- Centred around ex-Panel Of Judges frontman Dion Nania, transcontinental feel-good, chill dogs Free Time are right on the brink of releasing their sophomore record, In Search of Free Time. On their charming, mellow, bedroom pop debut in 2013 Nania sounded refreshed and upbeat. Assumably the result of the removal from his Melbourne home in favour of the big stink of New York City and the fresh new souls he surrounded himself with -including some like minded Americans and other Aussie ex-pats all looking for a new start.

Almost three years later and Nania has flipped the switch once again, this time heading back down under briefly to re-piece his band from the ground up with a selection of his finest countrymen including Marty Frawley from Twerps (who co-incidentally played with Nania at the end of Panel of Judges run back in 2011), Zachary Schneider of Totally Mild and Full Ugly fame and the infallible drummer/business man Joe Alexander who has added his sweet, subtle fingers to some of my favourite Australian records in the last five years, including last year's fantastic and overdue Terrible Truths LP.

This collection of home grown talent has taken Nania's stellar songwriting and creative vision to the next goddamn level. From the jaunty, uplifting opening cuts Among The Reeds and Blue Pillow to the laid-back, '60’s tinged magic of Genius of the Revolution, the record’s first half is a masterclass in sweeping pop melodies that might just lull me into some sweet dreamscape if I wasn’t so darn busy awkwardly gyrating my hefty frame with reckless abandon.

The second half of In Search of Free Time sees the group open the floodgates for a more jammy and expansive affair. Side B opens with the wonderfully laid-back Who Owns the Moon?, which raises the question that’s been on all our collective minds since the dawn of time. A song called Peter Green -seemingly about one of the world’s preeminent experts of dog breeding and judging- is about as breezy and chilled out as they come, plodding along at its own, molasses-like pace that just oozes an undeniable warmth from its core. I’d be an absolute fool if I didn’t mention Free Time’s epic, nine minute magnum-opus 5th Floor. A song sent straight from above and blessed with the time and space for the group to lather themselves into an all-encompassing and soul-quenching musical tour de force. When that sweet, supple sax kicks in during 5th Floor everything just locks into place like some kind of gorgeous musical wizardry and at that point I just knew that this record would and will be on blast for quite some time. Closing cut Stirring Up Dust brings the LP full circle with its shimmering, feel-good vibes and never fails to plant a big, dumb smile on my big, dumb face.

Despite only being April, In Search of Free Time is a very strong contender for my record of the year. I'd implore anyone with half a heart to do themselves a favour and check it out.

- Jay Edwards.