An artist like Roscoe James Irwin could only ever have come from the city of Melbourne. In a place that is crammed full of musicians working across all kinds of genres, Irwin has cemented his place as a kind of musical mastermind. From his involvement with seminal Australian bands The Cat Empire and The Bamboos, to his highly ambitious compositions and arrangements that have been performed by countless big bands and orchestras. Considering his iconic status as a bandleader and large-scale composer, Irwin's debut solo record, The Hunting Road, might then come as something of a shock. Nursing a broken heart Roscoe hit the road retreating to the picturesque Canadian Mountains with his acoustic guitar to write what would become his full-length album. It seems that Irwin, whose musical palette is colourful and wide ranging, has surprised us all with a record that is simple, thoughtful, and beautiful. No brass or string sections, no jungle breaks or percussion, just simple folky pop songs and beautiful lyrical storytelling.