Album Review: Meg Mac – Hope

It was pretty obvious that Meg Mac would be one to watch when she appeared on the scene a few years back. Big vocals mean big business. The Sydney artist’s not only formidable, she's also not immune to subtle quivers and gentle lilts when she takes it down a notch for the ballads that dot her bluesy pop-rock catalogue. If early EP MegMac and her 2017 debut Low Blows were her vehicle into the local and international spotlight, mini album Hope further highlights her undeniable talent as a vocal powerhouse and lyricist.

There are standouts within these seven tracks. Lead singles Give Me My Name Back and I’m Not Coming Back are obvious highlights; there’s a quiet power in the gentle but meaningful calls in Give Me My Name Back, and a contrasting mood shift in the upbeat and resolute I’m Not Coming Back. When Mac lets rip, man, those pipes are simply time-stopping. It’s all over the title track and scattered throughout this powerful but concise release. 

Not all tracks are immediate standouts, but Hope is another example of why Meg Mac is one of the country’s rising young stars.