Thousand Yard Stare: Earthanasia
(Stifled Aardvark)
CD | DL
Out now
Latest years have seen many much-lauded returns of 90’s indie heroes. Thousand Yard Stare’s 2015 reformation went firmly beneath the radar – but it’s been one of the vital rewarding. And their new album Earthanasia is their finest work but.
Their reunion began with a collection of reside gigs in 2015 and 2016 which whetted the urge for food of the band and a small however devoted fan base. A double EP Deep Dreaming / Star Grazing adopted in 2017. They then launched third LP correct, The Panglossian Momentum, in 2020. New album Earthanasia signifies that they’ve been extra prolific of their second life than their first.
The album begins with an instrumental Brocken Spectre. It’s a really Thousand Yard Stare factor to do and it units the scene for what’s to come back. It manages to one way or the other tiptoe on the road between familiarity and pushing their very own sonic boundaries. Measures, the second observe, is a living proof. It has an urgency and a restlessness that by no means lets the listener totally settle. Lyrically it takes purpose on the manner huge society seems to be to manage and urges pushing again. Esprit Du Corps is a six-and-half-minute widescreen imaginative and prescient that may remind older listeners of the likes of Wideshire and Comeuppance from their debut. Frontman Stephen’s vocals sound extra expressive, assured and heat than they’ve ever achieved. It concludes with the guitars hovering off into the gap.
Upping Sticks begins with a repetitive riff and drum beat earlier than unfurling itself right into a gloriously effervescent three-minute indie-pop traditional. Lyrical references to the countryside and the bourgeoisie nonetheless run by means of their work right here. Borrowed Time is the album’s centrepiece and spotlight, merely set to a repetitive beat and mournful lyrics with out ever feeling downcast regardless of darkish lyrical content material. Hive Thoughts is essentially the most experimental observe and the largest departure from the Thousand Yard Stare sound. That includes an nearly reggae backbeat, enormous heavy guitars and reverb-laden vocals, it’s a band nonetheless pushing the boundaries of their sound. Isadora solely clocks in at 2min 18sec however leaves a path of destruction in its wake. Speedy-fire vocals, guitars veering backward and forward threatening to crash uncontrolled and gone earlier than you’ve had time to regulate, it’s successful single from a distinct technology.
Adversarial Cambers instantly calms issues down, seductive, dreamy and heat, the ying to Isadora’s yang. Sq. Peg once more pushes them out of their consolation zone. Its layered vocals, highly effective riffs and refusal to stick to conventional buildings may be very Thousand Yard Stare although. The album finishes with the title observe. It laments the harm people have achieved to the planet earlier than hovering off into the gap with brass and strings. It’s new floor for Thousand Yard Stare with out wholly breaking free from their previous.
Earthanasia may, like its predecessor, not be an earth-shattering development from their 1990’s work. Nevertheless, it’s very a lot the sound of a band comfy with their artwork and making music for the love of it. That sense of freedom runs proper by means of Earthanasia and makes it one of the vital pleasurable albums to hearken to this yr.
Thousand Yard Stare’s web site is right here and they are often discovered on Fb and Twitter.
The album is out now and might be ordered on vinyl, CD and digital from their Bandcamp.
~
All phrases by David Brown, yow will discover his writer profile right here.
