In a Mood

Melbourne’s Simon Okely maintains a slinky intimacy in his home-recorded pop, delicately juggling instruments while crooning like a devoted lover. His second album as Slow Dancer organically blends folk twang and R&B warmth, evoking modern indie troubadours as much as the quieter side of Stax Records. “I Would” dances on airy, glistening arrangements, while “In the Water” relishes shivers of distortion against a stark backdrop. A gorgeous study in contrast, “Bitter” pairs exacting guitar and bass licks with sudden floods of multidimensional texture.