29 Mar 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

SKRAM - Album Review: Walk Into the Sun

15 Jun 2022 // A review by bensargent00

Floating in a sea of offset guitars and Fender reverbs, SKRAM manage to swim not sink with their debut album Walk Into The Sun. This Wellington 4-piece's 12-track album is drenched in cerveza-popping Summer vibes and pop-rock madness. SKRAM have brought upbeat energy and charismatic overtones to every track.

Starting us off is Love Don't Keep Me Waiting. A somewhat sombre start to the album, the track delivers blossoming tones, and precise vocal work by Henry Ashby. A melancholic crescendo-style piece that provides a definite taste of what's to come. 

Next up is Bring It All Back featuring Taks Southon on guest vocals. This soul number shows great restraint. As a massive Sam Cooke fan this track sits perfectly with its use of call-and-return vocal work, chimney guitars, and grooving bass line. And that snare sound! Each member shines in this track, a very well composed and produced title, Bring It All Back is one of the most polished modern day soul releases I've heard in a while.

The title track Walk Into The Sun follows. A nostalgic indie track which uses emotive lyrically imagery, oceanic reverb and cascading drums. The use of the acapella section after the bridge followed up by harmonious vocals shows a complete awareness of song writing dynamics. Walk Into The Sun is a worthy title track.

The 4th track on the album Please Give Me Some Peace is a seriously catchy, funky number. If the vocal hook somehow doesn't get stuck in your head, that bass line definitely will. A positively poppy tune Please Give Me Some Peace will having you humming its infectious melody for days on end.

Honeybee brings the heat. A generationally eclectic rock track with 60's born riffs, transitions straight from the 70's, and 80's vocal melodies. This high pace track covers some serious ground. Oh, you wanted a punk break too? SKRAM has you covered.


The next track Inside Your Head is a sound true to all Kiwi anthems. This polished, radio-ready track has some serious Kiwi summer nostalgia vibes about it, and a ripping guitar solo! Inside Your Head is one of the highlights of the album.

Piwakawaka is a naturally ambient interlude, a welcomed break for you to catch your breath between the waves. Whilst some delicate percussion wouldn't have gone a miss here, this is a solid delay-driven interlude, nonetheless.

Indie guitar strumming and a descending bass line brings us back with the 8th track Fantail. Delicate guitar work and dancing vocals float effortlessly over a seriously impressive bass line courtesy of Lee Pryor. Early Motown sounds here - think Marvin's Mercy Mercy Me.

Way Out is the next track on the album. So very well composed and deliberate. An inspiring epic with a powerful message, this is an outstanding piece of music. With an ever evolving uplifting dynamic using shimmering keys, rolling drums and immense vocal work - Way Out is massive on every level.

Freaking Me Out follows suit and is reminiscent of earlier tracks, but still does maintain its own identity as a crowd pleaser. Proving further that You won't be able to finish this album without.

The penultimate track Mother Dearest brings a different energy from the rest of the album. A showcase track with a radio-inspired intro, there are some great moments here musically. 

Finishing off the album is Living Our Lives. One of the pre-releases to the album, it's a familiar sounding song that keeps building and highlighting each band member as it tracks. A perfect choice to finish the album with.

This style of music has become that of modern day Kiwiana with catchy hooks, crisp tones and a solid production. With an obvious taste of current Kiwi classics throughout , there are also so many subtleties on every track. How SKRAM manage to navigate the seas of genres whilst maintaining their sound is superb. Walk Into The Sun is a bright light in the scene.

Rating: ( 5 / 5 )
 

About SKRAM

SKRAM is a Wellington based group consisting of Henry Ashby and Felix Nesbitt. With a combination of emphatic vocals, dynamic rhythms and memorableu melodies, SKRAM builds an energetic, crowd-pleasing energy to the stage and their music.




Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for SKRAM

Releases

Walk Into The Sun
Year: 2022
Type: Album

Other Reviews By bensargent00

Coridian - Single Review: Rakshasa
22 Aug 2022 // by bensargent00
Auckland-based 4-piece Coridian return in full force with their second single Rakshasa off their much anticipated upcoming album HAVA, which is due early next year. A winter storm of progression and melancholy proving once again that one of the fastest rising Kiwi Rock acts can still push the boundaries of their sound whilst still dialling in plenty of that early 2000's nostalgia.
Read More...
View All Articles By bensargent00

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
    Ariana Grande
  • BEAUTIFUL THINGS
    Benson Boone
  • END OF BEGINNING
    Djo
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • TEXAS HOLD 'EM
    Beyonce
  • STICK SEASON
    Noah Kahan
  • PRAISE JAH IN THE MOONLIGHT
    YG Marley
  • CARNIVAL
    Kanye West And Ty Dolla $ign
  • SATURN
    SZA
  • LOVIN ON ME
    Jack Harlow
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem