Storytelling is at the core of Australian musician Aaron Thomas‘ latest album, Human Patterns. This LP arrives more than a decade since his last record, capturing the highs and lows he’s encountered in both his music career and personal life. The singer-songwriter has been traveling around the world and only recently returned to Australia.

Human Patterns is calming but also mildly unsettling, as Aaron tackles various facets of his life. The twelve-song album is rich in organic instrumentation, underscoring the musician’s indie-folk leanings. You’ll be captivated by indie melodies melded with classic country tones.

The album starts on a blissful note. “Walk on Water”, with its warm chorus, finds Thomas reveling in the feeling of love and optimism. The album’s final song, “To My Knees”, shares a similar state of mind, espousing the need to embrace life as it comes. However, the songs in the middle show alternating moments of sadness and happiness.

“Money”, a track heavy on instrumentation, feels moody and resentful, describing the feeling of being undone by love. Equally moody are the songs “Long Lost Friend” and “Spiritual Man”.

“Mouth of the City”, on the other hand, is a hearty piece about staying true to oneself. Its jangly guitars and undulating melodies are especially captivating. Similarly, on “Like a Stone”, Aaron’s lulling vocals complement the soft guitar, adding to the song’s sense of nostalgia.

With its lovely rhythms, “Before I Met You” has to be the most engaging track in the album, a song that one can dance to. Its hopeful outlook on love is especially refreshing. “Bottle of Wine” is another beautiful piece, with reflective lyrics that look back on a past romance. It has a singalong feel to it.

“My Brother, My Hill” and “Your Light” are heartfelt acoustic-driven pieces. “Your Light” is laden with optimism, a celebration of new love and its inherent power.

In what feels like a musical detour, the artist forays into another sonic territory with “We Both Know (How it Feels)”. The song grippingly entraps listeners in a mysterious soundscape leaning towards desert rock/folk. It’s a cinematic track that welcomes the conclusion of the musician’s journey. Altogether, Human Patterns is an authentic product and a natural culmination of an artist’s struggle to create music while also dealing with life.

In his own words, the artist explains, “This is the album I forced myself to make. The one I worried I wouldn’t get to make. The album of a very stubborn and passionate musician. A kind of record for myself in a lot of ways that kind of embodies my desire to not give up and walk away from music, even when it’s not paying off. And I don’t mean financially. “

I’ve enjoyed listening to this body of work. You too can listen and tell us what you think of the album. Follow Aaron Thomas on Instagram.

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