Album Review: Ruel - Free Time

It’s been a meteoric rise to the top for Sydney’s Ruel. Discovered by M-Phazes after he was sent a demo of the then 12-year-old covering James Bay’s Let It Go, Ruel is now arguably one of Australia’s biggest stars. 

Having won an ARIA for Breakout Artist following the release of his critically acclaimed EP Ready last year, Ruel is celebrating his accomplishments with the release of his second EP, Free Time.

Showing a songwriting maturity well beyond his years, Free Time contains the best work of Ruel’s short career. Of the seven tracks, three have already been released, with the Khalid-esque Painkiller, soulful Face To Face and delightful R&B pop of Real Thing having already been well received by fans and critics alike.

Of the new tunes, opener Don’t Cry is an absorbing pop song about gender constructs, Hard Sometimes is a therapeutic piano ballad and Free Time a bluesy burst of soulful guitar-pop. Then there’s Unsaid, a touching song that addresses mental health and demonstrates Ruel’s unrivalled vocal prowess and lyrical relevance.

In short, Free Time is another tantalising taste of Ruel’s talent that solidifies him as the future of the Australian music scene.