Tom W Clarke

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New Music Review #2: ‘October’ by Molly Millington

Honestly, this might be the best song I’ve heard all year.

It’s joyously melancholic. Musically, it feels so warm and inviting, that it actually takes a couple of listens to understand the sadness in the lyrics.  

The comparisons to Olivia Rodrigo are inevitable, and not unfair. ‘October’ is vulnerable, and raw, and deeply sentimental.

The track has a rare combination of nostalgia and inimitability – I’ve never heard a song quite like it, and yet it feels like it’s been my favourite song forever.

There’s a soft, quiet charisma to Molly’s voice: it’s lilting and beautiful and fascinating, with an understated power. It’s a very easy song to get lost in, the spell only broken after four minutes.

Australia has been treated to some seriously good indie pop in the last few years. Mallrat, Amy Shark, G Flip… I think we’ll be adding Molly Millington to the list pretty damn soon.

And a few others:

'Amelia' by Suzi: A massive ‘f*** you’ to a high school bully, and a remarkable expression of healing and self-development. There’s some melodic Camp Cope vibes – defiant, ironic, stunning. Absolute belter.

'Runaway' by POOLCLVB: The soundtrack to a slow-motion rave scene in a dark indie teen movie, where an oddly sexy murder takes place. Spacey and bassy and reflexively cool.

‘Sunscreen’ by Ball Park Music: Ok, so they’re not exactly up-and-comers. But any day that Ball Park release new music is a wonderful day, and this gorgeous track is another injection of sunshine straight to the veins.