The new album Struck Gold is released by Meritorio Records on 15th November
The second album from the Mancunian four-piece is led by Neil Jarvis who initially conceived the band as a solo project; yet the injection of band mates culminated in the release of the self-titled album on the Icecapades label in 2017.
The follow up Struck Gold released on Meritorio depicts new territory for the band but nevertheless still incorporating Jarvis' love of surf and indie pop.
While the general feel of the album is one of rose-tinted summer feels, there is an underlying air of melancholy in the subject matter; none more so than on single '3's & 4's' a song about in Jarvis' words, 'about accepting an awful situation, though it catches you off guard becaue its pretty upbeat and poppy', this is encapsulated in the lyrics, 'It is what it is. There's no escaping'.
Throughout the album, there is a heart on your sleeve element to the construction of these sumptuous compositions, and Jarvis is not afraid to let the listener know of his influences; this listener was smiling at the borrowed riff of Cornershop's Brimful of Asha to open the album on the title track.
The other day this blog posted a review of the compilation by The Springfields, and that American group were heavily influenced by the Hollies and Byrds with the 60s feel of nostalgia resonating.
This exudes throughout again in this album with a combination of shoegazing internality with sunshine externality - none more so than the one-two punch of tracks 'The Light' and 'Ending' which appear halfway through the album. The richness of the tracks calling back to each other is a wonder and infuses the album with a real sense of belonging in the big time.
It is a shame that this album has been released in November and not the end of March when a summer release would have been better suited to the general feel of sunshine throughout the release, calling back to indie pop stalwarts The Coral and Guillemots; bands who were buoyant yet not afraid to call out their swinging sixties influences.
The ambition is seen most in 'Undone' and the desire to go bolder is heard on 'Scream 2' a song of real bite which is in contrast to the softness of the majority of the album, yet this juxtaposition of tones is not a criticism but more a greater anticipation of what this band will have in store in the future, and this is a band you cannot wait to see live when they do go on tour in the not too distant
However, this is an album of real confidence and tightness, a band in not afraid to show fragility for the cause of melody touched by sunshine and displaying a heartfelt intimacy throughout.
Struck Gold is released by Meritorio Records on 15th November
My thanks to One Beat PR for the review opportunity.
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