Australian duo releases their first album in five years, bringing their Brisbane-based, uber-chilled, sun-soaked summer vibes and sweet, sweeping harmonies.
Matt Carins and Ryan Henderson found the initial ideas for their new album in the pages of a family album of photographs kept by Carin’s mother. The duo were struck by the differences between these carefully curated and preserved photographs compared to digital photographs captured on a phone, glanced at once or maybe twice, and then almost immediately lost into the ether, likely never to be seen again.
As Carins and Henderson browsed the family album, they initially came up with the song ‘Photographs’. However, as they spent longer looking through the collection, memories of their childhood and carefree teenage days flooded back, inspiring their first collection of new songs since their debut album, ‘Moments’, in 2019.
Despite their connection to the indie-folk scene, Hollow Coves also bring impressive pop sensibilities to their music. The gently strummed acoustic guitars and impeccable vocal harmonies feel like they could have been recorded at any time since the late 60s, with the second track, ‘Letting Go’, sounding like it could almost have been an outtake from Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Sounds of Silence’ sessions. The retro acoustic feel is augmented by the addition of some catchy, poppy synth sounds and an airy, contemporary production that, for this listener at least, occasionally brings to mind ‘Sea Changes’-period Beck.
While Carins came from a musical family background, Henderson took up music after being inspired by a live performance from fellow Australians, the indie folk-pop, brother and sister duo, Angus and Julia Stone. You can still hear their influence on this album, and while Hollow Cove are also in that indie folk-pop category alongside the likes of Ben Howard and Bear’s Den, Hollow Cove also have an even more dream-pop feel to their music.
This is a lovely album that will hit all the buttons for fans of indie folk-pop. And judging from the millions of plays they’ve already had on the various streaming services, there’s going to be a lot of button-hitting over the next few months. Further international success surely beckons.
