Artist: The Last Cry
Title: Living In Grey
Genre: Gothic Rock
Release Date: 25th January 2013
Label: afmusic / Danse Macabre
Album Review
UK band THE LAST CRY released their debut album, ‘Walking To The Edge’ way back in 2009, and then toured heavily to promote it, gaining a hard-earned and well-deserved reputation as intense, professional live performers. The real test comes with album number two, ‘Living In Grey’. A second album is always a difficult one anyway, but allowing years to go by between releases just piles on the pressure. So, have the years been kind? Have they maintained the momentum? Have the ideas dried up?
The distinct overall sound of the band is very much intact, and whereas the debut album could have been accused of trying too hard at times, there’s a subtlety at play here that becomes them. And in terms of ideas, there is much to commend in the song-writing structure, lyrics and overall dynamics. Sonically, at times, it’s dazzling. Never better on stunning opener ‘Broken Hearts’, singer Andrew Birch wrings every last drop of emotion from a song driven relentlessly by some seriously dark guitar-work, and a chorus that manages to be both epic and restrained. It’s complex, but works perfectly as a whole. ‘Falling Away’ follows, it’s brooding CHAMELEONS-esque guitar and soaring synths rooting it firmly in the tradition of great, passionate indie-rock of old, without ever sounding dated. It’s urgent and vibrant. A slower pace and an almost chanted vocal in ‘Song About’ gives way to the menacing staccato beat and sinister layers that make up ‘Virtual Fix’.
‘Through her eyes’, which is slightly less successful, is nonetheless still filled with heady atmospherics, and it’s followed by the softly strummed beauty of ‘Jane’. A simple and pretty melody, it’s a master-class in subtlety and understatement. “Give me a sign, so I might follow” is the thunderous rant from ‘To Dream Next To You’ and there’s further comparisons to THE CHAMELEONS in evidence on the swirling dreaminess of ‘All You Gave Me’, a strong and desperately sad vocal from Mr Birch sounding at times like sobbing tears are just around the corner. Which leaves just the title track to end proceedings. A collage of found sounds, all ponderous rumbles and groans, becomes a song so doom-laden and heavy with magnificent gloom it’s a wonder Robert Smith isn’t trying to buy it and stick it on a re-issue of ‘Disintegration’. This is a seriously good song, all 9 minutes of it, patient, confident, deliriously depressing and beautifully sung, and it defines just how far THE LAST CRY have come in terms of sophisticated song-crafting.
This is a band edging towards greatness, having learnt the tricky art of mastering moodiness, making desperation and anxiety sound overwhelming yet uplifting, and creating a unique but instantly recognisable aural splendour that is an absolute joy to be part of.
Tracklist
01. Broken Hearts
02. Falling Away
03. Song About
04. Virtual Fix
05. Through Her Eyes
06. Jane
07. To Dream Next To You
08. All You Gave Me
09. Living In Grey
Line-up
Andrew Birch – Vocals
Chris Carey – Bass, Keyboards, Programming
Tim Green – Guitars, Keyboards, Programming
Website
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Last-Cry/112348155471541
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 8
Total: 8 / 10
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