The Northside Pleasure Club – “Shadow”

“Shadow” by The Northside Pleasure Club is a great record that effortlessly blends folk, rock, country, and classic Americana. Led by songwriter and singer Charlie Coupland, this Melbourne collective has delivered an eight-track release recorded using vintage mics, amps, and keyboards at Soundpark Studio. The entire project carries an authentic, analog warmth that feels like hanging out in a room with a band that knows exactly what they are doing.

Andrew Hehir’s steady drums, Nildo Orso’s guitars, Julitha Ryan’s keys, and Michael Pollitt’s bass create a rich foundation across the album, and the performance feels remarkably cohesive, proving how well this group works together after years of making music in Melbourne.

Out of all eight tracks on the album, my absolute favorites are “Shadow” and “One in a Million”. The title track “Shadow” sets a paranoid, Cold War atmosphere of surveillance and hidden agendas, while still offering a comforting thread of hope amid trying times. On the flip side, “One in a Million” is a tender love song written to Coupland’s wife Veronica, brought to life with guest backing vocal work by Kavisha Mazzella. Colin Wynne’s expert mixing and mastering at 30 Mill Studios ties the whole collection together.

I think this album is a total masterpiece from start to finish. The Northside Pleasure Club managed to craft something special here, and I strongly recommend checking out their previous albums “Drifters Highway” and “Wildboy” to hear how their sound has evolved over the years.

Make sure to follow The Northside Pleasure Club across all their social media platforms right now so you do not miss out on any of the exciting new songs they have in development for the rest of this year, as they are a truly dedicated group of musicians who deserve all your support!