Lloyd & The Leftovers - Spin The Wheel
Spin The Wheel debut album from Lloyd & The Left Overs is an 11-track story, years in the making, that pieces together a broader narrative arc, echoing the experiences of the writer Luke Giglia-Smith in his journey through life.
The opening chapter commences with a friendly opening beat and honest, emotional vocals that explore the feeling of moving out of a room that feels like home and the feeling of unsteadiness that comes along with it.
The opening chapter is 'Fruit and Wine', a rambling country song with a friendly opening beat and honest, emotional vocals that explore the feeling of moving out of a room that feels like home and the feeling of unsteadiness that comes along with it. Strings add to the emotional peak of it, as those feelings all crash down.
Following that is 'Kaarta Koomba', bringing a rock-twist to the album.
Written after Luke Giglia-Smith returned from a trip to the desert, this track is about feeling upset at the treatment of First Nations People, and the struggle of coming back into a society where racism and inequity are so commonplace.
'Listen to Invalidate' is an introspective struggle with one's own actions, and feeling like a terrible person.
It's quiet, contemplative, and mournful as it wallows in those emotions through gentle guitar and slow-paced drumbeats. It flows into 'Something Rainproof', a sillier walking song with a brighter tune to battle the cloudy skies. It focuses in on how it feels to be the only one still running around frantically while everyone else can just walk.
The middle of the album is where the throes of depression hit. 'Breathe, Says The Sign', begins with a voicemail.
An ode to a friend who has passed away, this track was originally written as a slow, stripped-back folk song, though the emotion of the track made it too overwhelming to play through.
In Luke's words, "it's a band tune, a big one, it's loud and it's an ode for my friend."
'Cowboy' follows that with simple, stripped-back vulnerability: gentle guitar that allows the emotion of the vocals to show through. It's devastatingly soft and a touch self-loathing as it reflects on the journey to rock-bottom.
'Twice in a Day' is built up from carefully plucked guitar riffs, with a softness that echoes out to the vocals and blends into the melancholy of the last song, mirroring the reflection of finding out a bond you've dedicated yourself to was all for nothing.
'Tried It On Tuesday' follows the theme of difficult relationships, focusing on the struggle that comes when a relationship is built on musical collaboration that doesn't come as easy as it used to.
It longs for a time when eventually, they'll be able to create together again.
'Why Won't You Wait' is woven with sparkling, bittersweet guitar and mournful vocals as the singer pleads for the people in their life to stay for a moment longer and struggles to accept that people move on.
The second last song on the album, 'Toolvest', is slow and contemplative but brings the album around to be a little more hopeful. It contemplates that everyone has a metaphorical 'set of tools' that make up their personality they pick up here and there, and how these tools can be put down or changed out as life goes on.
The final song is the album's namesake: 'Spin The Wheel' is built from harmonica and unconventional percussion, and makes for a lighter end to the album, leaving the listener with optimism to carry with them. It's all about having a go and accepting that whatever will be will be.
Strings add to the emotional peak of it, as those feelings all crash down.
Lloyd & The Leftovers debut album Spin The Wheel is available to stream now.
