Album Review: Ainslie Wills - You Go Your Way I'll Go Mine

26 February 2013 | 2:22 pm | Tyler McLoughlan

You Go Your Way, I’ll Go Mine is a superbly crafted debut taking in a number of genres from folk to rock in which Wills uses her teenage Jeff Buckley influence as the impetus to explore fabulously innovative arrangements.

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Showing songwriting maturity far beyond that of her peers, 2010 single Wide Load – a bluesy romp of complex vocal melodies – earmarked Melbourne singer-songwriter Ainslie Wills as one to watch; You Go Your Way, I'll Go Mine is her justified response.

Mary is a beautifully understated opener in which Wills' vocal dances mournfully yet effortlessly between the depths and highs of her range among the shifting accompaniment of keys, strings and layered voice. Her greatest strength is that she never follows a predictable vocal path, partly due to clever and imaginative arrangements, and Fighting Kind is the perfect fusion of both. One of six co-writes with long-time collaborator, guitarist and co-producer Lawrence Folvig, a unique lyrical cadence casts Wills as brassy while the conspicuously capricious rhythm, moving through hand-claps and drum rims to snare slaps and cymbal experimentations, is arresting on top of guitar that complements while knowing its place. Stop Pulling The String is another bold statement distinctive for its melodic navigation of unconventional structure, bursting in a tumble of vocals at the half-way point as a kaleidoscopic guitar reaches colour and light to the song's end. Beyond this, the gentle build of alt-ballad Liquid Paper and the jazz inflections of Early Morning Light show off a well-rounded and inquisitive songwriting ability.

You Go Your Way, I'll Go Mine is a superbly crafted debut taking in a number of genres from folk to rock in which Wills uses her teenage Jeff Buckley influence as the impetus to explore fabulously innovative arrangements. She has courage and soul, and a killer knack for orchestrating layered harmonies amongst intricate instrumentation that speaks of longing, wonder and artistic integrity.