The Soft Hills:
Departure:
Tapete Records:
March 24th 2014:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
I'll be honest - I didn't warm to The Soft Hills' previous outing, 2012's The Bird Is Coming Down To Earth, due mainly to it failing to ignite, to take-off or even sustain much of an atmosphere. Thankfully, Departure is exactly that. Gone are the dreary Americana ramblings and incomes a pleasing melange of British indie and American soft-rock influences that scores highly on the clapometer.
The opening Golden Hour might not fetch The Soft Hills much radio-play due to its profanity, but it's a rip-roaring statement of intent and a cracking tune to boot. It reminds of Pale Saints - remember them? They were fabulous, a heady brew of blistering fuzzy rock and angelic pop vocals (The Soft Hills have nailed that).
And it doesn't end there. Black Flowers is reminiscent of The Eagles or Thorns/Jayhawks while Road To The Sun recalls I Like Trains or Mogwai. They haven't left behind their Americana roots either - White Queen is a pretty lament with lapsteel in tow and lost and lonely dustbowl vocals and Here It Comes borrows from both the post-rock and alt-country spheres.
Despite sometimes dragging its heels occasionally, Departure ends as it began with the rockier Stairs, making it all a reassuringly appealing album from The Soft Hills that might just reward them with a bigger audience.
Departure:
Tapete Records:
March 24th 2014:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
The opening Golden Hour might not fetch The Soft Hills much radio-play due to its profanity, but it's a rip-roaring statement of intent and a cracking tune to boot. It reminds of Pale Saints - remember them? They were fabulous, a heady brew of blistering fuzzy rock and angelic pop vocals (The Soft Hills have nailed that).
And it doesn't end there. Black Flowers is reminiscent of The Eagles or Thorns/Jayhawks while Road To The Sun recalls I Like Trains or Mogwai. They haven't left behind their Americana roots either - White Queen is a pretty lament with lapsteel in tow and lost and lonely dustbowl vocals and Here It Comes borrows from both the post-rock and alt-country spheres.
Despite sometimes dragging its heels occasionally, Departure ends as it began with the rockier Stairs, making it all a reassuringly appealing album from The Soft Hills that might just reward them with a bigger audience.