Sodastream - Little by Little

by Tommy Gunnarsson

published: 3 / 4 / 2017

Label: Sodastream
Format: CD

intro

Excellent new album from folksy Australian indie pop duo Sodastream who are back with their first LP in over ten years

Over three years ago I reviewed Karl Smith's solo album 'Kites' here on Pennyblackmusic, which I was slightly disappointed with at the time. I ended the review by saying that I had heard a rumour about Sodastream reuniting and being busy recording a new album, and that my expectations sadly were very high. Well, the new album is finally here, and guess what? I'm not disappointed! Not at all! Karl and the other part of the Australian duo, bass player Pete Cohen, have been working on this album since then, and it shows. The songs are brilliant, and I don't think that I'm pushing it too far when I say that it might be their best album yet. Okay, okay, their debut 'Looks Like a Russian' is a hard one to beat. And their last album, 'Reservations' was brilliant too. And... Oh well. It's a damn fine album, anyway, with all the trademark Sodastream sounds - Pete's double bass, the musical saw and Karl's gentle acoustic guitar. Last year, the band released the first single off the album, 'Three Sins', and listening to the full album now, I think that it is probably my least favourite song here. Don't get me wrong. It's a great song, but I'm not a big fan of the shouting and wailing towards the end, a bit like the songs on Karl's solo album. But on the other hand, at least two of the songs on this new album 'Habits' and 'On the Stage', are among my all time favourites from this fabulous duo. On 'Habits' we are even treated to what I think is Pete's first solo vocals on a Sodastream track! Pete's dark backing vocals are present on more or less every song on 'Little by Little', which is a haunting contrast to Karl's brighter voice. I could go on and on here, but I won't. I just want to conclude this review by saying that Sodastream are finally back, and I hope they are here to stay!

Track Listing:-

1 Colouring Iris
2 Habits
3 Three Sins
4 Letting Go
5 Grey Waves
6 Moving
7 Walking Bones
8 Tyre Iron
9 On the Stage
10 Saturday's Ash

Band Links:-

http://www.sodastream.net.au/
https://www.facebook.com/sodastream.band
https://twitter.com/sodastream_band
https://sodastream.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/sodastreamaustralia