And The Slingers, a group of rag-tag, swoon-worthy, romantic bushrangers, well, they refer to this modern age through dualities and dichotomies; an age of both “great compassion and crucifixion” of both “creature comfort and constant pain and numbness,” an overall age of loneliness.

Whatever we find ourselves doing in this almost transitional state of purgatory, we are always propelled to move forward, step by step, by great love. And this is what The Slingers explore with gusto and grace on their singles from their first album, Sentimentalism.

Last Saturday night, the heavens scheduled a quick reprieve from pouring down on Melbourne and I found myself hungry, heartbroken and with $38 to my name, watching the Slingers perform at the Brunswick Ball Room. With each soaring guitar slide and lyric delivered with utmost gusto, I gently swayed and locked arms with my pal, feeling a small part of my soul heal again.