Love is rarely a tended garden. Often it’s like a wild overgrown path where you can easily scratch yourself on the thorns of your own illusions. The thing in love I think, is letting go at the right time while still being true to who you are. For many growing up in your to-mid twenties brings a kind of broken heart that unexpectedly becomes the first step toward freedom. That fragile restless turning point is what the Australian quartet Little Quirks take as the heart of their album “She’s Wild” set to release on October 30.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Little Quirks are no longer a gem for a small group of indie folk-rock fans. The sisters Abbey and Mia Toole along with Jordan Rouse and Lachlan Raeside have spent the ten years growing up together. Not just as bandmates, but also in front of an audience. Now they have over 11 million listeners. That’s why “She’s Wild” feels so real. Like an album made by people who know each other deeply. There’s a kind of freedom in their music now one that comes from not needing to prove anything to each other.
In the past the band was known for warmth. A blend of Americana, dream-pop and melodic indie-pop. On “She’s Wild” that warmth has changed. The guitars are sharper. The rhythm section is heavier and more confident. The production has moved into more atmospheric spaces. This is the rock-oriented album they’ve ever made. Eight songs where sensuality meets bluntness where lyrics are raw and vulnerable but the music stands firm in its right to want more. And to walk away when it’s time.
The album starts with “Moving On.” Right from the beginning there’s momentum. Bold guitars, a bass line and a vocal that builds strength as the song goes. The verses stay calm controlled. But the chorus changes everything. The tempo picks up. So does the determination. It’s an opener for an album that in many ways is about leaving the past behind. That sense of motion continues with “Game Boy “ the album’s first single released on September 18. The song marks a new chapter. Darker louder more defiant. It’s full of energy a touch of flirtation and a magnetic charm. The song seems to celebrate someone who makes being charming look like an art: the way he moves the way he talks. It makes everyone around him feel important. Big guitars clash with driving drums. The vocal shifts between calm, almost teasing verses and a sharp edgy chorus. It’s a song that makes you want to move. To feel alive.
The title track, “Shes Wild ” is different. The vocal here is slow drawn out almost dreamy.. The instruments. The guitars and drums. Race forward without stopping. That contrast creates tension the kind that makes the whole album worth listening to. The voice asks for things to slow down. The music says no. It’s a battle of emotions. You can feel it in every note. After three moving tracks the album takes a breath. “Fingertips” is smooth, sensual and quietly sad. It’s a moment of calm a needed exhale after much speed. “Little Red Dress” follows in a mood. Soft and tender at first. By the middle the guitars and drums build up gaining weight and edge. By the end the song drifts into something almost progressive. The vocal stays gentle. The space around it grows more complex. “Forbidden” plays with tension in a way. Not in the lyrics but in the groove. The song shifts constantly. A soft rhythm gives way to a forceful beat. There’s no build here. No smooth rise to a climax. Instead Little Quirks flip a switch. From stillness to movement. It keeps you on edge always waiting for what comes
The album also has its moments. “Love That Door” is one of them. Restrained and full of feeling. The vocal the guitars, the drums. Everything works together in harmony. No extra notes. No wasted energy. Just emotion, clear and strong. Then comes the finale: “Sacrifice.” The song starts with a danceable feel. Like a dusty road a bar on the edge of town the first chords of a story about to take off. By the middle it heats up. It builds.. Instead of one big explosion the tension releases. The song pulls back into a country groove. Warm and full of life.
Listening to “She’s Wild” over and over I found myself not waiting for the song but for the next change in mood. Little Quirks turn vulnerability into strength not by hiding it. By showing it. I like that they got louder sharper. Where it would have been easier to stay soft. This album is the kind you need to hear all the way through. From the bold chord, to the last country sigh. You should listen without looking away.
