Childhood review - Lacuna

Founded in 2010, London based indie haze-pop band Childhood had built up quite a fanbase even before the release of more than a couple of singles, thanks mainly to various festival appearances and a support slot on Palma Violet's 2013 'Rattlesnake Rodeo' tour. This fanbase can only get bigger, and will do quickly now that debut album Lacuna has been revealed to the world.

The album has a strong start, in the form of a re-recording of first ever single Blue Velvet. Catchy guitar melodies and soft drums lace singer Ben Romans-Hopcraft's lazy vocals on this lo-fi recording, giving it a sweet, summery feel.

 

The same summery feel carries on throughout the record, through the angelic backing vocals and singalong chorus of second track You Could Be Different, to the melodically brilliant saunter of As I Am, and onwards. Unfortunately, listening to the next two tracks is a much more forgettable affair; they shows how varied their influences are but, with no stand-out moments, don't sound like the Childhood I've come to know and love. I can't see them being live highlights, either.

Thankfully, things pick up again after that. Sweeter Preacher is a joyful bound through layers and layers of noise as Ben demands "Show me the way to your soul!" as though he's lost amongst the layers too. It's straight past the cymbals and left at the distortion, Ben. Tides provides a nice cool down period after the excitement of the previous track, sounding more smooth R&B than indie rock, but still with the Childhood slant plastered all over it.

My personal highlight of the record is previous single and potentially best known song, Solemn Skies. A gentle build up provided by a constant drum beat brings the listener swirling into the fantastically uplifting chorus section, with plenty of backing vocals and just the right level of echo.




Pay For Cool is the song on the album that most makes me want to dance; its strong riffs and funky backbone allow an upbeat transition into final track: the hazy, almost trance-inducing When You Rise. It's as though they placed it last in order to hypnotise you into thinking "Wow, that was the best album I've ever heard" because the last minute and a half of distortion and fuzz is certainly show-stopping enough to make you forget about the weaker points.

Live, Childhood are a treat. On record, maybe less so, but enough, I hope, to make you want to get tickets to see them. With this album they've proved that they're not just the pretty faces of the indie-pop world.

Get Lacuna here and see tour dates here. 

Written by Molly McGrath

THE HORRORS REVEAL NEW ALBUM DETAILS

After what feels like a life time of waiting, The Horrors are finally back. 

A series of countdown posts across social media sites sparked interest among dedicated fans, the build up summarised perfectly by Tom Cowan himself: "Nail-biting, isn't it?" 

What could they possibly be counting down to? A new album? A new single? 

Today (Monday 24th February 2014), all questions were finally answered. The Horrors revealed details of their new album: Luminous, set to be released on the 5th of May. According to Rhys Webb, full album details and also information about pre ordering "Luminous" will become available on the bands website later today. As if that wasn't enough, debut track "I Can See You" will be premiered tonight at 7pm on Radio 1, and we will definitely be listening. 

 

Please visit The Horrors' personal website for more details www.thehorrors.com