SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ALLO DARLIN’ – BRIGHT NIGHTS

ALLO DARLIN’
BRIGHT NIGHTS
SLUMBERLAND RECORDS

Four-piece band Allo Darlin’ has returned with their first new release in over a decade, an album full of chipper, yet sentimental indiepop. Their fourth LP, Bright Nights, evokes a liveliness lifted straight out of the 2010s, showing that the band can mature without losing sight of what has made their past music work.

The project comes across as a true labour of love, aided by Australian frontwoman Elizabeth Morris’s sweet and sincere vocal delivery. Although many tracks have a relatively simple and namely ‘bright’ composition, groovy basslines from Bill Botting add a richness to the record’s tone. The lead single “Tricky Questions” paints the image of a summer night, name-dropping Leonard Cohen to highlight its reflective themes. “Historic Times” demonstrates a similar dichotomy, where a carefree instrumental full of shakers works to mask the complex and heartfelt emotions in the lyrics.

Allo Darlin’ hits high points when they veer into more alt-rock territory. We see Morris step away from lead vocals on “You Don’t Think Of Me At All”, a refreshing switch-up carried by warm electric guitar riffs. On a record filled with generally pleasant tunes, this song has a particular draw with its punchy emphasis and dreamy piano introduction. Their rock flair continues on the energetic love song “Stars”, but with a tone that feels slightly more hollow.

Bright Nights also frequently flirts with elements of country. “My Love Will Bring You Home” and “Bright Nights” incorporate fiddle and twang-heavy guitar in excellent ways. There are strong folk influences on “Slow Motion”, a song that uses its sparseness to an advantage. Here, Morris’s voice truly shines through and drives home the album’s candid core.

While Bright Nights might be the band’s reunion album, it skirts any evidence of the pressures that might come from an 11-year break. While the sound may be stuck in familiar territory at times, Allo Darlin’ shows they still have the creative spark to encapsulate moments of presentness and joy.

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