Marlon Williams

Make Way For love

DeaD oCeanS 8/10 a breakup has the New Zealander channeling the ghost of Jim Reeves

Written in the wake of his breakup with girlfriend Aldous Harding, Marlon Williams’ second LP sees the Christ-churchbred, Melbourne-based singer find some solace and inspiration in the grandly melodramatic and echo-laden songs of Roy Orbison and Jim Reeves. Thankfully, Williams’ effort to emulate that bygone sound is too sophisticated and idiosyncratic to be mere pastiche, with songs like “What’s Chasing You” and “Can I Call You” landing nearer Timber Timbre’s doomy, desolate folk or even Anohni at her most delicate. With its judicious application of strings and Jordanaires-style backup vocals, Williams’ stab at Marty Robbins-style balladry on “I Know A Jeweler” is as fulsome and forlorn as one could hope.