The début album ‘Dream Your Life Away’ from Australian singer/songwriter Vance Joy has dropped today, September 15th.
This first full-length offering features the very successful and ultimate breakthrough tracks ‘Riptide’ and ‘From Afar’.
The brand new single ‘First Time’ taken from the record was released yesterday, a tasteful teaser for the 13 track beauty that was to follow.
The album opens on a very contemporary folk level with ‘Winds Of Change’, a slight Americano twang joining Vance’s own style.
Tracks ‘Mess Is Mine’ and ‘Waste Of Time’ follows this, developing on a more feel-good, upbeat note for the first of the two. ‘Waste Of Time’ is a more mellow mix of folk and gentle pop.
Just short of the halfway point is when ‘Riptide’ and ‘From Afar’ kick in – two quite different numbers in tempo in mood. ‘Riptide’ is that Summer, hollow guitar and rhythmic shaker induced anthem that has undoubtedly accompanied plenty of stereotypical roadtrips and festival tent sing-song sessions. Whereas, ‘From Afar’ shows the songwriting and emotive qualities of Vance as a songwriter.
‘We All Die Trying To Get It Right’ is probably a standout track on the record, showcasing Vance Joy’s vocal range layered on a beating folk pop melody.
New single ‘First Time’ and ‘All I Ever Wanted’ is the last real lease of life we see on the album. ‘First Time’ holds a strange similarity to the folkier side of Kodaline (‘Way Back When‘) with more alternative pop elements than seen on previous tracks.
‘All I Ever Wanted’ is another powerful track. It brings the album to near a close on probably the strongest level executed throughout the entire 13 tracks. More prominent drums and all-in-all a more mixed and balanced blend of instruments to round off.
‘Best That I Can’ is a lyrically beautiful and melodically poignant number. The one track that probably highlights versatility and quality more than any other from the Songster.
With all the anticipation rising before the release of this album, Vance Joy has smashed it with his début album ‘Dream Your Life Away’. One of the most impressive breakthrough artists of recent times, and this début album does all the convincing needed.
Vance Joy – First Time on MUZU.TV.
‘Dream Your Life Away’ is OUT NOW.