JAMIE HUTCHINGS – AVALON CASSETTES

There’s no question about it, Jamie Hutchings is a talented songwriter. Each song on his third solo album has its own narrative, and the lyrics create little scenes unfolding with characters and dialogue. The Australiana references to places such as Sydney’s Taylor Square, Yarra creek and Tamworth make it feel familiar, like a journey back to your childhood home. As its title suggests, Avalon Cassettes was recorded to an eight-track cassette at a shack in Avalon. The outcome is an album with elements of rock, country and folk, full of laid back and no frills beauty. It’s also a family affair and features vocals by Hutchings’ wife, Erin. His sister Sophie plays piano and sings back up vocals and his brother Scott is on drums/percussion (with a cameo of a toy piano). Jamie Hutchings, who is well known for fronting indie rock band Bluebottle Kiss, plays an array of instruments on this album including acoustic, electric and slide guitar; banjo; nylon string; handclaps; Thai flute; and a typewriter. Listen to this if you want to unwind, appreciate your world and feel nostalgic.

***1/2