With a name like Divorce and a debut album title like Drive to Goldenhammer, you would be forgiven for assuming you were about to settle in for some kind of hair rock epic guitar solo laden ballads. Instead how about an alternative country garage rock indie folk offering for your curious ears?
On the first few listens what is striking from the Nottingham quartet and their debut offering released on Gravity/Capitol records is just how different each song is. That’s quite a unique achievement and quite a risk in this day and age of “what I like, I like, don’t try and change me guys”. But if you’re not unsettled by a sudden change in direction of the sonic sat-nav then this might be worth your time.
There is an epic and tortured euphoria and simple yearning to this that feels everything from Arcade Fire, to Belle and Sebastian, Bright Eyes to Radiohead and Yo La Tengo.
Some greet tracks to compare to really highlight these contrasts would be to listen to a Black Country New Road nodding Fever Pitch to a 2007 electro indie Naked and Famous/ Passion Pit number All my freaks.
Stand out tracks like Antarctica, Hangman and Pill further confirm a band experimenting with their sound. What does feel consistent however and what drives this album are the vocals. The harmonies and call and response conversations between band members Tiger Cohen-Towell and Felix Mackenzie-Barrow are beautiful, sincere and tender.
The album doesn’t seem to follow a linear pattern or journey despite the title, but that’s really ok – a band escaping to a fictitious place under their own steam and pace feels quite appropriate. Maybe they’re still figuring out who they are but a debut which swings like a chaotic compass needle whilst hiking down a winding mountain path is intriguing and brave, and we should all keep an eye and ear out to see which direction they end up in.
