Owls Of The Swamp is the nomde plume of Australian folk singer/songwriter Pete Uhlenbruch. His new album,Atlas, skilfully combines haunting vocals and creative guitar work with electronic elements.
Each track on Atlas showcases smooth melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, which draw on the themes of comfort and belonging. ‘The Hypnotist’is a captivating opener, instantly drawing you in and setting the tone for the remainder of the album. The combination of vocals, piano and guitar works a treat on this song. ‘Shapeshifter’is a favourite too, with its soft, mesmerising tones.
Otherwise, it’s hard to single out particular tracks on the record, as each one has its highpoints. Many of these come from the harmonic contributions of backing vocalists including Markéta Irglová, Myrra Rós and Phia. Likewise, the electronic elementsadd texture and balance to the folk underpinnings.
Ultimately, Atlas represents significant artistic development from Uhlenbruch’s previous albums, Smoky Bay and Go With River.
On his latest effort, Uhlenbruch and his collaborators have crafted a relaxing album, which makes for an enjoyable listen in the vein of Spark Alaska or Texture Like Sun.
4/5.
Atlas is out now through Labelship.
