Album Review: Rabbit Island - Deep In The Big

Hal David and Burt Bacharach once wrote that "what the world needs now is love, sweet love". Maybe they're right, but surely a large dose of Rabbit Island would run a close second.

Perthling Amber Fresh finally follows up 2011's O God, Come Quick with another group effort. Nicholas Allbrook (Pond) plays a large part in adding guitar and vocals, while Tristen Parr (Schvendes), Benjamin Witt and Peter Bibby all drop in.

Fresh has a pure approach to writing music, shunning verse-chorus, verse-chorus conventions and instead embracing free flowing forms that capture fleeting moods. Boxing Day opens the album like a statement of intent as rippling piano lines that cut straight through to the heart of the song. Deep In The Big has a much fuller, richer sound compared to her debut and it's all the better for it. Fresh's voice too has strengthened and developed just a touch of Hope Sandoval's ability to effortlessly convey a gut-load of emotion with only a few soft notes; an intimate coo that almost sounds like a reassuring friend just off your shoulder offering the gift of harmonic wellness. The overall effect is calming, healing and ultimately inspirational.