I’ve gone on record a number of times with how much of a Wintersleep fan I am, so lets be honest, their new album isn’t going to get a negative review from me. That said though, the band have made some striking changes on this, their fourth album. When Kings Of Leon released their last album it sounded similar to their previous offerings, but somehow more clear. As if everything you’d heard from them previously had been played through speakers stuffed with cotton wool. Wintersleep pull much the same trick here, their songs being structurally similar to their earlier work, but the production much clearer (and, perhaps, more radio friendly?) than previous offerings. I’m not sure I like it, but I’ve turned 30 now, so it may be that getting older has just made change scary to me!
Let’s get into the meat of things though… opener Experience The Jewel, with it’s soaring strings immediately lets you know the band have widened their scope, before Encyclopaedia kicks in, guitars roaring and hiding within a rhythm tighter than Michael Flatley’s trousers!
Black Camera is a cracking track, certain to be a live favourite, with a chant-along chorus that makes it tailor made to take up Oblivion’s place in their finely honed set lists.
Overall this is a good album, in fact, I’ve really enjoyed it every time it’s landed in my CD player, but I can’t help but wonder if, by making their sound appeal to a broader audience, they’ve actually lessened the element of their sound that made them special… I’m sure their next album will let us know!
