When the grey chill of February settles over the North, it brings a specific weight that makes forward motion feel nearly impossible. This seasonal stagnation mirrors the internal paralysis that often precedes profound personal shifts. People search for years to find a place or a person that anchors them, only to realise that the anchor itself can feel terrifyingly heavy when it finally catches. It is...

TJ Howlett has officially ushered in the heavy, introspective season with his new release, "Easy Street". The Melbourne singer, songwriter, and early-90s grunge veteran bypasses modern polish altogether, choosing instead to steep himself in sultry, slow blues-rock that carries the weight of a smoke-filled room and deep-seated regret. https://open.spotify.com/album/6wLvX4vix5YygVOuQ7039p?si=aasK_0XHSAmhDNLFrh-aUw The title track maps out the murky topography of a rundown dive bar. We are observing melancholic...