Melbourne alt-pop multi-instrumentalist Albert Salt has today released his brilliantly quirky new EP We’re All Going to be Alright. Featuring the singles “I Know for Sure that I’m Not Sure” and “I Was Meant to be Home for Easter”, the four-track project combines fuzzy guitar and modern programming with Salt’s distinctly warm vocals.
The songs are personal and upbeat with craftily-blended layers in a contemporary take on his late 90s/early 2000s pop-rock influences. We’re All Going to be Alright was written and produced by Salt at his home studio after a tumultuous start to the year, with homely themes of love and comfort. The distorted instrumentation reflects the raw emotion of the lyrics and showcases his unique approach to songwriting.
Opening the EP is playful single “I Know for Sure that I’m Not Sure” with its guitar-driven chorus and infectious melody. Washed-out drums, ambient sampling and bright synths make it a strong start to the project as the tongue-in-cheek lyrics soften its anxious message. Latest single “I Was Meant to be Home for Easter” discusses circumstances that many of us can relate to nowadays in a dejected yet hopeful tone. Distorted guitar and bass move underneath a punchy beat with theatrical strings and pop textures.
“I Was Meant to Come Home for Easter was written when I had come down with COVID and couldn’t go home to Hamilton for Easter, after not seeing my family for a long time,” Albert reflects. “It was also around the ten year anniversary of my partner’s dad’s passing, where we went to Wagga Wagga to pay our respects.”
The accompanying video by Attic Films is as unusual as the song itself. It opens with Salt laying on the ground by a pipe and is overlayed with footage of him singing in various locations across the city wearing a rather dapper sweater. From peaceful scenic shots in a lakeside park to splashing in puddles and playing air guitar, the clip is a perfect representation of being alone in a public place.
Modest cut “Australian Football” mentions the title of the EP in a reassuring song of picked guitar, syncopated drums and endearing soft vocals. Quietly arresting in its subtle urgency, this one is a prime example of Salt’s potential as a songwriter. Finally, slow burn “Como Park” is a stripped ballad with dotted synths and sweet strings that crescendo to a beautiful harmony. The absence of percussion on this track gives the lyrics room to breathe and lets them really sink in.
In support of the release, Salt will be hosting a launch show with a full live band at The Leadbeater Hotel in Melbourne on Friday 25 November supported by Wolfjay. You can get your tickets HERE.
We’re All Going to be Alright is out now on all streaming platforms. Follow Albert Salt on Facebook and Instagram for more.
