Hailing from the cathedral city of Lincoln, It`s Karma It`s Cool an alternative rock quartet who comprise of Jim Styring (vocals), Martyn Bewick (guitars), Mikey Barraclough (bass) and Adam Jolivel-Perkins (drums) release their fourth album this month with ‘One Million Suburban Sunsets’ which the band have shared as their big ‘guitar’ album, a loud, unapologetic, rock record.
The album opens with the thoughtful `Crashability` which builds from an intricate guitar chord intro to a more anthemic vastness that alludes to the vulnerable times we live in with a recurring line of “we`re all waiting for something to happen.” There`s a brief reggae fragment midway through and an audio segment that sounds like a governmental broadcast but with a fundamental positive message of hope. Title track ‘One Million Suburban Sunsets’ is fairly meditative and introspective. A midtempo rock number which had me drifting away into thoughts of my own.
`Swans` has a shimmer about it and sounds quite orchestrated at times. A swan symbolises love, fidelity, grace, beauty, and transformation across various cultures and here it appears to be an interpretation that everything this graceful creature represents is being undermined by the society we live in. I have to say I loved `21st Century Meds` whose intricate initial guitar chords raced along into a number that screamed R.E.M. and could have been one of their undiscovered, unrecorded gems. The song is about living in this modern world and doing what it takes to get by and basically survive.
`Arcades` is a more gentle tender melodic absorbed offering with some delightful `whoa whoa whoa` harmonies which melds into the next track `Serotonin` which has a rhythmic beating heart.
`Weightless` as the title would suggest is quite ethereal and otherworldly, a brief instrumental intermission of sorts. We have in `These Heavy Days` a reflective musing with rock tinges and vocal harmonies towards the end that gave it a gospel like conclusion.
I found `Sidewalk Flowers` had an enthralling magnetism about it with an alluring guitar solo shared in the latter section. There`s a sparkle with an underlying edge to `Paper Tigers` which equates to someone or something that appears strong or threatening but is actually weak and ineffectual.
Goliath` I read is about “finding and believing in yourself, in a world of constant doubt and struggle. It’s about digging deep for the courage to move forward, staying focused, and overcoming whatever mental or physical
giant is holding you back.” A deeply pensive meditation. The final cut `Explosions` for me had a kind of Yes progressive rock like vibe. A deep and philosophical deliberation to see us out on.
‘One Million Suburban Sunsets’ is a really fascinating listen. It has its rock out moments but is also charmingly melodic with lyrics that are quite thought provoking and may leave you with something to reflect on.
A slight change of direction possibly for It`s Karma It`s Cool but one that their army of fans will get on board with i`m sure.
Rating 8.5/10
