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The Summertimes, an Australian pop group I enthusiastically reviewed in 2023, are back with a new EP that picks up where their excellent debut album left off. Out on Golden Robot Records, Luminous puts on a master class in jangling, melody-driven guitar pop. Led by two exceptionally talented songwriters in David Beniuk and David Challenger, The Summertimes also feature Stephen O'Brien (Tumbleweed), Steve Bull (ICEHOUSE), Marco Forlano (The Mustard), and Ashley Naylor (The Church, Paul Kelly) in their lineup on this EP. Amanda Brown of The Go-Betweens makes a guest appearance, and five-time ARIA Award winner Paul McKercher returns as producer. With all that talent involved, you know the musicianship and production on this record are going to be immaculate. But as usual, it's the songwriting that shines the brightest. The two Davids are in fine form on these five tracks — crafting lovely, hook-laden songs that live on the more sophisticated, easygoing side of power pop. I put them in similar company with a longtime favorite of mine, Nick Piunti (who also has a new EP that I'll have something to say about very soon). Every song is a keeper, which is exactly the way it ought to be on a five-song EP.
When it comes to bands like this, I'm sometimes at a loss for what else to say beyond talking about the sheer excellence of the songwriting. But perhaps there's not much more that needs to be said. A band like The Summertimes isn't trying to reinvent guitar pop or usher in a new era in music. But what the Davids do so well is to work within a timeless style of music and execute it so splendidly that you wouldn't tire of it in a thousand years. Writing "simple" pop songs is one of the toughest things to do in music, but The Summertimes make it seem effortless. They excel at crafting melodies that soothe the ears, choruses that linger in your head, and lyrics that say something meaningful about life. A lot of pop bands have the sound, but not all of them have songs. The Summertimes have songs all day long. "Save You Now" and "Luminous" bookend the new EP in quintessential guitar pop style. In between, "Horses," "See Me," and "Falling" are marvelous deep cuts that stretch the band's signature style in gently elegant fashion. With the longest track barely eclipsing three-and-a-half minutes, The Summertimes remain a pop-rock band through and through. However, their ability to make every song sound distinct and memorable puts them in a rare class. If "power pop for adults" is a real genre of music, "Horses" and "Falling" epitomize it.
If you are already a fan of The Summertimes or a fan of '80s & '90's inspired indie power pop in general, Luminous ought to be on your must-buy list. It's a wonderful little EP chock full of radiant melodies and gorgeous guitars. As good as the album was, this set is even better — yet another feather in the cap of a remarkable year for guitar pop.
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