Album Review: Pretty Lies

Bluesy, gritty and honest with plenty of swag best describes Aaron Carpenter and The Revelators’ debut album, Pretty Lies.

The quintet hail from Waiheke Island, also known as “wine island”, only a ferry ride away from the bright lights of Auckland.

Recorded in a barn with one of NZ’s pioneer producers, Nick Abbott, the nine -track debut is brimming with soul and is the kind of music that captures your attention within those opening chords.

The first thing I noticed was the superb sound and clarity. Vocalist, Aaron Carpenter has a real depth and soul to his voice and it emanates loud and clear on every track. Straight off the bat, opening track, Pretty Lies is a straightforward crunchy, riff driven number, it has that kind of one-drink-in-your-hand live onstage, kind of swag and it’s perfect.

There is an attractive gritty rawness to the vibe of this album, with soft harmony and melody ever present, you can feel the connection, its emotions. With a sound that is uniquely theirs, at times I am reminded of American Rock and Blues Jam band, JJ Grey and Mofro, another band I hold in high regard in the Rock and Blues genre.

A breath of fresh air in a genre that is forever timeless, Pretty Lies is an album you must hear, and if you’re completely new to the genre, let this be your first discovery.