Review: Jack Colwell ‘Only When Flooded Could I Let You Go’ EP

November 19th 2015

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Jack Colwell understands that art isn’t a battle for polished pop purity.

Sydney artist Jack Colwell’s backstory is equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, but believe me: when the multi-instrumentalist asserts, ‘I know the secrets of the heart / I know the secrets of the mind’, there’s an authority to his performance that is hard-earned.

Only When Flooded Could I Let You Go is the most certain of himself Colwell has sounded. The EP is a stream of theatrical pop ballads which unapologetically wear their PJ Harvey and Tori Amos influences on their sleeves. Across the tracks, Colwell unwinds himself in many directions, touching on ideas of finality, heartbreak and death. These ideas rest atop consistently crafted instrumentals that pay homage to what Colwell would no doubt call the glory days of pop. Front-and-centre at all times is Colwell’s incredible vocal performance; the recordings alone conjure up images of a frontman too compelling to sit behind a piano.

Colwell’s cultivated self-assuredness is typified by the voice he offers on this EP, his late-night warbles venturing far and wide across the tracklist. Perhaps what is most gratifying about this release is that it’s not perfect. Jack Colwell understands that art isn’t a battle for polished pop purity, and his EP is all the better for it.

– Lachlan Wyllie

 

 

‘Only When Flooded Could I Let You Go’ is out now.

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WHO: Jack Colwell with Sophie Lowe and SUIIX
WHEN: Saturday 9th January
WHERE: Newtown Social Club
HOW MUCH: $12 + BF here

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