Twenty years since her debut The Overture and the Underscore, and six since her last solo outing Depth of Field, Australian singer songwriter Sarah Blasko is back at last and ready to reveal all with I Just Need To Conquer This Mountain, her most personal and intimate outing to date.
With seven solo albums under her belt, as well as two releases with Holly Throsby and Sally Seltmann as part of folk supergroup Seeker Lover Keeper, Blasko has attained local legend status in her native homeland. She’s received sparks of appreciation from overseas too, with Elton John and Paul Dempsey of Something For Kate being amongst her many admirers. Her broad sound has wavered from lush folk to striking electronica, but with her latest album, she strips it all back, weaving a cohesive narrative with heartfelt harmonies and piano at the forefront.
Taking much of the lyrical inspiration for Mountain from her struggle to escape the stranglehold of her Pentecostal upbringing, Blasko also dives headfirst into the topics of divorce, disillusion and death. But rather than come across as depressing, the album feels almost euphoric, as she breaks free from the shackles still lingering, at last able to move on.
Opening track ‘The Way’ serves as a succinct introduction to the religious themes enveloping the album. Over solemn piano, Blasko sings of her hesitation in moving on, before ultimately accepting that The Way of the Lord is not the way forward for her.
Pained in sound and in subject, ‘Bothering Me’ draws ties between the collapse of a lifelong friendship and the imminent apocalypse Blasko was taught to anticipate, both still haunting her like a ghost in the shadows. Duet ‘Goodbye!’ puts forward the other side of the page in an ode to the freedom of farewells, in which Blasko’s voice is paired perfectly with the soothing, deep timbre of Melbourne singer songwriter Ryan Downey.
It’s fair to say Blasko’s passionate vocals are the most astounding instrument featured on Mountain – at some points, her voice wavers, as if she’s on the very brink. This sincerity is evident on ‘I Can’t Wait Anymore’, where soaring strings supplement Blasko’s fragile tone, as she concedes that certain ties must eventually be severed.
‘Give You Up’ is a heartfelt promise to those people that are worth sticking by, in a heavenly ascension that builds up to more stirring strings. Struggles again surface on ‘Emotions’, where Blasko confesses “When this dam has bust/The deluge hurts/No one can save you from the depths of my emotions” before a tsunami of chaotic horns lunge in from left field.
Picking up the pieces from the deluge, ‘In My Head’ lifts the mood to one of pure, unadulterated joy. Blasko announces the arrival of a new beginning with confidence, over a cascade of violin, trumpets and uplifting acoustic. ‘Dream Weaver’ offers another change of pace in the form of a heartfelt tribute to Blasko’s friend and former tour manager Greg Weaver, who passed away in 2019. Blissful backing vocals ascend, in one of the many glimpses of gospel integrated into the album.
Buoyant ballad ‘To Be Alone’ is a frank heart to heart between Blasko and the listener, addressing how the experience of divorce in her mid twenties left her running from commitment, afraid of repeating her past mistakes. Now settled into her role as the mother of two young children, the scars have healed, and she is able to see the world in a new light.
Wrapping up with ‘Divine’, we’ve at last come full circle, leaving behind the past for good. “Do you ever wonder where you’ve been/Like you’re only just waking from a dream!” Blasko belts, joyfully accepting that the end is not nigh. In fact, her life is only truely just beginning.
Haunting yet heavenly, hopeful yet hesitant, I Just Need To Conquer This Mountain is full of contradictions, but ultimately has one very clear message. Moving on is never easy, but when one does, the past doesn’t simply disappear, but rather guides us forward. By looking back, Sarah Blasko succeeds in moving forward creatively, crafting a meticulous, unpretentious sonic memoir that begs to be heard in full.
I Just Need To Conquer This Mountain is out 1st November via MVKA
