Acomb’s Skylights have had quite the journey to the release of their debut album ‘What You Are’. The band called it a day a few years back their indie euphoria looked set to fall into the category of ‘what might have been’. Then, in 2020, they returned, would this last roll of the dice pay off?
The album is available to buy from 42s Records.
In the spirit of the last chance saloon, they often adopt the windswept string anthems of Feeder and the sun setting drama of Soundtrack of our Lives. ‘Nothing Left To Say’ has the dreamy ambition of ‘Feeling A Moment’ and the emotive power of ‘Just The Way I’m Feeling’ but, Turnbull Smith’s guitars take it to new planes. His Wedding Present jangle of the intro and shimmering solo give it ambition and hopefulness the grey landscapes of the UK so desperately require.
Meanwhile, on ‘What You Are’ and ‘Take Me Somewhere’ they inject their newfound defiance into these well-worn sounds. The former is far more bullish and accompanied by great aggressive Pete Townsend windmills. Whereas, ‘Take Me Somewhere’ has the longing visions and psychedelic hooks of the Soundtracks of ‘You Are The Beginning’.
Their penchant for the indie epic is offset by more urgent flourishes on ‘YRA’ and ‘Lifeline’. ‘YRA’ is the perfect homage to the 00s with its Kasabian beats, The Music’s guitar licks, and the balls-out swagger of The Twang. ‘Lifeline’ taps into the colossal sound of Adam Nutter’s disco-psychedelia and puts it through Noel’s looping masterpiece ‘Columbia’. Both offer a way out for anyone angst-ridden and yearning for their Jimmy “way of life” moment.
‘Britannia’, originally written for the 2012 Olympics, also has the vastness of The Who’s world. Myles Soley’s apocalyptic drumming provides a cataclysmic platform for Smith’s Townsend-esque fury and frontman Rob Scarisbrick’s snarling to erupt the album into chaos.
What was a fortuitous reformation has undoubtedly led to one of the albums of the year! This isn’t a breakout debut, it’s the sound of a band 3 albums deep commanding the respect of academy-sized audiences.
Image courtesy of 42s Records & Mark Tigue