Emma Russack & Lachlan DentonTake The Reigns, the third album from songwriters Emma Russack and Lachlan Denton, is quietly concerned with one of life’s most difficult tasks: surrendering control. Over ten songs on this concise and unassuming record, the pair sing about letting themselves be vulnerable, as they attempt to exercise self-care by reaching out to others after tumultuous periods in their lives.
“There’s no point in hiding from the wide-open sky,” Denton sings on Hiding, expressing a gentle sense of resignation. Meanwhile, Russack rides her bike under the night sky, waving at strangers, trying to find some peace of mind on Letting Go: “I think of my family and I smile,” she sings in her characteristically plainspoken and affective manner. The feeling of openness and possibility in these songs is contagious, particularly on Russack’s Love For Myself, which bops along optimistically.
There’s resilience in these songs too – it’s been almost a year since Denton lost his younger brother and Ocean Party bandmate, Zac Denton. While the arrangements of these songs are often simple, one can hear the source of Russack and Denton's strength reflected in the music; there’s a sense of cohesion and togetherness between the pair as they rely on each other, singing harmonies and back-up vocals as the other takes the reins.
