Review Summary: we are flying through our best years
You know that feeling of anticipation you get when spring begins to turn into summer? When t-shirt weather and trips to the beach are right around the corner? Circa Waves manage to harness that feeling of free and youthful excitement on their debut album “Young Chasers”.
Circa Waves are a band currently riding the same wave as fellow British guitar-music revivalists such as Foals and Peace, bringing a no frills style of indie music back into a painfully generic genre. There’s something so refreshing about the crisp surf rock guitars and catchy vocals that fill the 40-minute debut and set it apart from other releases in a genre which is crowded with polished TV advert indie and disposable pop music.
The indie genre has been somewhat marred by radio friendly artists who churn out thoughtless chart-toppers throughout their short life span before passing the baton to the next up-and-comer. Having said that, there isn’t a single song on “Young Chasers” that would be out of place on the airwaves. The difference is that Circa Waves have a natural charm and a real talent for writing infectious and catchy music, which hasn’t been engineered for the sole purpose of airplay. This is shown especially on sun kissed singles “T-Shirt Weather” and “Fossils” which are destined to be festival favourites this summer, both with jubilant chorus’ and punchy instrumentals.
Lyrically the band is nothing special – but who cares? It’s fun. A coming of age theme is present throughout and this goes hand in hand with the boyish vibrancy of their backing. Unfortunately the fresh faced Liverpudlians begin to run out of steam towards the end of the album, which ends just before the franticness begins to ware thin.
Circa Waves have created a buzz with their debut and are set to not only thrive on the festival circuit in the UK but to also have a successful career ahead of them – provided they can keep their material as fresh as “Young Chasers” and avoid dying young and joining the indie graveyard.
