Circa Waves – Whats It Like Over There? Album Review

3/5 – Indie stalwarts attempt to go ‘radio’… with mixed results

Liverpudlian indie rockers Circa Waves have just released there third album ‘What’s It Like Over There?’ and its possibly their most ambitious yet. The album opens with the mysterious title track which instantly gives you the feeling this album is going to be one that experiments with new sounds and approaches more so than previous releases.

Looking back over the past few years Circa waves have released a multitude of more straightforward indie bangers. From the first album “Stuck in my teeth” personified getting plastered in a over crowded beer garden but loving every second of it. “Crying shame” from the second album had a similar feel, chuggy distorted guitars chords and high register vocals, however this tune felt as if your sprinting down platform 13 at Manchester’s Piccadilly Station to see the person you love most. However if you’re looking for that in this new album I’m afraid you’ll be sad to hear that you will not find indie bangers per se, but instead you’ll find the new, more developed Circa Waves.

This new sound consists of boisterous guitar riffs and lucid piano chords. This can be heard on tracks such as ‘Times Won’t Change Me Now’ where front man Kieran Shudall also delivers what comes across as unapologetic yet simple lyricism where he adamantly tells us that ‘time will not change him’.

‘Me, Myself and Hollywood’ punches you in the gut with the gated reverb snare while it’s seductive riff forces you to nod your head and remember the 80’s even though you probably weren’t born.

To conclude, I am ambivalent towards this album. As an Admirer you want to see the old Circa Waves burst down the door of your local and make you thrash around with sweaty strangers. Frontman Kieran said ‘I think fans will embrace it, as it’s different but it’s still us.” Which you would have to agree with for the most part. This album seems to be the start of the Bands exploration into more commercial ways of making music. Overall it’s not a bad album, the production very good and the songs granted are different, but it might be time to embrace change and see what the future holds for Circa Waves.