Album Review: Jarrow - Expensive Hugs

If we're going by titles, apparently hugs are pricey; luckily this guy is giving them away for free (read, not free, support artists and legit buy their music) with his latest release.

Melbourne indie-rock maestro Jarrow returns with Expensive Hugs after a busy year-and-a-half since debut 2003 Dream. Dan Oke, the gent behind the tunes, has a firm hand on the rudder to steady what could be a wayward ship that veers between jangly, upbeat rock to some funked-up, vocal-affected bangers.

Single Kelp is where it all kicks off in a very guitar-driven manner, scooping up some neat kit work alongside a simple-but-catchy melody. Dreams is an instrumental-surf noodler, Hybrid is a bit raw around the edges with its semi-tone dips in the strums paired with Oke's twangy delivery, Emoji coyly takes on some AutoTune-ish vocal effects (a winning contrast against the simple chords beneath it) and Season has some cheek to its lyrics as well as fun, chaotic guitar lines.

Jarrow is criminally underrated and Expensive Hugs is just further proof that he should be on your radar.