Aussie garage duo Skegss keep things smooth and serene on their road trip-worthy third album.
There’s no bad vibes hanging around Skegss. The New South Wales twosome are back with their third LP, and it’s an optimistic snapshot of being gracious with yourself, and not holding on to any regrets or mistakes. Fittingly titled Pacific Highway Music, it’s exactly the sort of record that would make a coastal trip feel that little more sentimental.
Tradewinds brings a hopeful introduction, with its combination of dreamy synth and guitar creating the kind of soundscape that makes you feel nostalgic for something that’s hard to put a finger on. Ben Reed’s groany vocal styling adds to its blurry magic, opening up the album as a fuzzy feel-good fest.
A similar simplistic glimmer follows on High Beaming, a celebration of infectious positivity, and is pretty much uniform throughout the whole record. Though typical of Skegss’ laidback style as heard on their former releases, it sometimes feels like little differs sonically from track to track on this album. With that said, the easy-going vibes make for ideal transportative background listening.
Pockets of joy come from a more lively, short guitar solo on Aeroplane Heart and the country-inspired winding riffs of closer Kelly Heroes, which is also potent with crashing cymbals and a slow, clap-along tempo. It’s fitting as the final offering, and feels like the closing track to a plucky coming-of-age film, with credits rolling and Skegss driving off into the sunset.
Pacific Highway Music is consistently mellow. It’s a vision of dusty roads, amber sunsets, and a comforting calm. This record is the definition of an easy listen, with universal lyrical themes of love, loss, and learning to move on, laid out on a bed of warm, hugging instruments. It is what it says on the tin - music for long drives with a home-coming, summer feel.
Verdict: 3/5
For fans of: Dune Rats, HUNNY, Spacey Jane
Pacific Highway Music is released on October 18 via Loma Vista
