Mike Kinsella releases his new album, The Avalanche, under the moniker Owen. It follows on the heels of the last Owen album, 2016’s The King of Whys. It's a laid back affair that gives a first impression of being stripped back and simple, but the deeper you delve into the songs the more complex they appear...

The Avalanche is a gloriously soft and gentle album that has its roots firmly in indie folk. These 9 songs (45 min, 51 sec) are instantly accessible and it's refreshing to see that there's no half-baked, filler material thrown in. Each and every song could be a single in its own right.

If I had to chose highlights I'd have to single out 'On With the Show', an indie pop offering that sounds like an old favourite song from the '90s - I suppose there's a hint of Shed 7 about it. Mike Kinsella's vocals blend beautifully with the stripped back guitar work and is especially effective on more mellow tracks like 'The Contours'.

This is an album for laid back, carefree evenings.

8

Nick Smithson