Australian singer-songwriter-guitarist Peter Freebairn unveils his debut solo album, 'Silhouettes & Cigarettes', a long-awaited follow-up to his 2019 self-titled EP.
Leading the charge is the infectious power-pop single, 'I Got Lucky (I Got You)'. Channelling influences like Matthew Sweet and Mike Viola, the track is a guitar-driven, radio-friendly anthem with a hook-laden motif and a surprisingly fitting theremin.
Freebairn describes the song's origins as, "This song came to me while I was driving on the Surf Coast heading for Torquay in Victoria, Australia on a surfing trip. I was trying to evoke the feeling of summer, sitting on a beach, turning the portable radio up loud and generally enjoying life. I think it's a pretty cool road track too."
He adds, "'I Got Lucky (I Got You)' was so different to the rest of the album because it was added almost as an afterthought and was subsequently placed last on the album. I know song order doesn’t mean much to people these days but there was a lot of thought put into the order in which the album was meant to be heard."
'Silhouettes & Cigarettes' is a testament to Freebairn's melodic songwriting prowess, musicianship, and engaging vocals. The album draws inspiration from The Beatles, Matthew Sweet, and World Party, with a particular nod to the sonic landscape of 'Revolver'.
Freebairn's meticulous approach to production shines through. "My home studio (Valley Road Studios) helped me a lot with recording and producing the album, allowing me to take my time with the music," he says. "One of the other main things I wanted to achieve was ‘keeping it real’ - miking up real valve guitar amps with minimal guitar effects and recording, take after take until I got it right."
The album features Freebairn on all instruments except drums, which were expertly handled by Paul Boyle. Jo George contributed piano, keyboards, and harmony vocals to 'I Got Lucky (I Got You)'.
'Silhouettes & Cigarettes' offers a diverse sonic palette, ranging from the upbeat power-pop of the title track and 'Home Town' to Beatlesque ballads like 'You And I' and 'Silhouette'. The album concludes with the understated 'Say Goodbye (Reprise)', a poignant reflection on loss.
Peter Freebairn will perform the new album live at Wesley Anne High Street Northcote (Melbourne, Australia) Saturday 18th May. Tickets are available now.
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