Album Review: Various - VAST

A collection which was written in, and inspired by, the Western Australia Pilbara region, VAST features some impressive songwriters and performers. Overall the sound is relaxed and contemplative indie-folk straddled with country – driven by simple guitar-based arrangements and stories told about the land. Standouts include Alexander Gow’s Have A Little Faith (with a lovely hook and refrain); Glenn Richards’ creepy Cossack Tide (inspired by – and written in – a jail cell); Sally Seltmann’s rolling River River and Tyson Mowarin’s Best I Can.

But there are also some really interesting additions like former Allstar now ABC quiz host Paul McDermott’s Let Go – a rich vocal and unusual melody that begs a few listens on its own; while Jae Laffer’s Ruins Of A Nameless Man adds some good old-fashioned mystery to the fold. There’s also the more philosophical too, like The Healys’ gentle lullaby Tradition and Aimee Chapman’s Swallows; while the bittersweetness of Ryan Brennan’s Fifo Waltz is just, well, a heartbreaker really. One of the heavier tracks on the album, Ian Campbell’s Ghost Town is a description of the album in many ways, too. All proceeds from the record go back into music making in the area, so listen, contribute and help the creativity continue.