Album Review: Cameron Avery - Ripe Dreams, Pipe Dreams

Having been an ever-present force in Perth's abundant music scene for nearly the past decade, sharing stage space as one part of Tame Impala, Pond and alt-rock group The Growl, it's a surprise — a pleasant one — to hear the dulcet croons of Cameron Avery lilt over the gospel and soul-infused rock of his debut solo LP Ripe Dreams, Pipe Dreams.

Avery's former exposure to the silky sounds of the golden age has clearly left its mark, but he's steered this ship away from sounding derivative fairly well with a gentle fusion of genres, and ultimately he could have gotten away with anything with that honey-dipped voice of his.

Those pipes work their magic from the get go. Do You Know Me By Heart lets Avery's breathy yearning unfold over a waltzing, dark dance hall atmosphere and trilling motifs. Dance With Me and Wasted On Fidelity are a bit more playful, fleshing out and softening philosophical subject matters with pretty strings and gentle, sparse percussion. Big Town Girl and Disposable dip back into Avery's big bag of vintage nuances and echo Father John Misty's tongue-in-cheek drawls. C'est Toi's haunting melodic line, piano strikes, big sentiment and stacked vocals seal the deal as the album closer. It's an impressive debut from an as yet unplucked talent.