Augie March: Havens Dumb

Augie March has been around for a fair while now. They started off back in 1995 in Collingwood up in Melbourne, back when I was still mucking around with toy trucks and rolling around in sandpits. They’ve been around for nearly 20 years – though they’ve been on hiatus since 2009 – and their experience shows in their work. Their songs are intricate, careful arranged pieces with lyrics that could double as poems. Their music can be hard to place, too; their songs have a subdued, almost plaintive sound at times and a Beatles-esque pop vibe at others.
Kiernan Box’s piano is masterfully utilised in a number of tracks, providing the perfect backdrop to vocalist Glenn Richards’ frankly remarkable voice. If I had to pigeonhole their work, I’d say it’s probably best described as an indie/soft rock hybrid – and Augie March works best playing piano-driven ballads, a la track nine, ‘Definitive History’.
Havens Dumb has been a while in the making – hell, it’s been six years since Watch Me Disappear, their last effort – and the effort is clear in both the intricacy of the songs and the sheer length of the album. Just over an hour and 14 tracks later, I found myself almost overwhelmed (I feel like the band tried to pack too much content into their comeback effort) but considering how long it’s been in the making, I’m willing to let it slide.
If you like your music laid-back, piano-driven and easy on the ears, this one’s for you.
By Alastair McGibbon