Safia - Story's Start Or End (2LP) - 45RPM

Safia’s second album, Story’s Start or End, landed in August 2019 and feels like a quiet triumph for the Canberra trio. Ben Woolner, Michael Bell, and Harry Sayers had already carved out a spot in Australia’s electronic pop lane with their 2016 debut Internal, but this follow-up tightens the focus. The songwriting aims deeper. The production glows with the kind of care you only hear from artists who build their world by hand, piece by piece, until it clicks into place.

What stands out first is Woolner’s voice. Clear and bright, sometimes sliding into a tender falsetto, it acts like a guide through dense synth beds and carefully arranged percussion. Safia have always blended organic and electronic elements, and they keep that balance here. Bell’s drums hit with a human pulse, even when the programming gets intricate. Sayers threads warm guitar lines through the mix and drops in synth tones that feel tactile, almost physical, the sort of sound design that makes you lean closer to the speakers.

The singles give a good map of the record’s moods. Resolution feels like a mission statement, patient and resolute, with a steady build that finally breaks into light. Think About You carries a bittersweet hook that lodges fast, but the production resists any easy sugar rush. There is space around the vocal, and a bassline that nudges the song along rather than bulldozing it. Starlight pushes into wide-screen territory, a shimmering night drive kind of track. Safia play with dynamics in a way that rewards repeat spins. They let verses breathe, then bring in those precise drum accents and vocal stacks that shift a song from intimate to widescreen without ever feeling showy.

A nice thread runs through the lyrics. The title sets it up. Beginnings, endings, and the weird middle ground where both can be true. The writing never gets heavy-handed, though. Most lines feel conversational, more like fragments of real moments than slogans. That tone suits the music. You get flashes of R&B phrasing, touches of UK bass in the low end, and a pop sense that keeps everything moving. It is sleek, but not sterile. The trio’s fingerprints are all over it.

This is an album that comes alive on a good system, which is why Story’s Start or End vinyl is worth hunting down. The low end blooms in a satisfying way without muddying Woolner’s vocal, and the high synth textures sit smooth, not brittle. If you collect SAFIA vinyl or you are browsing for SAFIA albums on vinyl, this record belongs on the short list. It is the kind of production that makes sense of the format. You hear the air between the parts. You feel the kick drum in your chest rather than just noticing it. For anyone trying to buy SAFIA records online or digging through vinyl records Australia stockists, this album will rise to the top once you drop the needle.

There is also a sense of confidence that comes from a band that built their sound patiently. The arrangements are meticulous, but the songs avoid fussiness. Safia know when to hold a chord an extra bar, when to let a chorus hit early, and when to keep something tucked in the background until the bridge. The pacing across the album works in arcs, not just track by track. That makes it an easy full-play listen. No need to cherry-pick, though the singles are natural entry points.

Australian electronic pop has had a strong run this past decade, and this record sits comfortably in that story. It stands up next to their debut while sounding more lived-in. The craft is there, the hooks are there, and the band keeps their identity intact. It is music built for late nights, long drives, and the quiet half hour before the day gets loud. If you happen upon a copy in a Melbourne record store, do not hesitate. And if you are searching from home, type in SAFIA vinyl and take the plunge. Story’s Start or End rewards the commitment with detail, clarity, and songs that hang around after the last note fades.