Ever wondered what would happen if there were a slightly foul-mouthed, indie-rockin’ version of Slim Dusty? Gold Coast rockers Donny Love have merged elements country with indie-reverb-rock to form their debut extended player Sultry Visions. The EP is a fine display of Australian twangs, a combination of about four different genres, and lyrics that lead me to believe Andrew Hodges (vocals), Billy Trembath (guitars, keys), Brandon Shaw (percussion) and Harry Dorington (bass, keys) don’t take themselves too seriously. I suppose the title of the opening track says it all (see below).
Donny Love most definitely don’t take life too seriously and sometimes nothing could be more charming; so throw caution to the wind and lap up Sultry Visions.
The Gold Coast boys, who appear to break every stereotype you may have in your head of a Gold Coast male, describe themselves as ‘sleezy, catchy, charming and hypnotic’ and, I would say, it’s also a pretty accurate description of Sultry Visions. Whilst the overall sound of the EP is slightly confusing at times, its unruliness is all very endearing.
Having grown up near the beach, Donny Love claim that their music “Has inevitably come to be affected by the sun-bleached haze, invoking images of tanned skin babies, sandy togs and long summer days.” You could definitely put this EP on, kick back on the beach with a beverage in your hand and be assured you’d feel at ease.
The opening track, titled Cosmic Fuckfest, kicks off the larrikin vibe of Sultry Visions and will most probably give you the feeling you’re in the middle of an outback country town beer fest, dancing around a huge fire in the middle of the night with your mates laughing at nothing but personal jokes. Seriously, just listen to the lyrics and you’ll be smack in the middle of a quirky beer fest in no time.
The Monster and In The Baby’s Eyes both have an unmistakable Growlers vibe, all guitar quirks and circusy rowdiness. By the time you reach the closing track That Uncertain Shuffle you’ll be feeling drawn to Donny Love, uncertain about why you’re shuffling along to the songs or why you’re going to hit repeat and play it again. Although in all honesty, it’s probably so you can catch some of the lyrics and try and figure out what the hell these guys are actually singing about – it’s all pretty wild.
The overarching vibe of the EP sounds like a bit of a personal joke between the band members that happened to come together in a very strange, entertaining package that pushes the boundaries of genres in an amusing ball of creativity. I can only guess that their shows are a whole bunch of fun, because by the time Sultry Visions comes to a close you’ll probably have a sneaking suspicion it was written while the band were members of a travelling circus – and you’ll wish you were along for the ride.
