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Slowcoaching is the nom de plume of Naarm\/Melbourne musician Dean Valentino, and his debut album \u2018I\u2019m In My Brain Again\u2019 is a delicious collection of dreamy songs that seem to float in the consciousness.<\/p>\n
Born in that fertile era of COVID isolation, Valentino says of the creation of the album:<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve always been a notoriously bad sleeper \u2013 whether overthinking mundane things, experiencing sleep paralysis or being glued to the TV at 2 o\u2019clock in the morning<\/em>. These songs were shaped in those moments of surreal loneliness and it was the first time I really felt a shift in the Slowcoaching project. It\u2019s a big reason why I scrapped what I was working on at the time and tried a new direction \u2013 and even though it feels like it\u2019s taken forever, it feels right<\/em>.<\/p>\n Opening track \u2018Younger\u2019 opens with sampled echoed voices before Valentini\u2019s soft yearning vocals enter over jingle jangling guitars reaching a crescendo with its soaring chorus. There are elements of The Stone Roses detectable in the delivery: a shoegaze\/dream pop soundscape that positively sparkles. <\/p>\n \u2018Toothache\u2019 is more expansive and airy with its delicate backing vocals and spacious sounds. The result is something that is atmospheric and layered with intricate sounds tinkling in the distance lending an aquatic air. <\/p>\n \u2018It Was Nice Meeting You\u2019 returns with a jingle jangle spring in it steps, a shimmering wall of sound and delicate melodies that reminds me slightly of eighties \u2018Bette Davis\u2019s Eyes\u2019: pure driving pop. The lyrics are poetic and evocative, revealing a gentle sense of humour \u2013 car ride catharsis, static on the radio, I pray to Jesus but Jesus never gave a f@ck<\/em>. The humour continues in the accompanying video directed and edited by Gina Somfleth where a special dinner (complete with a classy goon bag \u2013 Australian slang for cheap cask wine) is prepared for a mysterious date, with a seventies blush.<\/p>\n