I had never heard of the band until yesterday. It was a sunny Sunday, and I was sitting in the Beach Club of Lake Storkow in Brandenburg. My little daughter was next to me, eating an ice cream sandwich, and I had a cup of coffee in my hands while watching the sea. The place was not crowded, only seven people plus two workers, while outside there was a long waiting line at the local polling station next door.

I enjoyed this little peaceful moment, and in the background, a small Marshall speaker somewhere played some acoustic and folk music. While I recognized some of the tunes (Mumford & Sons), I also heard some songs I didn’t know. One track really got me to grab my phone to Shazam it. It returned “Hollow Coves with The Woods from their Wanderlust-EP”. I can’t think of any better music to score that beach scene moment. I just love when music frames a memory or the other way around.

So I looked up the band on Apple Music and found out that they had just released their second album “Nothing to Lose” in March 2024. I’ve listened to it, and after the last track, “See You Soon”, I hit play again. I repeated that for maybe five or six times now, and I feel something like I haven’t for a long time. I think it was back in 2010 or 2011, when I discovered Angus & Julia Stone with their second album “Down the Way” that touched me deeply. And now it’s again an Australian band with their second album that blows me away.

Interesting fact: without the Angus & Julia Stone, Hollow Coves probably wouldn’t exist.

“Ryan Henderson grew up without a musical background. When he was in high school, his friends took him to the Woodford Folk Festival to see the Folk and Indie pop group “Angus & Julia Stone.” This music inspired him to learn the guitar and eventually to his career.

Matt Carins grew up in Brisbane surrounded by music. His father is in a local cover band and has written albums. His mother plays and teaches piano and flute. He also has a sister who plays the piano and a brother who is in an alternative rock band.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Coves

I am surprised, happy, and grateful to hear music like this in 2024. It brings back memories of Mumford & Sons, Kings of Convenience, Mighty Oaks, etc. As a musician myself, I understand that musicians outgrow where they came from. But as a listener, I am happy to still discover new “timeless” music like this. It’s (heart-)warming, uplifting, simple, not overloaded, positive with just the right amount of everything you need for a good album. This album is just like that perfect little moment at Lake Storkow, but in full album length. Maybe that moment leads me to value the album better than it actually is, but I don’t care.

The results of the European elections are devastating. They leave me speechless, helpless, clueless, hopeless, uncomprehending, tired, angry, and sad. It’s a slap in the face of every democratic European. A kick in the nuts for humanity. But this album gives me hope that not all the world is fucked. To me, this is the feel-good album of the year (so far). There’s so much beauty in this world, let’s fight for it. There’s nothing to lose. Don’t leave the world to assholes.

To be honest, I didn’t even know the band is still active. I just lost interest after the first two albums. While their self-titled debut was a playful mix of Afrobeats, indie, classical music, and, above all, fun, the second album, “Contra,” was a solid follow-up. I can’t even remember “Modern Vampires of the City” and “Father of the Bride,” the third and fourth albums.

I saw “Only God Was Above Us” in the new releases, and it was like seeing someone you know, someone you used to spend time with in the past, someone who was always fun to hang around with. And I was like, “Hey, how are you, dude?” And the answer was: “Fuck the world.” Well, that’s the first lyrics of “Ice Cream Piano,” the opening track of the album. That instantly got my attention. And when the snare drums led into the beat, I was a little bit hoping for a new “A-Punk.” But it isn’t. I thought, “Well, this album is more produced with the head than with the heart.” Yet it led me to listen through the entire album.

I liked “Capricorn” and “Hope” instantly, and after I finished all 10 tracks, I hit play again. The album cover art shows a weird subway situation, which fits perfectly with the album. It’s something you might hear incidentally on a subway ride in a big city while reading the newspaper and experiencing weird situations.

The album feels more familiar and gets better with every repeat. Well done!