Sydney songwriter Steve Smith and his band Fallon Cush are back with a brand new single, their first release since their excellent 2019 LP Stranger Things Have Happened.

‘Grain Of Salt‘ drifts along beautifully, richly imbued with space and grace – sonic props to producer/engineer Josh Schuberth in that regard. The band have always navigated that space between indie rock and Americana music with tasteful aplomb but here the weightlessness and melancholy gives it a country soul patina that works perfectly. Russell Crawford‘s drumming recall Levon Helm, Smith’s melodies inhabit the same baroque pop world as Beck circa Sea Change and the combo of Tim Byron‘s organ and Casey Atkins‘ sublime guitar is just wonderful.

“If I came straight out with it, looked you in the eye, said I’m really struggling to survive, would you take it with a grain of salt, or would you listen to me,” sings Smith, digging deep into the essence of human support – the simple and important act of lending an ear or a shoulder to lean on. Key acts of love and kindness in troubled times.