With the release of her latest EP Oh the Gold its easy to see how the Melbourne singer / songwriter Ainslie Wills is gaining more and more of a following. For those not familiar with her music, it can be best described as indie with a jazz and progressive-pop flare. She has been quite busy throughout the year whilst releasing singles that have come together to form the EP as well as playing a few launch shows. Yet, from about May until now, Ainslie has been knuckling down and now we are delighted to be able to see the fruits of her labour, with Oh The Gold.
Following the success of her You Go Your Way, I’ll Go Mine LP, Ainslie Wills serves another helping of raw progressive pop on her captivating Oh The Gold.
Hawaii at its core is a track that is emotionally driven. Ainslie’s soft and angelic vocals give a lightness to the piece. This does not last for long. Plummeting to a mixture of drums and transforming her vocals to one that is full of urgency the song is completely flipped on its head. The raw quality of emotions displayed in the song builds the intensity within Hawaii to the point that you cannot help but become caught up in it.
A great song on its own, however it feels slightly disjointed with the opening track Drive. On the first listen of the EP there is a rock-pop impression, one you may expect to hear this more throughout. Then once Hawaii plays you are left feeling a little lost. Fear not, as you delve into the rest of the EP on a second listen you realise that what you’re introduced to is not really what you’ll be experiencing. As a stand alone track it’s great but not really a comfortable fit for the rest of the EP’s sound.
Appreciation for the background tempo is always something many music lovers have yet it’s never the focal point that draws one to a song. Guilty of this myself I was surprised when this was the exact reason that drew me to But I’ll Try. With a beat reminiscent of a heartbeat carried throughout the song, this backing supported the lyrics so firmly that reverence needed to be made to it. While the rest of the screws, bolts and bit-and-bobs that were used to bring this song together are fabulous and skilfully constructed, the backing held this song up.
Constellations literally emulates what the title suggests: a spaced out and eerie feeling whilst simultaneously floaty and airy. Wills’ vocals and the piano are key players in the song before the introduction of drums at the crescendo, which provides musically this weightlessness, and void of restriction. The tempo is slow and drawn out which aids to this space-like-atmosphere, a standout for the EP.
Ainslie Wills has announced that she will be touring for the release of the EP. Starting at the end of October, she will be playing a few national shows up the east coast. From here, there will be one in November, December and January. Until then be sure to soak in all the different colours and textures from Oh The Gold.
