As can happen when there’s such a wealth of new bands and acts getting released every week, some really impressive ones can easily get lost in the crowded field. What usually helps a band stand out is an ability to withstand the vagaries of an ever-changing industry and continue to release records, which Sydney based folk-rock band Josh Orange has done. A new album, the band’s fourth, has just been released, and this one is sure to attract a lot of attention.
The new one is a mix of folk, blues, rock, and country soundscapes, with lyrics that cover relationships, intimacy, escapism, and societal observations. The vocal performance from Gordan Burke is one of the many highlights, a long list which includes spirited playing from the band, excellent song writing and an evocative production job. Whether it’s the Dylan, Dire Straits sounding splendour of the opening track Little Miss America or the pensive, reflective air of I Feel Love, Josh Orange has delivered a cohesive, subtly seductive collection of songs that have a sense of vulnerability and endurability about them.
Midnight Lights is sure to make a lasting impact on audiences across the globe, initialising the next chapter in Josh Orange’s soaring trajectory. This new record comes off the back of several successful singles and features the band’s three AMRAP number #1 breakthrough smashes, I Will Follow You, When Tomorrow Comes and Midnight Lights. Hitting the iTunes top 200 Australian singer-songwriter charts upon release, the new album was also Album of the Week on the ABC, Triple H and in the running for the coveted spotlight on Good Morning Country in April. The band also landed its first officially curated Spotify playlist, with Lost in the Woods attracting 300k plus spins.
The new album’s closing track, the contemplative Three Words, was also just added to anther curated Spotify playlist with 2.3 million followers. And reaffirming the band’s massive streaming success is the album’s opening song Little Miss America, which has now scored over 54k Spotify streams and added to over 100 playlists. Not only a satisfying array of life-affirming songs, Midnight Lights also affirms the band’s tenacity and thriving creative spirit. The band will be performing the album in its entirety in May at a soon to be announced venue in Sydney. For details about how to catch Josh Orange in their first live performance since COVID see: https://www.joshorange.com/