Under These Streets

Indigenous soul singer Emma Donovan’s third album with Melbourne rhythm band The Putbacks tackles many of the key themes from their 2020 collaboration *Crossover*. Released less than a year later, *Under These Streets* sees Donovan demand acknowledgment of Melbourne’s untold Indigenous history (“Call Out”) and celebrate the collective strength of sisterhood (“No Woman Left Behind”). Between that subject matter and her passionate vocal delivery, Donovan evokes classic civil-rights anthems while also singing about the need to make room for romance in our overbooked daily lives (“Take Some Time”). The Putbacks apply the rhythmic snap of vintage soul and funk throughout, even edging into heady psychedelic territory for Donovan’s tribute to feeling a deep sense of place on “Mountains of Wind and Rainbows.” Recorded with a live-in-the-room vibe that evokes a spontaneous jam session, the album showcases just how well these finely tuned players have learned to move freely across moods and genres to best suit Donovan’s exacting conviction.