Album Review: Hoy - Aqualsum

This debut album is obviously the product of three different sets of influences courtesy Liam Linley, Felicity Cripps and Cecilia Dowling, who have all had previous Melbourne incarnations. Aquaslum delves deep into torch songs (Words), '60s psych-pop (the title track) and grooving rock'n'roll (Brigitte Bardot). The best moments come when there's an organic blend of pastoral acoustic foundations and subtle harmonies, like closers Black Love and It's All Up To You, but with a few tracks throwing too much at the wall to make anything stick. It's suitably quaint and emotive, but at times pretty lacklustre and derivative.