In an era of disposable digital tracks and algorithm-driven hooks designed for TikTok, there is something wonderfully rebellious about an album that demands to be heard as a single, unfolding narrative. The new album ‘Simple Thing’ from Australian duo New Thieves (Geoff Hughes and Graeme Riddell) does just that.
Simple Thing feels less like a follow-up and more like a vivid expansion of their sound. The record serves as the final chapter in a moving two-album tribute to their late songwriting partner Steve Hirst. It’s an album that looks backwards with a knowing glance, breathing fresh life into songs which were originally demoed during the 1980s when they performed in the Sydney-based band X-it.
While New Thieves’ self-titled debut was defined by sharp guitar lines and the clinical pulse of drum machines, ‘Simple Thing’ sees the pair stepping into much warmer, more organic territory. The textures here have blossomed; the familiar layered and stacked guitar tones are now intertwined with keyboards, soulful saxophone, and the grounding presence of live drums. It is a transition that moves the band into a new world of lush, dreamlike soundscapes that reward the attentive listener.
The DNA of 80s pop-rock lies central to the album’s melodic architecture, but the emotional core is entirely their own making. There is a weight to the songwriting, particularly on ‘Scrapbooks of Madness’, where added piano lends a haunting gravity to Hirst’s lyrical reflections on the death of John Lennon. The title track, ‘Simple Thing', finds a quiet power in life’s unvarnished moments, a theme beautifully mirrored in the original cover art by multi-award-winning Illawarra artist Jill Talbot.
The album was recorded at Madhouse Music in Port Macquarie and Encee Music at Callala Bay. The shimmering production strikes a delicate balance between nostalgia and modern clarity. Final mastering was completed by Michael Lynch Mastering. These were songs “demoed years ago but never released,” and with this project Hughes and Riddell have done much more than just archive the past
They have created a cohesive, atmospheric journey that bridges forty years of friendship and artistic collaboration. ‘Simple Thing’ is a sophisticated, heartfelt release, reminding us that some melodies are simply too good to stay hidden in the archives.
You can listen to the new album now, with all streaming links are available on the band's official website. The album is also available on vinyl and CD. For more updates, follow New Thieves on Facebook and Instagram.
