"Brings both perspective and empathy to even the most dire situations."
The noticeably Australian Cities Of Spinifex once again highlights the distinctive delivery style and worldview of Sydney wordsmith Adam Gibson, this time a far more personal collection of songs steeped in crisis and resilience.
Whether delving into the tragic loss of a friend (Trivia Night), suburban desperation and alienation (Indian-Pacific) or recounting crisis and desperation a long way from home (Dead Europe), Gibson's eye for minutiae shines brightly and brings both perspective and empathy to even the most dire situations. Musically it's a far more ambitious and varied backdrop provided by his established band, but it's still Gibson's mostly spoken-word revelations which really bring the heft, especially on chilling true crime finale Belanglo, Byron And the Road Between which recounts Gibson's brush with a serial killer as a junior news reporter.