ALBUM: The Go! Team 'The Scene Between'

Rating:

The dark days are over… As if perfectly synced with the clocks going forward to provide sun kissed longer days, The Go! Team have released an album that is full of life, energy and fun.

The rolls of all the moving parts in Ian Parton’s musical collective may have been replaced, amended or polished on this record, but what is very clear is that he retains full visionary control. Writing, producing and performing on the entire album, the end result is the most cohesive effort yet to date from the Brighton based band. Fans of the rousing previous three albums should not worry however, as while this is a more conventional sounding record, the fuzzy guitars and bedroom production still exist, it’s just that they are interwoven with pop melodies and endearing lyrics.

The album opens with three songs that set the tone, with vaguely cartoonish vocals overlaying some candy pop harmonies that you cannot help but march along too, smiling all the way of course. ‘Waking the Jetstream’ has a feel of the better end of female led Britpop bands, while ‘Blowtorch’ could easily be a Californian anthem – illustrating the writers immense talent for producing a sonically varied album that sticks around in your head long after.

‘Did you Know?’ drops the pace slightly but is so hearteningly elegant and nicely composed that the euphoria doesn’t. The Go! Team notion has always been one that was easy to buy into, and with this album it feels that the content totally matches the concept.

With its explosive little interludes, sound effects and a ridiculous array of instruments and methods, this is an album which heralds the start of a contemporary indie pop journey with some nice nods to an eclectic past. The hooks are relentless and while it’s impossible to not be reminded of someone else doing something similar, it really doesn’t matter when its this much fun.

Album finale ‘Reason Left To Destroy’ shares the same lo-fi production as the rest of the album and is a good sign off to one of the years most enjoyable records so far, and one that could soundtrack the indie summer.

The Scene Between is released on 30th March via Memphis Industries.