I should warn you I’m not built to last,” croons Lincoln Le Fevre on the opening few bars of his third studio album and it’s immediate clear the Tasmanian (via Melbourne) singer-songwriter has gone dark on his new album Come Undone.

Returning to the saddle after an album apart, le Fevre’s backing band The Insiders provide an instant tonal shift, with some of the folk elements being stripped away and replaced by pure rock‘n’roll. Sure, there’s a few extra guitar solos thrown in, but there’s still plenty of room for the songwriting to shine through.

And make no mistake: it’s le Fevre’s songwriting that shines brightest on this album. His natural ability to pair heartbreak and defeat with a spark of optimism helps him craft honest and captivating tales at every turn. Songs like album standout ‘Newcastle’ are grim and raw, while lead single ‘Useless Shit’ is a fist-in-the-air cry of hope.

Of course, it’s le Fevre’s voice that allows him to travel these peaks and valleys, and his Australian drawl finds power in its imperfections. The ability to go from tender balladry to almighty wail is fully realised across the album – le Fevre has got one hell of a voice, that’s for sure.

Ultimately, Come Undone is an honest and engaging release from one of Australia’s most consistently great songwriters.

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