Dave Helgi Johan - Unholy Hours (2025)

Dave Helgi Johan has spent over a decade performing with numerous bands. He was originally from Winnipeg, Canada, growing up in an Icelandic settler-origin village. However, he moved to Byron Bay, Australia, in 2019 to better his musical career.

Whilst this collection is a relatively modest affair, Johan’s knack for a cracking melody, his adept production and his knowing sense of humour make for a really enjoyable listen. A lo-fi feel is prevalent, but Johan has spent a lot of time at his various computers and in the studio to ensure this sounds a very polished affair. Whilst listening, there was a distinct feeling of the solo material that Katrina and the Waves guitarist Kimberley Rew has released over the years – a major compliment, as these are brilliant albums.

There are also some really effective harmonies included, again defying the more DIY approach that went into the making of the album. Johan’s videos also have a playful and wacky feel to them, really enhancing the songs.

We open on ‘All My Love’, a summery acoustic pop song with a fantastic melody and really effective harmonies. It’s a cracking start. ‘Fly High, Swim Start’ has an anarchic, joyful feel with more lovely harmonies – it has a similar feel to I’m From Barcelona, at their best, with singalong chorus and some welcome swearing included for good measure. The lyrics though, are actually quite tender with an anthem for the wounded heart. It has a hilarious video too. ‘About You’ is a gentle acoustic love ballad, simply structured but a rewarding listen. Johan’s vocals are great and fit in with the feel of the songs brilliantly. ‘Better Luck Next Time’ continues the same feel, with its joyous melody and great vocal sounds.

We then have the strongest track on the album, an out-and-out rocker, ‘Anywhere But Here’, with Johan and background female vocalist Madi Joy Mary working wonders together. There’s some singalong ‘da da da’s here for good measure and it’s difficult not to join in the fun. It’s simply glorious stuff. Johan shares the background to the song: “I’m sure everyone has felt this way at a certain point in life. I wrote the guitar and melody first while sitting on the beach with a close friend who was going through the emotions that life can sometimes bring. As I was playing the guitar and melody, she sang and wrote the first line, “Sit in the sun and my feet are burning”. The rest of the song just sort of came to me after that.” Again, the video is an absolute hoot, and it’s so infectious. It made a gloomy weekday winter afternoon seem like midsummer.

‘Friends’ (featuring Jameson Day) is more of the same, a gentle acoustic feel with a memorable tune, interweaving with a lovely melodic chorus and a fantastic electric guitar solo. ‘Having Fun’ does what it says on the tin, a brief but lovely tune celebrating joyousness. ‘Lonely Flower’ is a moodier but superbly tuneful song, with sing-along vocals and a melody to die for. It also includes one of the best uses of the word ‘disassociate’ in recent musical memory, something which needs to be celebrated big time. It’s a barnstormer of a song, utterly lovely.

This is a modest but highly accomplished album that just keeps on giving. If you’re a sucker for catchy melodies and lo-fi sounds, this is for you. Give yourself a big pat on the back, Johan.