There’s something so comfortable about slipping on a Josh Pyke album. He’s an artist who knows himself. He doesn’t need to experiment or reinvent the wheel in his music, because what he does it so good. And it does it again with his latest album, But For All These Shrinking Hearts.
The opening track, “Book of Revelations” is a case in point really. It’s such a low-key start. It eases us into the album, rather than begging us to pay attention. There’s a confidence in that. Josh Pyke doesn’t need to deliver bells and whistles. He just does what he does.
The second track, “Songlines,” reminds me a little of the Beatles with its marching band type orchestration. It’s one of the biggest songs on the album, but it’s delivered with just as much heart as the quieter tunes.
“Late Night Driving” is probably my favourite song on the album. It’s beautifully restrained, with gorgeous lyrics. This is the song I keep coming back to.
I heard “There’s a Line” before the rest of the album, and it’s so wonderful to hear it within this context. Its place within these other songs makes an already wonderful track even stronger.
“Still Some Big Deal” smacks of honesty. It’s so great to hear a love song that isn’t all about rainbows and butterflies. Similarly, the closing song “Someone to Rust With” reminds us of the flaws of real love. There’s beauty in its imperfections.
But For All These Shrinking Hearts is another beautiful collection of songs from Josh Pyke. It’s beautifully low key, but anchored by searingly honest lyrics and a natural melodic sensibility. I love it a little more every time I hear it. By sticking to the tried and true, Josh probably isn’t going to win any new fans with this effort, but I get the feeling he doesn’t care too much. He just does what he does, and he does it so well.
But For All These Shrinking Hearts hits stores on July 31.