Produced by Andrew Pollock and Matt Joe Gow, ‘Seven Years’ is another notch in the belt of the Kiwi-born, Melbourne-based country rock/folk artist. The album’s 12 tracks vary in tempo and vibe, the modest album cover doing little to prepare you for the weight of Gow’s 48-minute storytelling session. The musical journey has such conviction that it starts to feel as though the stories have been stolen right from your own personal journal entries.

‘Seven Years,’ blends Americana roots with alternative country, blues and folk influences. The songs touch on reminiscent moments in time and lost love. There is intense beauty in the way that its music complements Gow’s southern melodies (‘southern’ being Dunedin of course). The core formula of uncomplicated leisurely paced tunes, lined with stylish harmonies makes it an easy listen. Singing or humming along is autonomous and beyond your control.

High praise is due to the polished musicians within this album and the skill they display in nurturing the feeling within each track. It’s been almost seven years since Gow’s last album, ‘House That Burnt Down’, and feels like a return to the form of his 2009 debut ‘The Messenger’, which coincidentally is where this album takes its title from. Mastering musical and personal growth and maturity over the past seven years is heard loud and clear, testament to those years being musically well spent.