarly riff in the chorus. I'm a little confused by the direction - theoretically, you'd use the chorus to go even brighter and poppier, not darker and rockier. Lads, you're a pop band, no matter what new pedals you've bought. This is ALMOST there. I can taste it. It's just falling short. My honest advice: Don't bore us, rethink the chorus.

You ever see someone in the street rocking the shirt of a band you dig and you kinda just give em the knowing nod? I'm like that with bands sometimes, and with these guys I know for a fact we've spent a good chunk of the 2010s listening to a lot of the same sort of bands. These guys like both kinds of music: Balance AND Composure. Even though the influences are clear, I'm impressed with what they've been able to do with them. This really appears to be forging into something distinguishable and identifiably theirs. I'd have made one or two tweaks here and there (the lead in the intro feels a bit too Slash for my tastes), but overall it's a strong showing from a promising new band.