Guillemots - Walk The River

Guillemots - Walk The River
Genre: Indie/Pop
Rating: 8/10

Following Fyfe Dangerfield's successful 2010 debut "Fly Yellow Moon" the Guillemots are back with their third album "Walk The River". The band first came to prominence with their critically acclaimed debut "Through The Windowpane" in 2006 which not only won the hearts of the music press but also landed them a mercury prize nomination. Their unique blend of upbeat pop sensibility, use of traditional and non traditional instruments (typewriters and the like) and ostentatious over the top string sections made them a critics choice instantly. However like many bands who start off with instantaneous success the critics turned on the Guillemots by album two (2008's "Red") with many branding the band one hit wonders doomed never to recapture the magic of their first efforts.

After playing through this album just a few times it is obviously clear that the critics may have been too soon to judge. Unlike previous efforts "Walk The River" see's the Guillemots strip back to basics with astounding results. Whilst previous outings proved sickeningly sweet and twee at times "Walk The River" highlights a much darker side to the happy go lucky foursome. Opener and title track "Walk The River" for example is a huge sparse soundscape unlike anything else the band have ever created based around echoey guitars and Fyfe's beautifully powerful vocal performance which evokes a truly heartfelt response. It's not all doom and gloom however as tracks like "Ice Room" demonstrate the bands keen ear for beautifully uplifting pop with a soaring chorus complimented by Cure-esque guitar sections and a very base heavy rythm. The overall impression you get from the album is that with the stripping away of over the top strings and quirky sound effects the band have had time to focus more on the songs and the emotions that drive them. This works massively in their favour making each track feel more honest and affecting. Other highlights on this diverse and long album (overall play time of approximately 65mins) include the anthemic "I Must Be A Lover" and the brooding "Vermillion".

Overall the Guillemots have pulled out all the stops with their third album producing interesting yet accessible indie pop with credibility. Not only is their most consistent album it is also their most accomplished and I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Download: "Walk The River" "I Must Be A Lover"