Ben Abraham

It is unclear whether the Sirens in the title of Melbourne singer Ben Abraham's debut are those of Greek Mythology or alarm bells that shouldn't be ignored. But judging by the reflections of love and loss here, it is possibly both. It is not quite all doom and gloom in Abraham's world, but on the wonderfully delicate I Belong To You, you are left wondering whether his love will ever answer his call. It's a song that's set to feature at the start of hundreds of blossoming romances this spring.

Sirens is getting its international release, having been originally self-released in Abraham's homeland and deservedly so. While the demand for heart-wrenching male singer songwriters might be waning, there is something a little more vulnerable and intriguing about Abraham that might allow him to raise his head above the sea of competitors.

He certainly has some good backers from the musical world, including Gotye, who helps with vocals on Speak. He has toured with Emmylou Harris and has co-written with Grammy nominated Sara Barreilles, who features here on This Is On Me, a tale of a couple at the end of a long relationship.

While nothing else here quite matches the high of I Belong To You, the likes of You and Me and Collide are dreamy moments of folk-pop, while the closing A Quiet Prayer is a well-titled stripped down heartbreaker. No cause for alarm then for Abraham but Sirens could do with splashing a bit more colour across its palette.