SKRAM - Album Review: Walk Into the Sun
Floating in a sea of offset guitars and Fender reverbs, SKRAM manage to swim not sink with their debut album Walk Into The Sun. This Wellington 4-piece's 12-track album is drenched in cerveza-popping Summer vibes and pop-rock madness. SKRAM have brought upbeat energy and charismatic overtones to every track.
Starting us off is Love Don't Keep Me Waiting. A somewhat sombre start to the album, the track delivers blossoming tones, and precise vocal work by Henry Ashby. A melancholic crescendo-style piece that provides a definite taste of what's to come.
Next up is Bring It All Back featuring Taks Southon on guest vocals. This soul number shows great restraint. As a massive Sam Cooke fan this track sits perfectly with its use of call-and-return vocal work, chimney guitars, and grooving bass line. And that snare sound! Each member shines in this track, a very well composed and produced title, Bring It All Back is one of the most polished modern day soul releases I've heard in a while.
The title track Walk Into The Sun follows. A nostalgic indie track which uses emotive lyrically imagery, oceanic reverb and cascading drums. The use of the acapella section after the bridge followed up by harmonious vocals shows a complete awareness of song writing dynamics. Walk Into The Sun is a worthy title track.
The 4th track on the album Please Give Me Some Peace is a seriously catchy, funky number. If the vocal hook somehow doesn't get stuck in your head, that bass line definitely will. A positively poppy tune Please Give Me Some Peace will having you humming its infectious melody for days on end.
Honeybee brings the heat. A generationally eclectic rock track with 60's born riffs, transitions straight from the 70's, and 80's vocal melodies. This high pace track covers some serious ground. Oh, you wanted a punk break too? SKRAM has you covered.
The next track Inside Your Head is a sound true to all Kiwi anthems. This polished, radio-ready track has some serious Kiwi summer nostalgia vibes about it, and a ripping guitar solo! Inside Your Head is one of the highlights of the album.
Piwakawaka is a naturally ambient interlude, a welcomed break for you to catch your breath between the waves. Whilst some delicate percussion wouldn't have gone a miss here, this is a solid delay-driven interlude, nonetheless.
Indie guitar strumming and a descending bass line brings us back with the 8th track Fantail. Delicate guitar work and dancing vocals float effortlessly over a seriously impressive bass line courtesy of Lee Pryor. Early Motown sounds here - think Marvin's Mercy Mercy Me.
Way Out is the next track on the album. So very well composed and deliberate. An inspiring epic with a powerful message, this is an outstanding piece of music. With an ever evolving uplifting dynamic using shimmering keys, rolling drums and immense vocal work - Way Out is massive on every level.Freaking Me Out follows suit and is reminiscent of earlier tracks, but still does maintain its own identity as a crowd pleaser. Proving further that You won't be able to finish this album without.
The penultimate track Mother Dearest brings a different energy from the rest of the album. A showcase track with a radio-inspired intro, there are some great moments here musically.
Finishing off the album is Living Our Lives. One of the pre-releases to the album, it's a familiar sounding song that keeps building and highlighting each band member as it tracks. A perfect choice to finish the album with.
This style of music has become that of modern day Kiwiana with catchy hooks, crisp tones and a solid production. With an obvious taste of current Kiwi classics throughout , there are also so many subtleties on every track. How SKRAM manage to navigate the seas of genres whilst maintaining their sound is superb. Walk Into The Sun is a bright light in the scene.
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