Bright Green Field

If anyone ever says that no one is making good or interesting rock music and no one plays instruments anymore it's all just mumble (c)rap xDDD first slap them and then point them to the Windmill scene. This Windmill Pub in London has somehow consistently produced some of the most exciting rock bands in the last decade, and as I've been making my way down the list of bands coming out of that scene it's finally Squid's turn. Being put in the same bracket as Black Midi and Black Country New Road just because they all originated from the same pub (how fucking crazy is that) sets very high expectations, and sonically Squid definitely stand out from their peers with a strange blend of genres and influences. You will find elements of art-rock, post-rock, some dancey elements and jazz heads will find some enjoyment listening to this record. For what they might lack in emotional punch of BCNR, or gripping but quirky storytelling of BM they make up in captivating instrumental progressions, catchyness, and blunt aggressiveness. The explosive energy and directness of most of these songs should satisfy punk lovers, while due to the delivery there might seem like there's no subtext or themes in this record I think they're just more atmospheric and serve as an addition to the instrumentals, instead of a foreground to the instrumental background. I think this will result in the record aging very well. However I do have a couple of issues with it. The vocals can get a bit old and samey, really wish the vocalist, who is also the drummer, would switch it up from time to time. The second, and probably more important point, is that some of these instrumental buildups either take too long, don't have enough variety to keep me listening with full attention, or don't deliver a crescendo that was worth the buildup. The highlights are 10/10s it's just the record as a whole doesn't quite work for me. That being said, for a debut album this is just incredible. Favorite tracks: Peel St., G.S.K, Narrator, Pamphlets