- It’s a cluttered world out there. From the orbiting space junk to your social media feed, there’s a lot to contend with when looking for a little bit of magic; and, no, I would not like a link to your youtube channel of magic tricks. The magic I’m talking about is finding something that helps in dealing with the clutter. It may be taking care of a slow moving, self-contained hermit crab that helps restore a little magic amongst the chaos of owning three kelpies. It may be your Spanish neighbour who’ll serenely offer mañana in the face of a hyper-orderly, overbearing landlord. My little slice of magic for the past couple of days has been Melbourne band Great Outdoors.

This trio, headed by Zachary Schneider - who you may know via the band Totally Mild, have created a body of succinct, spacious and gently politicised indie rock with their album Fake News. I know that that title might ellicit a sigh but in listening to Schneider sing, whether exploring identity politics in Stupid Man or the folly of political parties in Walkie Talkie, it’s done so humbly, sans soapbox.

The magic, though, is that every song offers an elegant variation on what indie-rock can accommodate. The minimal kraut-rock of Keep Your Focus, the linear form of Fine Tuning and the odd timing in Walkie Talkie’s outro are there for you too sink your teeth into but there’s also the sing-along classicism of Bachelor’s Bliss and The Big Move. Importantly too, even though this is executed supremely with some tasteful layering, it still presents as affable indie-rock rabble.

Fake News is an album rich with mystery and surprise, and while it addresses modernity it does so with a diversity of sound and tone that offers a slice of magic track to track. It’s one of the best Australian releases of 2017.

- NJR.