It's been a journey to get to this point but for Sydney's Oly Sherman, the process has been worth it; the final result being the songwriter's most cohesive collection of material to date, Land of All Pretend.
The 11-track album is an immersive listen, as Sherman's writing skill transports the listener - offering an escape to a place marked by blissful vocals, guitars and sun-kissed melodies. As a performer, Sherman has galvanised his presence in recent years and with Land of All Pretend, listeners can hear how much of that charisma he has brought back into the studio.
Pulled together over the course of a year and a half, Land of All Pretend is from the jump, a musically rich album. The textures are warm and beautifully fleshed out, with Sherman's vocals shining front and centre. Inviting in a similar way to Matt Corby and other artists like The Middle East and Boy and Bear, Sherman's music is quick to make the listener feel at home.
Previously released singles like 'The World Is In A Bad Room', 'Homeboy' and 'Lush Lyfe' demonstrate his versatility and great use of space. In songs like 'Rum', 'Favours' and most recent single 'In The Summer', Sherman isn't afraid to play with tone and form.
The album isn't one that relies on the strength of Sherman's voice or any one element of arrangement: it's an album that has all its parts fit together with ease.
"Every song on the album has both connotations with each other and their own unique tier. I think when I listen to the album as a whole, I like to think that it gives notions into the way my mind works, and what I value and find important. When I also look back on it, I've discovered that I've probably spent quite literally every day thinking, thriving, talking and working on this project."
Oly Sherman
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