What I love most about this latest five-song-salvo from Austin Willacy is how much sonic ground he can cover with just a handful of songs. But the art is not to merely offer up five songs that are generically and stylistically different from one another but to do so in a way that they are just different enough to still retain the sound and personality of their creator.
And that is precisely what Austin Willacy demonstrates here. The songs may wander through various moods and changes of pace and have different generic leanings, but they all sound like Austin Willacy. Yes, the trick is to stay aware of the adventure of experimentation and not be seduced by it, and this is the sound of an artist in complete control of his sound, even whilst pushing his many musical boundaries.
No Apologies kicks things off in a buoyant fashion, a slice of scintillating pop that runs on a galloping energy that, as the title suggests, is built on honest realisations, more precisely the idea that you should never have to change who you are to accommodate others needs or expectations. Dignity is found in the honesty of accepting who you are and having others do the same.
And, of course, immediately after giving us such a poised and powerful piece of pop, Willacy slips into classic soul-ballad mode with the title track. Running on gentle beats and sonic understatement, although musically different in terms of the volume and velocity of what has gone before, the common ground is found in that trademark honesty, not to mention the vocal prowess, two aspects that run through the heart of this EP.
I’m Not Gonna Stop throws us into more muscular, yet still masterfully melodic, rock realm, a place of staccato riffs and punchy guitar salvos, but still with the space and infectiousness plus a defiance to the message that turns this into a pop-rock anthem with an immediacy and infectiousness like few that you have heard before.
Better Days Are Gonna Come sees him lead us into gospel territory. Exquisite and expansive vocals, a simple beat and the distant rise and fall of that classic Hammond sound, and that’s pretty much it. That is all he needs to work his magic.
Where most people would round things off with a big bang, a grand finale move, Austin Willacy chooses to end with a tribute to a life-long friend, who is sadly no longer with us. Saw You In The Light is a subtle, sweet and uplifting dedication to one of those special people who set us off on a particular path, one through whom our lives are irrevocably different from how they would otherwise have been. It is a personal tribute but also a universal and relatable song that immediately calls to mind such people we have encountered in our own lives.
Austin Willacy is an intelligent songwriter. His ability to write songs that wander from the deft and delicate to the powerful and groovesome, and do it all whilst staying relevant, moving with the times and not feeling the need to be burdened by generic divides, tribal musicality or staying within his comfort zones, is a benchmark for all modern artists to strive for.
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