With anything in life, when you know you’re onto a good thing, you’d be a fool to change it up. Whether a lifestyle, relationship or career, for most people consistency in their life is key to success. This extends to musicians. And yet, sometimes even when you’re at the top of your game, change is what’s needed to continue staying on top. And for The Teskey Brothers, that’s exactly what they’ve done on their new album: changed it up just enough and still come through with the goods.
Coming four years after their acclaimed second album, Run Home Slow, the band is back with The Winding Way, a matured and grounded take on the sounds of a band the whole country (and plenty more) have come to love. Despite not growing tired of the sounds from their first two albums, the band felt like change was in order to maintain enthusiasm and spice in a world where the past three years could very well have drained them of it. Deciding to bring in producer Eric J Dubowsky (Chemical Brothers, Flume) to ever so slightly change the vibe up of their sound, The Teskey Brothers have well and truly delivered with ten tracks that all hit as well as they could have hoped.
Yes, a lot of the magic in The Winding Way lays in the vocals of frontman Josh Teskey, but the true magic is in the music and layering of each song. For every song that features a distinct piano or organ, there’s another with brass, wood-wind or string instruments coming through to absolutely kick the back door down. One of the lead singles drip fed in the lead up to the release of The Winding Way is “Oceans of Emotions”, 4 minutes of brilliance all tied together with a killer closing bridge filled with all the things the Teskey’s have become known for: strings, horns, brass and bloody good vibes. Opener “I’m Leaving” does begin with a more downtrodden note before opening itself up and really kicking the album off in its closing minute, while “Take My Heart” and “London Bridge” both follow in similar patterns of angst and sadness before culminating in flourishes of light and a brighter tomorrow.
The Winding Way carries itself incredibly well from start to finish. There isn’t one song that is lacking or weaker than the others. Sure, there’s a couple that have some sadder vibes and won’t exactly light up the dance floor on upcoming tours, but all-in-all The Winding Way is well weighted from wall to wall. From the encouraging and hopeful “This Will Be Our Year” to the wailing “Rich Man”, you just know the band has put everything into this album.
The peak of the album comes on the last two tracks “Remember the Time” and “What Will Be”. Probably the most exciting and upbeat moments on the album, they’re a satisfying way for The Winding Way to finish up. Honestly, I rinsed “What Will Be” 10 times in a row the day I wrote this. It gets better with every listen; trust me on this.
There’s something special going on at The Teskey Brothers HQ. They know it, I know it, and now you know it. I’m glad they’ve changed things a little on The Winding Way. It might not be the biggest of changes, but it is definitely enough to make you step back and appreciate their skills, talents and brilliance all the same.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The Teskey Brothers’ The Winding Way releases on June 16th.
The Teskey Brothers are heading out on an Australian and New Zealand national tour in support of The Winding Way, starting in November.
Frontier Members pre-sale starts on June 14th, with general release kicking off on June 16th. More info HERE.
- Saturday 18 November – Hindley Street Music Hall | Adelaide, SA
- Friday 24 November – Cairns Performing Arts Centre | Cairns, QLD
- Saturday 25 November – Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre | Townsville, QLD
- Friday 1 December – Hordern Pavilion | Sydney, NSW
- Saturday 2 December – Sidney Myer Music Bowl | Melbourne, VIC
- Friday 8 December – Auckland Town Hall | Auckland, NZ
- Saturday 9 December – Michael Fowler Centre | Wellington, NZ
- Tuesday 12 December – Christchurch Town Hall | Christchurch, NZ
- Saturday 16 December – Riverstage | Brisbane, QLD
- Friday 12 January 2024 – Red Hill Auditorium | Perth, WA
- Friday 19 January 2024 – Darwin Entertainment Centre | Darwin, NT
- Saturday 20 January 2024 – Canberra Theatre | Canberra, ACT
- Friday 2 February 2024 – Odeon Theatre | Hobart, TAS
Header photo credit: Ian Laidlaw
