Reach – The Promise of a Life
There are a host of bands with a sound, style or proven formula so distinct or recognisable that it musically shapes and defines them.
Then there’s Swedish band Reach who, on The Promise of a Life, have dared to be different in their multi-faceted musical & songwriting approach.
Such is their diversity it’s a Reach (see what we did there?) to even come up with reference points but the closest approximation is Muse and Queen meet Biffy Clyro and Tears For Fears with side orders of grunge & vaudeville theatre – and a bit more.
Such variety is the musical spice of The Promise of a Life, but it's been an evolving process for the band…
In 2015 debut album Reach For The Rock did exactly what it said on the title.
Recorded as a quartet and featuring singer Alex Waghorn Reach For The Rock was pretty solid; by the same musical token however it was never going to set the Swedish heather on fire.
Reconfiguring the band around core members Ludvig Turner (guitars, now also on lead vocals) and Marcus Johansson (drums), plus the addition of bassist Soufian Ma´Aoui, the creative trio offered up The Great Divine in 2018.
A far weightier proposition, album number two presented a mix of the musically brooding and the band’s brand of hookier, up-tempo rock.
But The Great Divine was also a trio in development – their quest to "continually chase a sound that is exciting and unique" has come to fruition on an album that proves the third time is the theatrical rock and creative alt-pop charm.
Reach’s multi-styled stall is set out in impressive and highly creative fashion on opener 'New Frontier.'
Starting with a brief whistled intro (a la Ennio Morricone) the song tumbles into an up-tempo heavy reggae vibe with shuffle drum beat before dropping to a 4/4 heavy epic half-time chorus (featuring Ludvig Turner’s impressive upper register and theatrically styled falsetto).
We are then treated to a lovely, Beatles-esque middle 8 that quickly morphs into a 'Kashmir' styled riff before a return to the big, epic chorus; the song finishes on the turbo-charged reggae section and a reprise of the 'New Frontier' chorus whistle.
It is, frankly, a stone cold bonkers and absolutely brilliant five minutes and ten seconds of music.
Further creativity comes by way of heavy dance track 'The Law' (think an extremely menacing Lady Gaga in the company of a sing-a-long chorus and bouncing vibe) and following number, 'Young Again,' whose uplifting pop-rock charm and falsetto vocality contrasts with the lyrical (and Official Video) twist of a murderer reflecting on more innocent times...
Then there’s Swedish band Reach who, on The Promise of a Life, have dared to be different in their multi-faceted musical & songwriting approach.
Such is their diversity it’s a Reach (see what we did there?) to even come up with reference points but the closest approximation is Muse and Queen meet Biffy Clyro and Tears For Fears with side orders of grunge & vaudeville theatre – and a bit more.
Such variety is the musical spice of The Promise of a Life, but it's been an evolving process for the band…
In 2015 debut album Reach For The Rock did exactly what it said on the title.
Recorded as a quartet and featuring singer Alex Waghorn Reach For The Rock was pretty solid; by the same musical token however it was never going to set the Swedish heather on fire.
Reconfiguring the band around core members Ludvig Turner (guitars, now also on lead vocals) and Marcus Johansson (drums), plus the addition of bassist Soufian Ma´Aoui, the creative trio offered up The Great Divine in 2018.
A far weightier proposition, album number two presented a mix of the musically brooding and the band’s brand of hookier, up-tempo rock.
But The Great Divine was also a trio in development – their quest to "continually chase a sound that is exciting and unique" has come to fruition on an album that proves the third time is the theatrical rock and creative alt-pop charm.
Reach’s multi-styled stall is set out in impressive and highly creative fashion on opener 'New Frontier.'
Starting with a brief whistled intro (a la Ennio Morricone) the song tumbles into an up-tempo heavy reggae vibe with shuffle drum beat before dropping to a 4/4 heavy epic half-time chorus (featuring Ludvig Turner’s impressive upper register and theatrically styled falsetto).
We are then treated to a lovely, Beatles-esque middle 8 that quickly morphs into a 'Kashmir' styled riff before a return to the big, epic chorus; the song finishes on the turbo-charged reggae section and a reprise of the 'New Frontier' chorus whistle.
It is, frankly, a stone cold bonkers and absolutely brilliant five minutes and ten seconds of music.
Further creativity comes by way of heavy dance track 'The Law' (think an extremely menacing Lady Gaga in the company of a sing-a-long chorus and bouncing vibe) and following number, 'Young Again,' whose uplifting pop-rock charm and falsetto vocality contrasts with the lyrical (and Official Video) twist of a murderer reflecting on more innocent times...
The band then deliver some straightforward(ish) rock in the shape of 'Satellite,' but even that's highly creative in arrangement (sparse riffing interspersed with touches of Prince and some alt-pop sequencing).
'Motherland' (a dark fantasy tale of an evil ruler that invites real world comparison to the Soviet state & Stalin) sees the band return to "stone cold bonkers" mode as they mix vaudeville and swing whilst also offering up some similarities to alt-pop genius Thomas Dolby. Truly great stuff.
The slow-tempo atmosphere of 'The Seventh Seal' provides a change of pace (and yet another change of style) before the melodic light & darker rock shades of 'Higher Ground' up the guitar chord ante.
The downtempo alt-pop ambience of 'Cover My Traces' then steps out of the smoking shadows to fan the flames of some pyro-creepiness ("I set fires, in curious places… there are ashes, and I cover my traces").
The musical contrast continues through the heavy dance-rock of 'The Streets' and on to the album closing title track, a percussive and rhythmic alt-pop/ rock lullaby with anthemic chorus.
A lot of compositional thought has gone into The Promise Of a Life, which flits from the lyrically thoughtful/ creative to the musically pantomime (sometimes in the same song); the results are an album that should attract, and hold, the attention of a very wide range of listeners.
There are also some very clever arrangements and solid production values but, more importantly, there is a clear sense of joy from Reach and their music – something we certainly need plenty of right now.
Reach for the New musical Frontier with one of the most individual bands and most entertaining & original albums you will hear this year – or any year.
Ross Muir & Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
You can check out other songs from The Promise of a Life by clicking on the highlighted track names within the review.
The Promise Of a Life will be released on 23rd April on the Icons Creating Evil Art label.
'Motherland' (a dark fantasy tale of an evil ruler that invites real world comparison to the Soviet state & Stalin) sees the band return to "stone cold bonkers" mode as they mix vaudeville and swing whilst also offering up some similarities to alt-pop genius Thomas Dolby. Truly great stuff.
The slow-tempo atmosphere of 'The Seventh Seal' provides a change of pace (and yet another change of style) before the melodic light & darker rock shades of 'Higher Ground' up the guitar chord ante.
The downtempo alt-pop ambience of 'Cover My Traces' then steps out of the smoking shadows to fan the flames of some pyro-creepiness ("I set fires, in curious places… there are ashes, and I cover my traces").
The musical contrast continues through the heavy dance-rock of 'The Streets' and on to the album closing title track, a percussive and rhythmic alt-pop/ rock lullaby with anthemic chorus.
A lot of compositional thought has gone into The Promise Of a Life, which flits from the lyrically thoughtful/ creative to the musically pantomime (sometimes in the same song); the results are an album that should attract, and hold, the attention of a very wide range of listeners.
There are also some very clever arrangements and solid production values but, more importantly, there is a clear sense of joy from Reach and their music – something we certainly need plenty of right now.
Reach for the New musical Frontier with one of the most individual bands and most entertaining & original albums you will hear this year – or any year.
Ross Muir & Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
You can check out other songs from The Promise of a Life by clicking on the highlighted track names within the review.
The Promise Of a Life will be released on 23rd April on the Icons Creating Evil Art label.