The pandemic was devastating in so many ways and left a lot of bands high and dry. Daytime TV though were created during this turbulence. Daytime TV consists of members Will Irvine (vocals, guitar), Chris Clark (bass), Gareth Thompson (drums) and John Caddick (guitar). Three of the band members were previously in Hunter & The Bear, who before the epidemic seemed to be about to break big. Their debut album `Nothing`s On But Everyone`s Watching` is released this month and is written about humanity and alienation, connection and disconnection, interactions, and distractions. It explores our relationship with technology and the complex relationships it creates between us as human-beings.
The album opens with `Side Effects` and immediately what hits you is that this band have a real togetherness, a sense that they`ve played together for some time. The number was written about unknowingly neglecting friends and loved ones, getting distracted by social media rather than reality. The vocals are wonderfully assured aided by a musical backdrop that allows them to shine, a quite anthemic opener and a real marker for what`s to follow. There`s a real sense of urgency with `Little Victories` and although on the surface it seems a pretty upbeat offering it came out of a painful relationship breakup. Three words shared during the song “call me out” will get into you head and have you singing them for the rest of the day.
I must admit I enjoy discovering how as song came together but `Hush` was a real surprise to me. Apparently singer Will was watching a Louis Theroux documentary about the porn industry in America and one of a couple, whose day times jobs were participants said something to the effect of she can only love me on the weekend and hey presto. The song is shared in a kind of remote statement which i`m sure it wasn`t for the contributor in the programme. I found `Digital Light` to be a superb toe tapper and also had me pounding away on some imaginary drum kit, yeah air drumming!! It`s about human dis-engagement, where we all seem to go out and spend the evening catching up with stuff on our phones rather that with each other.
We have a change of pace initially with `Communication` which begins quite slowly but blossoms into a more mid-paced contemplative offering that encourages us to connect more with people we know to improve our own or each other`s mental health wellbeing. We have another societal reflection with `Zombie`, a further track that strolls along quite dreamily.
`Learning to Talk` is a laid back almost rhetorical musing on being there for somebody who is obviously struggling with what life has to throw their way and just letting them know you`re there if the need you. We have a much more blistering rock out in `Ugly` which relates to how today`s culture nigh on dictates to people as to how they should look, especially the young and vulnerable. This number encourages people to ignore this pressure and do something impulsive instead.
`Side By Side` is another larger than life anthemic melodic piece that seems to reflect on a relationship that has probably run it`s course but you`re almost not brave enough to end it. We have an almost testosterone filled tale of desire with `Dirty Love` which rises and falls as it evolves.
`We Can`t Be Friends` is a pounding thumping enticing foot tapper of a number that recognises that a brief relationship was a kind of mistake and would be unhealthy to be taken any further. The album closes with `Satellites` and i`m sure this will be one for all those lit mobile phones in a live situation. It`s not a ballad as such but pretty close and a song about human connection.
Daytime TV are in essence a band that are made to fill out a stadium. They have in Will Irvine a singer who has a wonderfully soulful almost smooth as silk vocal range and along with Chris, Gareth and John who provide the essential engine house, these guys have the potential to go far. `Nothing’s On But Everyone’s Watching’ through it`s lyrical content seems to encompass the current zeitgeist of the era we are living in. This album is a pretty good marker for their first outing and I can only see them improving as they evolve and develop.
Rating 8.5 / 10