Australian musician, actor and presenter, Brendan Maclean, continues to deliver honest, atmospheric synth pop with features from Amanda Palmer and remixes from Kristian Nairn, Mavoix and Paul Mac.

Brendan Maclean is one of those musicians that exerts honesty and sincerity in everything he does. Whether it be symbolical within his lyrics or literal nudes in his Facebook feed, it's easy to wonder if he has any secrets left. The cheeky titled, "funbang1," delivers that same honest, atmospheric synth pop we've come to expect from Maclean, but with a new confidence, recollecting past relationships, facing those demons and moving forward. When Brendan Maclean self-released "funbang1" to the world on July 24, it debuted at number two in the Indie Charts on iTunes.

The E.P. diverts back and forth between upbeat, confident pop songs and piano-based ballads with synth overtones keeping the pace. "Funbang1" only has seven tracks, with the deluxe edition adding three remixes of "Tectonic," "Free to Love," "On The Door," and a reinvention of one of his older tracks "Henrey," but it still feels like a complete album as each track is inquisitively placed where they would receive the most attention without out shadowing the other.

The opening track, "House of Air," is a simple, repetitive dance track starting off with thumping synth beat that slowly builds into a catapulting chorus reminiscent of the 80s. The thumping synth beat leads nicely into the lead single "Tectonic" which captures the listener's attention with short, robotic notes on the verses referencing the tectonic plates as something to blame for an agonized desperation to keep a relationship working overseas.

"Free to Love" starts off with a drum beat that reminds us of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," kicks in with a bass line that is reminiscent of Paramore and Bruno Mars and leads into a bombastic chorus that would get the whole world dancing if Top 40 paid attention. The guitar in the chorus reminds of Katy Perry's "Birthday" from her 2013 effort "Prism." (Lost like a little kid/ chasing a red balloon/ I can't keep up with you/ and I can't get enough,'nough'nough/ you're giving me attitude.)

"Undetectable" takes us to a situation we've all been in: when we start realizing how much a person has influenced us and yet, we can't seem to please them anymore because someone else has been doing so. Near the end, the track moves into another dimension -- as if we're sitting on the edge of the bed with Brendan trying to figure out where it all went wrong.

"On The Door" obviously features Amanda Palmer hilariously and dismally ranting about how her "fans" want to get on the door list without paying to see the show. (Pay to eat/ pay to swim/ pay for me/ or don't come in.) The track is bound to be a gay club hit with drum beats and synths that remind us of "En Vogue." If there isn't a video that features vogueing, sequins, and f*cking, I'll be seriously disappointed.

If I could describe "funbang1" in one word, it would be "growth". If you're looking for some music that will force you to look at your past experiences, accept them as they are, and help you become "Free To Love," while simultaneously making you dance during the process, "funbang1" is the therapeutic dance E.P. for you.

Yas: "Free to Love," "Undetectable," "Hugs Not Drugs (Or Both)," "On The Door."
Meh: "House of Air."
B-Sides: "Laura (Bat for Lashes cover feat. Amanda Palmer)."

Check out more of Brendan Maclean's music at brendanmaclean.bandcamp.com.

Purchase or stream "funbang1" on Bandcamp, iTunes and Spotify.