Lovetones - Lost

by Carl Bookstein

published: 3 / 10 / 2010

Label: Planting Seeds Records
Format: CD

intro

Forceful fifth album from Australian-based psychedelic pop group, the Lovetones

Australia’s the Lovetones’ latest album, the nine track 'Lost', their fifth LP continues the band’s creation of rich sonically fulfilling psychedelic pop. 'Dimensions', the Lovetones’ last album, set a high standard to live up to and yet 'Lost' delivers. Matthew J Tow’s songwriting remains excellent as The Lovetones explore finely textured musical landscapes. 'City Meets the Stars' starts the album with beautiful rhythm, strumming guitar and hypnotic instrumentals. This is a blend of melodic 1960s influenced pop and 21st century psych rock. The lyrics are likewise evocative: “Where the city meets the stars/This is where our love lies/ We are almost there.” 'Chinatown Bus Ride' features flowing instrumentals, immediate vocals and inspired songwriting. 'Coming Home' is a lovely duet with guest vocalist Miranda Lee Richards - a deep resonant love song that is wistful and filled with longing. “I’m torn by this world/If only to see you again.” 'Coming Home' is also notable for its use of strings and harpsichord. The album title track 'Lost' features beautiful spacey instrumentation, once again capturing the Lovetones’ trademark jangly psych rock sound. Stirring keyboards melt together with an eastern sound captured at the end. Despite the subject of feeling lost, the song seems hopeful: “Close your eyes and tell me everything you want to be.” 'Hurricane' starts with a swirling ominous beat. The song is groove driven and among the strongest cuts on the album. 'Hurricane' brings to mind the best work of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, who are also the Lovetones’ guests on this album. 'Free Yourself' is hopeful and wise and conjures John Lennon’s solo work. “You got to be free/Only you can free yourself,” Tow writes. 'Earths Great Sleep', the album’s finale, is psychedelic as well as Bowie like. The song brings to mind a God like divine perspective: “This is who I am/This is who I’ve always been/Until the earth’s great sleep sets me free.” 'Lost' represents another powerful outing for the Lovetones- an album that is both lyrically engaging and musically healing.

Track Listing:-

1 City Meets the Stars
2 Chinatown Busride
3 Coming Home
4 Lost
5 This Great Romance
6 Hurricane
7 Come Dance with Me
8 Free Yourself
9 Earths Great Sleep

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/thelovetones/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lovetones

Label Links:-

http://www.plantingseedsrecords.com/home
http://plantingseedsrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://twitter.com/psrmusic
https://www.facebook.com/plantingseedsrecords
https://www.youtube.com/user/plantingseedsrecords

interviews

Interview (2019)

Carl Bookstein speaks exclusively to Matthew J Tow, the frontman with Australian psychedelic pop act the Lovetones about his band's lengthy career and their forthcoming 2020 album 'Myriad'.

Interview (2009)