After 2022’s acclaimed debut, Reeling, another searing, scorching LP by the Merseyside rock band fronted by Lia Metcalfe, once more dark and smoky, and produced this time in LA by John Congleton, yet with more confidence, range, and also vulnerability. Metcalfe’s voice feels more mature, intimate and emotional, sometimes a little Fiona Apple. Standout numers include the single Stray, one that unleashes a powerful sound as well as exploring the aimless and untamed nature of polarities of behaviour from suffering - whether guilt, paranoia or unexplained feelings of grandiosity; the swaggering stomp of Sink Ya Teeth, about the brutality of love, and featuring the video of a party scene that quickly descends into chaos as intoxication takes hold; the intensely emotional and powerful opener The Last Dance, which has comparisons in sound with Irish contemporaries Fontaines DC. “If only you’d take my hand” Metcalfe sings with on the chorus across some fantastically dynamic guitar work by Callum Thompson before the storminess of the song descends into a hushed whisper - an opener that displays a growing maturity of style. Another Another Another has a sinister feel of foreboding and desperation especially with the line “the clock is only ticking if you’re listening”, while Tired Animal changes timbre around a thrumming bass line. The range extends with the acoustic Hawkmoon, Junkyard Angel is a garage rock hybrid, before returning to more explosive sounds on he excellent Goodbye Sunshine, the crisp acoustic guitar and click of Inside A Matchbox, all the way to the closing title track. Brilliantly powerful, alluring, sizzling and sensitive work. Out on Fiction Records / Universal.
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