Now decades on from the big sounds of the ’80s, more and more contemporary artists are harking back to the sounds that defined the era. Perhaps a stark rejection of DIY’s recent popularity, gated reverb, massive synth walls, and balladry are all back in vogue.
Sydney’s Gaba Wright is one of the many riding the second coming, his debut album Afterhours hitting several touch points for what made the ’80s so monumental.
Prepare for a ride through the heavens on Afterhours, the larger than life debut album from emerging Sydney songwriter Gaba Wright.
Leading single World Gone Mad showed us Wright at his fullest, gleaming with heavy backing choirs, a stacked percussion section, and breakdowns that seem ready to burst at the scenes. However this isn’t the songwriter’s only face to wear, and many of the album tracks opt for a softer touch.
Stockholm and Painkiller both hold Wright’s lyricism up front, backed by minimal instrumentals. It colours the album with an adept sense of light and shade, and moments to breathe between the more all-out compositions.
Opening track High Tides is particularly special; it’s catchy, shamelessly indulgent, and evolves into the realms of spectacular across a five minute runtime. A fitting start for an album that’s happy to dance with total pop opulence.
Dive into the highs and lows of Afterhours for yourself above, but make sure you strap in. It’ll take you somewhere amongst the clouds, that much is for sure.
Afterhours is out now.
