It doesn't seem very long since Chicago's alt-punks Airstream Futures released their debut album Spirale Inferale. In fact, it's been over two years. So, it's actually about right that they should release the follow up now, another with a French title – Le Feu Et Le Sable – and on one of my favourite labels, Sunderland's Little Rocket Records.
Unfortunately, language skills were not my strong point at school and having failed to pass GCSE French it means I'm forced to Google the translation – 'Fire and Sand.' I'm not sure why both their albums have these French titles, but hey, there were a lot of things at school that weren't my strong point. (Spirale Inferale translates to Infernal Spiral in case you're wondering – I'm sure you weren't.)
It's a subject that we've written about and held dear at CPRW (if you haven't already, check out CPRW's release for the mental health charity MIND to discover some new favourite bands) and huge credit should go to Airstream Futures for opening the album with this song.
It's also a subject that the band have written about before. Their previous 7" single, If I & PR Nightmares, addressed depression but is a banger. I've listened to Cemetery Sparrow repeatedly now, and it too is a cracking track. It's my favourite on the album and is both a great way to kick off the record and set it up for the rest of the record.
The following 11 songs all knit together very neatly. Listened back to back, I do find they merge from one to another, but that isn't meant as a criticism; rather it feels as if the album flows really well.
The guitars are all fast and Devon's vocals are really strong throughout. I find they're kind of haunting, but extremely melodic. She's a great singer. Brighter Blue, the penultimate song on side one, is one of the tracks that really brings this home. Soaring vocals that fit majestically with the rhythm and guitars.
This new album is definitely a progression from their first. But that's not to say it's markedly *better* because Spirale Inferale was a fine debut. It does feel that the band members work together in a more coherent way though.
Even though Airstream Futures are relatively new as a band, the members have pedigree having been in some of my other favourites including The Methadones, The Bomb and the hugely underrated Noise By Numbers.
It's produced by Rodrigo Palma of Saves The Day and Derek Grant of Alkaline Trio and, to top it all, the godlike genius Frankie Stubbs even sings backing vocals… so let's face facts, I was always going to enjoy this album.
Stream and download Le Feu Et Le Sable on Bandcamp here.
Like Airstream Futures on Facebook here.
This review was written by Chris Bishton.
Cemetery Sparrows IS a banger.
ReplyDeleteThanks Josh, we think so too!
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