Ocean Alley’s fifth album Love Balloon is out now, a soulful and summery collection that explores every shade of love while capturing the band at their most confident and uplifting.
Ocean Alley have become one of Australia’s most successful musical exports, blending sun-soaked grooves with the kind of musicianship that wins over audiences around the world. Across four albums, including 2022’s critically lauded Low Altitude Living, the six-piece made up of Baden Donegal (vocals), Angus Goodwin (guitar), Lach Galbraith (keys and vocals), Mitch Galbraith (guitar), Tom O’Brien (drums) and Nic Blom (bass) have built a loyal global following.
Which brings us to their fifth studio album, Love Balloon. Produced by Nick DiDia, whose credits include Bruce Springsteen, Powderfinger and Rage Against the Machine, the album dives into the many sides of love; joy, euphoria, hurt, disappointment and everything in between. Ocean Alley describe love as a river, unpredictable in depth and course, and that sense of emotional exploration runs through the record. Singles like “Tangerine,” “Left of the Dealer” and the breezy title track have already offered a taste of an album that pushes their sound while staying true to their infectious warmth.
Their songs have passed one billion streams, and nine singles have gone gold or better across Australia and New Zealand. Their breakout hit “Confidence” from 2018 topped Triple J’s Hottest 100, earned 6x platinum certification, and has more than 200 million Spotify streams. In 2023 the track exploded again on TikTok, pushing it onto the Billboard rock and alternative charts in the US, re-entering the ARIA top 20 at home, and finding new life with millions of fans around the world.
Drawing from their recent interview in Atwood Magazine, the band underscored their aim for an uplifting record. Goodwin pointed out that Love Balloon “feels different than our last releases, and we went out of our way to try and make it so this time around. We’re probably most proud of this upcoming record.”
With Love Balloon, Ocean Alley enter a new chapter that is both expansive and deeply personal. The album gives us summery, soulful energy alongside stripped-back moments of emotional resonance, marking another step in their journey as one of Australia’s most beloved and influential bands.