Fraser A Gorman: Slow Gum

Having grown up around the Bellarine Peninsula and Geelong region, I have always been aware of Fraser A Gorman. Since his humble beginnings in Revolver and Sun back in the mid 2000s, it’s very exciting to see him now in 2015 releasing his debut solo album Slow Gum. Having got in with Courtney Barnett and travelled around America and Europe and met Ellen Degeneres, Gorman is set for the big time with this release. Many readers out there may have heard the singles ‘Book Of Love’, ‘Broken Hands’ and ‘Shiny Gun’ and they all appear on this album.
Starting out with ‘Big Old World’ this album definitely sounds like early Bob Dylan, during the ‘Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’ days. This album is intimate and beautiful to the core. Years away writing in the bedroom and travelling around the world has produced Fraser A. Gorman with a record to be incredibly proud of. Whilst ‘Book Of Love’ is mellow with electric piano and slide guitar, the slow build of this album is present throughout ‘Dark Eyes’, which uses a melancholy horn line to finish the track.
The album closes with ‘Blossom and Snow’ which is probably the best way to close out a debut record. Acoustic guitar, vocals and Harmonica combined with brutal honest songwriting about his hometown, gives me the tick of approval that this is one of the best songs on the record. ‘My Old Man’ is also a highlight on an album that will push Fraser A. Gorman further into the Australian stratosphere of awesome music. I love supporting local musicians and I highly recommend you get behind this local lad. He may have moved on to other music scenes, however he will always be a local in my eyes. Top stuff, Mr Gorman on an incredibly beautiful and inclusive listen, it draws you in with the songwriting and beautiful melodies and will have you hitting repeat immediately after the conclusion of ‘Blossom and Snow’.
Out now via Milk Records! / Caroline
Reviewed by Tex Miller