Album Review: Ainslie Wills - All You Have Is All You Need

An understated artist who’s received plaudits from songwriting royalty Paul Kelly, it’s fair to say that few songwriters have the unique flair that Ainslie Wills brings to her melting pot of folky, dark, Radiohead-flavoured rock. Her unique voice shines wonderfully here on her second LP, All You Have Is All You Need, with breezy cuts Running Second, Island and Suzie crafting broad soundscapes in beautifully compact songs.

The biggest thing All You Have Is All You Need achieves is bringing musical variety to the fore, something which wasn’t quite convincing on her Oh The Gold EP in 2015. Notable for this is the brooding Mountains, piano-led and coloured wonderfully with synth layers, while Unlock The Vault is a minimalistic yet enjoyable experimental journey.

Whether it be musing over the pressures placed on young adults in an ever-changing world (Society), or late-night mantras of self-assurance (All You Have Is All You Need), this record manages to soundtrack a range of emotions faced in the everyday, be it nostalgia, melancholy or euphoria, without over-extending itself into the realm of pompous dream-pop. A damn fine offering from a damn fine songwriter.