Stone Parade have been around the Sydney music scene for a fairly long time and have undergone several changes in their musical style in that timeframe. The Mulgoa Sessions is a 3-track EP that suggests yet another change in musical direction for this band.
“The Colours” opens with some soft shakers, a galloping djembe or bongo drum and vocal “ohhh woah” harmonies. It retains the fast pace the whole way through, and only during the breakdown of the song is this softer sound interrupted by an almost out of nowhere appearance by an organ and cymbals. Initially it seems a little jarring but it does seem to work if you give it an extra couple of listens.
The banjo and marching beat drums of “Orphan Boy” could liken it well to something Mumford And Sons-ish though Greg Byrne’s falsetto vocals are a little reminiscent of Bon Iver and could probably do with a little more lower register shade to the high range light. Whilst “Love And War” brings the acoustic sound and feel to the fore and focuses strongly on the vocals with a slide guitar underpinning the majority of the track up until the middle 8 where the drums take over and drive it through to a conclusion.
As somebody who has been a fan of this band and followed them through their repeated musical evolutions, the leap from their 2010 album Stratosphere – which had a dark gritty rock edge to it – is a little surprising and takes some adjustment. Though music aficionados that are riding the current wave of folk-inspired music; may become new fans of Stone Parade courtesy of this EP.
Review Score: 7.5 out of 10
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