“King of the Sun” – Jamie Hay

With the year drawing to a close, I expected I had heard all of the albums destined to make an impression on me in 2012. And then I started up King of the Sun by Jamie Hay.

It’s an album of pure heart, a collection of songs that’s raw and organic and poignantly stripped bare. With little more than an acoustic or slide guitar, sometimes a banjo, to keep time, Jamie’s vocals take center stage. There’s so much passion and soul in his roughened voice, it grabs you and forces you to listen until the last note.

King of the Sun is quintessentially Australian in many respects. Jamie’s songs reference local towns and use the word “mate” casually. They take place in pubs, not bars. But your average Aussie bloke wouldn’t share as much of himself as Jamie does here.

It’s hard to name standout tracks, because every one is so bloody good. I was still moved by “Rabbit Hole,” the single I heard months before. “The Gift of Years” also compels, an a capella track that is so striking and brave. It’s fitting though for an album that dares to be exposed.

I feel like I can’t say enough good things about King of the Sun, so perhaps I should just say this. I haven’t gone through my recent reviews and decided what album is my favourite of the year, but I’m not sure I need to. I’m pretty sure this is it.

Image source: Hobblehoy Bandcamp

Jamie Hay Teams Up with Lincoln Le Fevre for Impressive Tour

Jamie Hay is one of those musicians that grabs you with his raw emotion. His songs are simple, but they’re delivered with such gut-wrenching sincerity that it’s impossible to resist. He reminds us that you don’t need studio trickery or frills to impress. All you need is one hell of a voice and an acoustic guitar.

If it seems like I’m gushing, perhaps you should take a listen to “Rabbit On,” the incredible debut single from Jamie’s album King of the Sun, which will hit stores on November 2. The album was recorded in the middle of a chilly Tasmanian winter with Jamie’s pal and fellow musician Lincoln Le Fevre. Yes, the same Lincoln Le Fevre that I was raving about just a few weeks ago.

The musical mates will hit the road together later this month to promote their respective albums. There’s no doubt music lovers are in for a real treat at the following shows.

24 October 2012 – Republic Bar, Hobart
26 October 2012 – Royal Oak Boatshed. Launceston
27 October 2012 – Red Hot Music, Devonport
10 November 2012 – The Reverence Hotel, Footscray
22 November 2012 – X&Y Bar, Brisbane
23 November 2012 – O’Dowds, Rockhampton
24 November 2012 – The Shed – Byron Bay
1 December 2012 – The Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
2 December 2012 – Blackwire Records, Sydney

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR