The new album from Lanterns on the Lake features a sweeping sort of indie-rock. Versions of Us, out now on Bella Union, finds the Newcastle-originating group upping their game, and pushing their sound into new places, with renewed power they've gained since their last record.
Opener "The Likes of Us" may earn Hazel Wilde some comparisons to her peers in bands like Florence and the Machine, though this retains a distinctive vibe. That's down to how robust the music is here, and how broad and epic the material seems. "String Theory" is catchy, almost breezy in its melodic force, though there's real heft here, with Wilde really giving this her all. Elsewhere, "Locust" modulates that attack with real grace, while the closer, "Last Transmission" builds and builds to an emotional peak.
Lanterns on the Lake are not here to obfuscate their feelings. And nothing on this fine record feels half-hearted. The pieces here are full of huge hooks, and chords that suggest what Mike Scott once called "The Big Music". The heart-on-the-sleeve style here suits this stuff, and a listener has to fight hard to not get sucked in on an emotional level. Luckily, Lanterns on the Lake reward those who pick up this record with some of the most bracing compositions you'll hear this summer.
Versions of Us by Lanterns on the Lake is out now via Bella Union.
[Photo: Lanterns on the Lake / Bella Union]