Sarah Blasko’s voice is like a flame: unique, mesmerising to observe, and, when caught up close, has the ability to cause tears. Blasko reminds us of her God-given talents on I Just Need to Conquer This Mountain, arriving 20 years after her debut LP, The Overture & the Underscore.
It’s a collection that resonates with loss and grief. “Time hasn’t made it much clearer / When I look in the mirror,” she recounts on single “I Can’t Wait Anymore”. From the top, she takes us to church, confesses, hollows us out, refills our cups.
Cut at Rancom Street Studios in Eora/Sydney with engineer Brent Clark, produced by Blasko and mixed by Kenny Gilmore, the album, she says, was probably the “most relaxed and free feeling” of her seven solo albums to date. There’s no emotional cheating here, as this clean arrangement of piano, nuanced drumming, and Blasko’s vocals creates all the space we need.
Stream: Sarah Blasko, I Just Need to Conquer This Mountain
This article features in the December-February 2024 issue of Rolling Stone AU/NZ. If you’re eager to get your hands on it, then now is the time to sign up for a subscription.
Whether you’re a fan of music, you’re a supporter of the local music scene, or you enjoy the thrill of print and long form journalism, then Rolling Stone AU/NZ is exactly what you need. Click the link below for more information regarding a magazine subscription.