Album Review: Toby Martin - Love’s Shadow

With Youth Group on indefinite hiatus, frontman Toby Martin has put together a thoughtful collection of songs in his first solo album Love's Shadow. Youth Group's Cameron Emerson-Elliot contributes electric guitar, The Red Sun Band' Sarah Kelly sings harmony vocals, and the in-demand Bree van Reyk plays drums throughout. There is also an elegant string section, particularly evocative in The Curve Of The Earth, where the violins mimic Turkish music, heard through the wall of Martin's Berlin apartment.

The album's title suggests the aftermath of a relationship, and many of the songs reflect on shared experiences in the past and newfound solitude. No doubt these things are personal, but Martin is also inspired by Australian writer Helen Garner in the track Postcard From Surfers, with its portrayal of seedy hotel escapism. Likewise End Of The Affair seems to combine Martin's interior life with elements of Graham Greene's novel of the same name, looking back over temporary, unsustainable joys.

The album has none of Youth Group's moments of bluster, but does recall wistful tracks like Start Today Tomorrow and Dead Zoo from the band's second album Casino Twilight Dogs. The lovely acoustic Lead You In has something of the Go-Betweens' Australian space about it – and indeed Go-Betweens' Amanda Brown plays violin and oboe on several of the album's tracks.

The arrangements are memorable throughout, but at its heart this is a gentle series of piano and guitar ballads, recounting some of life's bewildering moments in a sincere and uncomplicated way.