aaamusic | On 04, Mar 2012

Simian Ghost are quintessential Scandi-poppers, with their bright and breezy summer music, highly polished surfaces, sugar-coated choruses and breathy vocals. Simian Ghost make hit records for that alternate reality. Their debut full length Youth changes the bands direction from their much more surging predecessor “Lovelorn”

The opener ‘Curtain Call’ is the direct opposite of the bursting energetic bang of the opener from ‘Lovelorn’, ‘Youth’ opens up in a much more sun-kissed harmonic sound. Leading the remainder of the album in the same suit, keeping things steady and calming making ‘Youth’ an album perfect for a little spring picnic. The remaining 9 tracks, including the title track ‘Youth’ seemingly avoids the tension building introductions found in their previous sound and substitutes them for gorgeous arpeggios and a walk down the sandy beach at sunset.

Comparing this to the majority of other bands, it’s a daring move. Simian Ghost certainly have some potential but shifting their sound to do the opposite of the apparent surge of progression one finds between debut EP and debut full length is a worrying move. The second third of the album, however, strays dangerously close to crossing the line between steady, calming sounds and formulaic pop almost dancing across per song as the album progresses.

The ending tracks ‘Crystalline Lovers Mind’ (the stand out of the album) and ‘No Dreams’ are the tracks to keep the album on the side of easy listening rather than that almost painful regurgitated stuff that seems to plague the genre today. Both taking a more characteristic feel which undoubtedly puts the mind at rest, it’s not like Simian Ghost have lost their touch. ‘Youth’ merely proves that they’re trying out a new direction, with ‘Lovelorn’ being a much stronger release in many eyes; it’s the curiosity of the newer release that has audiences wondering. It almost feels as if the anticipation for the future of Simian Ghost has completely overlooked what could have been an impeccable album.

 

Elly Rewcastle