I was pleasantly surprised by the toned down and quiet groovy sound playing out my speakers upon starting the new album, Broken on Her Ocean, by local Newcastle musician Nick Saxon. In comparison to his first release, Hide and Seek, this release has a very relaxing and simplistic sound, but also a deeper and darker sound which gives new insight to a different side of Saxon.
The opening track, ‘Fire and Foe’, captured my attention immediately showcasing his new and developed sound. With a beautiful guitar accents building up to the chorus it was easy to get lost in the sound.
‘El Viaje’ is catchy and will get you dancing along to the beat. ‘Shinzo’ shows a highly influenced story following his time in Japan with the story within, perhaps giving us some insight to his own personal time spent in such a grand location.
‘Insomnia Love’ gave another fresh sound with a female vocalist joining Saxon in beautiful harmonies and relatable lyrics. ‘Drunken Saylor’ brought out a boppy guitar sound and the lyrics were humorous.
With each track sounding unique, it really showcases Saxon’s diversity as a musician. His vocals sound stronger and deeper, showing me that he has spent time working on his art amongst his busy schedule and this work is paying off. Get your hands on this album as it is well worth the time to have a listen.
8/10
Reviewer: Courtney Laura