GUM's Jay Watson grabs every earthly possibility in his hands on his latest outing

Out In The World is Watson's fifth solo outing and represents a slower, more meditative approach to psychedelia; a drip-feed trip rather than instant spectral ecstasy. Unfortunately, the album’s opener "Weightless in LA" suffers from slow, sedated loops of synth and drums that quickly become tedious.

This does not represent the rest of the album. "Airwalkin" jolts into action, with the unexpected sharp cuts of violin. Watson goes from slumber to swagger, with the vocal air of someone seizing the initiative of their own narrative. The songs on Out In The World are products of experimentation, pop songs become infused with brass instruments, garage style drum loops and are always at least dip dyed in psychedelia.

There is a wide range of moods, you can be completely stationary, yet orbiting around ethereal space. There is an eye for melody throughout, the elation easily offered by synth is used to full advantage. The album title, Out In The World suggests a sense of expectation and trepidation, the album captures the sense of excitement and nausea that can come when we think of life's possibilities.

"Alphabet Soup" cranks up the tempo, the beat taking over before Watson can even finish his sentence, prompting a race for his vocal flow to catch up. The oscillating drums on "Low To Low" are satisfyingly palpable, you can visualise the vibrations coming from them. A hitch in the momentum comes with "Down The Dream", a song that feels like a cheap imitation of the track that precedes it, failing to offer any unique qualities.

GUM has spent his career as a tinkerer, contributing to two beloved Australian psychedelic bands. On his fifth solo album, Jay Watson is still proving that he’s an endlessly creative thinker. Out In The World seeks to question the confusion of modern life yet allows us to breathe by offering much needed escapism from our immediate surroundings.