:: Angus & Julia Stone - Down The Way

Angus & Julia Stone

Sydney brother-sister duo Angus & Julia Stone have released their second studio album ‘Down The Way’. They have impressed greatly with their earlier releases and this new release could really see them get the recognition they deserve. The pair have worked really hard in this project, stepping into the production territory and travelling the world, touring and recording with Notable people in the music world. They seem to have sacrificed their melodies for a more polished and heavier sound. Everything has been intricately placed. The album opens with “Hold On”, in Julia’s fragile voice, and it’s clear from this point that the energy has been amplified, possibly a result of having a long gap to progress and grow in their sound. “Draw Your Swords” is the climax of the album. The emotive arrangement of this song distracts somewhat from the poor melody, yet it is still a pleasant listen. ‘Down The Way’ dips into different sounds with each song without feeling like it’s trying to accomplish too many things at once. At the same time, its appeal needs a couple of listens in order to emerge. Fans may be difficult to please as they might wish things stayed the same from the first album. It could be seen as a gamble. But Angus & Julia continue to grow as artists. The songwriting is better and in-depth, the arrangements are more complicated and the sound is larger, fuller and more complete.