Album Review: Dan Sultan - Dirty Ground

Seems there’s going to be an ongoing dichotomy between the singer of aching balladry, as can be heard here, and the more rock Sultan (of swing?). An addition and/or reaction to the bigger production of the Blackbird album, this was recorded in a day, perhaps making the voice-and-guitar emotional and the musical rawness – whether in the distance making the heart grow fonder in Mountaintop, or the Man On TV’s questioning reflections – even more direct as it goes straight from soul to voice. Co-writes with the obvious (Paul Kelly) and the not-so-much (Paul Dempsey). Simple, honest, damn fine.