Josh Orange give us a timeless, modern opus with their new album Birds For The Bayou.

By Graeme Smith

A folk rock four piece from Sydney, Australia, Josh Orange have just come to our attention for the first time through their fifth studio album Birds For The Bayou.

It’s an album that opens with plenty of atmosphere and never lets up. The ambient soundscape of the album’s opening title track draws us in before charismatic vocals arrive to deliver storytelling lyrics. They paint a picture of rural romanticism and complex relationships before we arrive at a cinematic finish that piques our interest for what’s to come.

What does come is plenty of lyrical poetry and a mix of musical styles. What Have We Become gives us some brooding, Springsteen-esque anthemic indie rock that laments the nature of the modern world while Wide Awake is a driving folk rock number that’s full of reluctant hope. No Place Like Home rounds off the early listening with a ghostly, soul-searching highlight.

At the heart of the album is the moody Devil At The Backdoor which gives us introspective blues rock and another highlight. Other highlights include the slow-burning Waiting To Fall – Better Man, the gentle, heart-breaking Candy Girl and lively, heart-racing album closer I Feel Alive – Kick It.

Josh Orange’s new album shows just what a set of accomplished musicians they are. Over five albums, they’ve had a chance to perfect their sound, and draw on some classic influences to create something timeless. What struck me most about the album, though, was its lyrics. They tell stories of a society, and the people in it, unravelling.

If you fancy a trip over the Irish Sea, you’ll be able to catch Josh Orange live in Dublin on 7 August.

Birds For The Bayou is out now and you can check it out below.