Alex Cameron

★★★★ Oxy Music SECRETLY CANADIAN. CD/DL/LP

Fourth LP from Australian Killers collaborator.

Co-writing a fistful of recentish Killers songs brought Alex Cameron to mainstream attention, but the Sydney native has been quietly constructing a wry solo career since 2013’s Jumping

The Shark, where he assumed the persona of a far-from beloved entertainer. Fourth time around, he’s embraced a lush, harmony-drenched sound akin to late-period Fleetwood Mac or even the outer reaches of yacht rock. Yet, it’s underpinned by biting, literate lyrics and mostly crestfallen characters. He asks, “Who told my brother that his kids are gonna die from this vaccine?” on the fabulous Sara Jo; he duets with Sleaford Mods leader Jason Williamson on the fentanyl dependency saga that is the title track; and he reminds us that “there’s only room for one in a K hole” on K Hole. He’s a marriage of opposites (there’s even a rap of sorts on Cancel Culture), but feels built to last.

John Aizlewood tantalising McCartney new song fragments in Get Back. When that woozy melodic miasma kicks into the ferocious moshpit churn of Uselessness – imagine Fire

Dances-era Killing Joke asked to write a song about Covid-19 in an unspecified second language – it feels like Trupa Trupa have cracked it.

Ben Thompson