Album Review

Weathership’s Splendid Beast is A Masterclass in Atmospheric Indie Rock – Album Review

24th Nov 2024 — Leave a comment

The new album from Weathership sees the group honing their sound and producing a cohesive project that is pleasing to the ear.

From the first track, Golden Age, the band immediately sets out their stall, employing a groove- based rhythm section, intriguing synth sounds, and intricate, clean guitar lines to craft a distinctive sound.

A siren immediately greets you on the track with an extended intro which reminded me of The Cure without the gothic element. The use of space in the arrangement allows the guitar lines to shine.

The Blue continues in this vein, with some lovely bass lines building a lovely groove. The vocals on this track – and indeed throughout the album – are consistently strong.

The following track, Through the Fog, boasts a huge, beautifully constructed chorus, accompanied by expertly crafted guitar parts. New Occupation continues this with twinkling guitar parts layered over a groove-driven rhythm section, beginning with a delightful drum beginning.

The highlight of the album is Just a Ghost with a magnificent melodic chorus and engaging call-and-response within it. The result is a tight, catchy slice of indie rock.

The massive sound of the album runs throughout the last four tracks. On Electrolung there is more great production with jittering synth and an interesting drum machine. The track reminded me a bit of Radiohead.

Lost at Sea had a massive chorus and beautifully echoing guitar parts to beautifully decorate it before the massive stomping drums of The Swimmer.

Album closer, For The Dark Is Beautiful is a fitting closer, encapsulating everything the album excels at in a grand atmospheric conclusion.

Overall, this album is a fantastic listen for fans of massive sounding atmospheric indie rock.

Let Specky Cult Take You On A Journey With Their Genre Spanning New Album “A Different Kind Of Difficult” – ALBUM REVIEW

16th Jul 2024 — 1 Comment

Specky Cult’s sophomore album blends rock and folk together to craft a unique voice with a truly North East perspective.

The first track, Come Back Kid, immediately sets the scene for the record with a folky feel reminiscent of groups such as Fleetwood Mac. The acoustic guitar on the track immediately establishes this, as gorgeous piano lines drive the track forward, opening the LP in fine fashion.

Love Crap then takes the LP in a different direction, embracing more of an alt-rock sound while maintaining a folk edge. Just imagine a hard rock Lindsey Buckingham, and you are along the right lines. These are joined by synths in the mix, which enrich the listener’s palette.

The LP takes another twist on the third song Seriously, which begins in a manner which echoes About A Girl by Nirvana, before opening up into an interesting melodic flow and a refrain of “seriously” which imbues the chorus.

The group channels Bob Dylan with a lovely mouth organ beginning on Alibi, continuing the folky vibe of the record. The chorus of “I’m not your alibi” sends out a defiant message, hammering home the theme of the track.

Everything Is Awesome brings back the rock guitars, along with a beautiful MOOG synth line that mirrors the vocal line. The song’s lyrics are deeply personal in tone, with the chorus sending a hopeful message to the listener.

Lovely guitar swells adorn Hell Before Breakfast, building towards a great chorus. The track is then immediately followed by Anthems and Tantrums, which takes the folk vibes up to ten with its gorgeous production.

Pull The Plug bursts to life with dominating guitars, surrounded by lyrics that tackle the challenges of living in the internet age, injecting some sharp social commentary into the album.

The track that follows, Pie and Mash, continues along these lines, commenting on the mundanity of everyday life and stating that all singer Carol Stephen needs is “pie, mash and a pint of ale”.

Pie and Mash – Specky Cult

The title track, A Different Kind Of Difficult, begins with a heavy guitar riff, leaving behind the folk vibe that dominates the album for a classic rock feel filled with nice MOOG lines and gorgeously crafted riffs.

The album then comes to an end on Big Shop, which opens with a fake shop closing announcement that I thought was a nice touch. The track’s instrumentation is warm, contradicting the lyrics that complain about the mundanity of ageing, life, and doing the shopping on a Friday.

Overall, this album showcases the band’s strengths as well as the breadth of their musical influences. If you love classic rock and folk, then the band will almost certainly be for you.

Let The Spy From Balzan Take You On A Dreamy Sonic Journey With Their Debut LP – ALBUM REVIEW

7th Jun 2024 — Leave a comment

The debut LP from The Spy From Balzan sees the musical project finally complete its first chapter to wonderful effect.

Combining the dreamy and reverb-heavy production that has blessed their previous singles, The Spy From Balzan features seven excellent tracks influenced by various genres and moods.

Opener “This Way Up” begins with a Spanish-esque guitar opening that runs through the track like a scenic river through a gorgeous valley. These then collide into a trap-style beat, which opens up the track, allowing the vocals to take centre stage.

This is followed by the single “Without Warning” which I have previously reviewed (you can read here). In the context of the album, the track is only strengthened, adding to the LP’s sonic palette.

Next is “Cheese Dreams” which opens with a dreamy guitar line washed in reverb. The track allows you to sink into its production, especially when it reaches its chorus, which drags you further into its sonic landscape. The instrumental on the track shimmers and also features a lovely guitar solo that cuts through the dreamlike atmosphere to excellent effect.

“Guillotine” features a melodic chorus that adds a different element to the LP, with verses laden with guitar solos and intricate synth beds. This continues to build upon the consistent instrumentation and production that weaves the album together into its own unique world.

“Imagine That” adds to the sunny atmosphere. Opening with a catchy guitar line, the song revolves around this line, bringing a catchy indie vibe. The vocals reminded me a lot of The Voidz with their heavily autotuned and trippy effect, bringing that extra layer to the track.

This leads to the LP’s magnum opus, “Northern Rail,” which sounds like The Drums run through a psychedelic filter. The effect is excellent, showcasing the range of different influences injected into this project. The indie pop sensibilities are clear to see, with a gorgeous upbeat and catchy chorus, which I adored.

The LP ends with “Only Been Me” featuring Slobo, the track gently winds down the album with an RnB-influenced finale and gorgeous synth bass work. The chilled production naturally concludes the sonic journey which the LP takes you on.

Overall, The Spy From Balan has merged various influences together to excellent effect, producing a cohesive album with a thoughtfully curated sonic palette that takes the listener on a journey through its luscious instrumentation and personal lyrics.