Triple J Unearthed pick of the week

Albert Salt
Riddles Come Undone

Albert Salt was a finalist in triple j’s annual Unearthed High competition in 2011 with the then-high school student impressing everyone with his mature sound that melded moody electronica with Salt’s dizzying falsetto and classical violin training.

Though it was fellow Victorians Snakadaktal that took out the top honours that year, it’s been gratifying to follow Salt’s continued development as a songwriter and musician since those early (yet startlingly advanced) days with his output in the last few months being particularly intriguing. Now on the cusp of his 20s Salt appears as energised as ever about making music, putting out new material that’s loaded with personality like new single Riddles Come Undone.

Previous dark moods make way for a refreshing funkiness, if I dare use such a word. Maybe it’s shouldn’t be a big surprise considering the young gun’s apparent warmth for the EDM scene which has seen Salt upload covers of Deadmau5 songs to YouTube but it’s a marked change of pace.

Riddles Come Undone bounds about energetically with a flurry of gleaming disco riffs and chirping electronics while Salt delivers some contrastingly introspective lyrics from collaborator Patrick Dower.

If this is the sound of a young musician growing up then it’s worth spending five minutes of your time pretending to be young along with him