Truth is, I could have picked any of the tracks from Australian duo Oh Pep!’s new record I Wasn’t Only Thinking About You… to feature here. It’s been on repeat for me since it came out two Fridays ago (October 26, 2018) and it is great, great, great from start to finish.
But, I chose to highlight 25 because it is just such a beautiful, compelling song. There’s just the right amount of ache to it and a recurring pulse that drives the track into and out of expansive choruses. There are the wonderful vocal harmonies of duo Pepita Emmerichs (mandolin and violin) and Olivia Hally (guitar) and the taut balance Oh Pep! strikes throughout this record between indie folk and indie pop — akin to groups like Lucius and Overcoats.
Ultimately, though, it’s Emmerichs’ strings that really do it for me on 25. The song soars, swells, and arcs on the string lines. And, frankly, the string arrangements make the album for me; they add emotion and texture throughout.
Another awesome new discovery for me, a phenomenal track, and one more addition to my growing “top 2018 records” category.
In My Ear 