APRICITY

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3.5 stars. SYD ARTHUR is like comfort food to yours truly, their sound, especially the vocals just makes me feel good. So it's been a little frustrating listening to their latest because it's them, that sound I love, but man there are some blatant commercial songs on this one that have been bugging me from the first listen. So I did some research and found out that they brought in an outside Producer for the first time in Jason Falkner(JELLLYFISH) who's known as the pop maestro around the music world. Yes the band have decided to go in a more commercial direction but man there are some good tunes on here which leaves me feeling compromised. In the end I just can't give 4 stars but maybe that will change down the road. Their long time drummer has left, I'm not sure if it was because of the musical direction but they've added another Magill brother giving us three in the band plus violinist Raven Bush.

"Coal Mine" opens with sounds that pulse before we get this appealing guitar melody and more. A calm follows quickly with acoustic guitar before drums and vocals kick in. Off-kiltered beats and vocals lead the way but then that guitar melody returns briefly. Violin is in the background before 2 minutes but becomes more upfront before 2 1/2 minutes then the tempo picks up as the vocals continue. There's that guitar melody again around 3 1/2 minutes. Nice. Strings end it.

"Plane Crash In Kansas" has this interesting bass/ drum rhythm that's off beat you could say as the vocals join in, keys too. Love the chorus, it's such a feel good section with those distorted keys. "No Peace" is one that is too commercial in my opinion. So catchy with sweeping background sounds as the vocals join in. Very poppy. I do like the chorus, it's just hard not to groove to it you know? A brief violin solo before 3 1/2 minutes then he joins in. "Sun Rays" has plenty of beats and sounds as the vocals join in. I like how deep the sounds are before a minute. Catchy and uplifting.

"Into Eternity" is one of my favourites. Synths and piano create emotion for me as reserved vocals join in. It's so emotional when the sound kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes. Violin too. Synths and vocals only before 3 minutes then it rebuilds and ends without vocals. "Rebel Lands" has this determined rhythm as the vocals join in sounding more serious than normal. The chorus is good, another feel good passage that comes and goes. "Seraphim" is the proggiest tune on here I'd say. It sounds like mandolin, vocals, acoustic guitar and drums then it turns powerful before a minute as contrasts continue. I like the calm with distant sounding vocals that's almost haunting then it kicks back in. Some dramatic drums and sounds follow without vocals. A fairly powerful piece with some good ideas thrown in.

"Portal"is brighter than the previous tune and quite catchy with a guitar melody, a beat and keyboards throughout. Not a fan though. "Evolution" has a beat and more with laid back vocals that come and go. It's futuristic sounding. So much going on before 2 minutes, very unique sounding as well as the vocals continue. "Apricity" is another commercial sounding tune. It's uptempo and catchy with vocals. It settles after 1 1/2 minutes with piano and more then builds as the vocals return quickly. Not a fan though.

I will continue to treasure their previous two studio albums and wait with interest to see where they go with the next album. This just isn't what I was hoping for.