(Independent)

Competent folk rock that dabbles here and there to good effect.

Brisbane folk-rocker Nigel McTrustry wears his heart on his sleeve, as he declares in the EP’s opening track Face. The song’s laid-back acoustic rhythm, the harmonica and slide guitar touches, and the slightly ragged-yet-plaintive vocal delivery recall Neil Young and second side of Big Star’s debut. McTrustry proves he’s not out there to invent a ‘cutting edge’ new sound, instead sticking to a warm folk/roots rock pattern. Go is a crunchy, 8 Ball Aitken-style four-on-the-floor bar-room rocker and Gold wouldn’t sound out of place on a Supergrass album. However the EP’s emotional high point is Evaleen, with its gently weeping George Harrison-esque guitars. Guest guitarist Kent Steedman provides some scorching licks on Something To Behold while the Sunday morning reverie of the closer Ocean, replete with a trippy backwards fade-in, recalls Primal Scream’s wasted glory of Screamadelica’s Damaged. A combination of solid musicianship, simple-yet-affecting lyricism and organic sound palette make Excursions a highly satisfying, if not necessarily groundbreaking release.

DENIS SEMCHENKO

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