A long-standing figure in the Aussie acoustic-folk scene, Ziggy Alberts is back with his seventh studio album New Love, and he sticks to what he does best.
Characterised by soft, surf-rock, the album is generally quite safe, with signature Ziggy-style monologues and sometimes thoughtful, sometimes vapid lyricism.
Thematically, the record deals a lot with notions of home, expressing vivid imagery of the places Alberts holds dear. Self-love and acceptance are also scrutinised on “Learn Yourself” while “Feeling Blue” takes a broader view, touching on the negative effects that arise when humanity fails to nurture universal forms of love.
Jack Johnson-esque tracks like “I’m With You” and album highlight “Outlaw” each capture the depth and joy of falling in love, but despite all this, New Love still fails to present anything new or innovative for the folk crooner. He colours too closely in between the lines, never once daring to step outside of his comfort zone.
Perhaps the only creative risk is on “Singing for Country” – a heartfelt tribute to land and belonging backed by heavy but beautiful keys.
Ziggy Alberts stays within the all too familiar realm of acoustic folk on New Love, and while it does well to showcase his vocal talent as well as his great songwriting abilities, it quickly feels a bit one-dimensional, its melodies a little monotonous.
Still, for fans seeking the familiar comforts of a Ziggy Alberts song, they have a lot to sink their teeth into here—a comforting reminder of why they fell in love with his music in the first place.
