Labels: NoYes Records – Darla Records
Review by: Thomas Strawbridge
This is an indie rock record in every respect, like the nineties have been packaged in a box, shook up and poured out … and the result is the opposite of plasticine brown, it’s a full fucking rainbow of musical colour just like the cover. Too fast for shoegaze, but with a production that borders on grunge at points. Solos in every song because”¦well, you’re supposed to, right? Nice clean vocals … bit high in the mix for me, but I know I’m picky about that so whatever. Guys who’d probably bleed Superchunk if you cut them.
This is great, but by track 6 I’m wishing things were maybe dialed back a little as the songs have crept up to 5 minutes and feeling a bit baggy. Kestrels oblige, but unfortunately I really don’t like track 7 … Dalloway – still, 1 duff track in 10 is not too shabby, and maybe it’s better to hit a low in the middle of an album, and then lead into Keep It Close, which is my standout track.
I can forgive the press sheet (I mean seriously, what is the point in this shit, do people copy/paste meaningless trivia in reviews because they can’t be bothered to actually listen to music anymore?) because this is just good fun. And then there it is: the long song to close the album. I was expecting it. Its cliché, but my foot is still tapping along and I’m getting ready to pick back through the whole thing. This is a good album, thanks!