Album of the week is the debut from Celestial North, read the review below. And I’ve gone with a slightly different format than usual for tunes of the week, giving a quick-fire run through each track.
Album of the week
Celestial North – Otherworld
Sometimes the names and titles used by an artist perfectly encapsulate what to expect from their sound. Celestial North’s Otherworld feels very much like a case in point. From that name and album title, to songs like Restless Spirit, When The Gods Dance, The Nature Of Light, and Warrior Of Peace; these songs sound like their titles suggest they should sound like, and kind of tell you everything you need to know about their music. But, I am writing a review so I can’t really leave it there. I should try to tell you a bit more about whether it’s any good or not. It is.
This is the debut album from the Scottish artist, who is based in the Lake District, working alongside husband, Woody (formerly of British Sea Power/Sea Power), and even an appearance from her daughter on backing vocals, making this a family affair. Musically, it combines elements of folk, electronica, and dream pop, to create soundscapes which are appropriately cosmic and otherworldly, yet are a celebration of the natural world as much as anything.
Are You Free, which actually comes towards the end of the album, perhaps would have worked perfectly as an intro as it captures the mood of the album. The white noise of flowing water, slowly building up with layers of piano, bass, and a ghostly harmony, leading into a spoken word piece, which is almost like an origin story. Topped off with a simple anthemic hook. It’s like magic being born out of nature.
This may be a slightly lazy comparison based on the shared Scottish twang of the vocals, but the opening four song run brought to mind Chvrches, albeit a slightly more subdued version. They’re the most obviously indebted to an electro sound, with tribal rhythms and dance beats building into big anthemic choruses. But, whereas Chvrches’ synth-pop feels designed for darkened rooms with flashing lights, these songs feel like the soundtrack to a night in the woods lit only by the moon, stars, and campfire. So, maybe like Chvrches after spending some time at a nature retreat.
It may take a few listens before some of these songs really start to reveal themselves. The ethereal sounds can slightly wash over you on the first couple of listens, particularly as the more upbeat openers lead into the more hushed tones of the instrumental Yarrow and ritualistic chants of Warrior Of Peace and Stitch. But you’ll be rewarded for sticking with it, as the likes of Otherworld and Olympic Skies sound bigger and better with every listen.
There’s a theme of escape running through the album. On standout Olympic Skies, that’s an escape from modern life; “I’m out of love with the modern apocalypse”. While, elsewhere it’s an escape into nature, “The nature of light, it will find you”. In her own descriptions of the album, Celestial North has talked of the likes of ‘Pagan euphoria’ and ‘sacred stone circles’. Even if that isn’t your thing, this is an album to escape into and make you wish it was.
Best tunes: Otherworld, Yarrow, Olympic Skies
Tunes of the Week
DJ Seinfeld & Confidence Man – Now U Do: Proper sound of the summer dance anthem
Samanta Liza – Lost Souls: Spacey electro-pop with an absolutely killer hook
Valee/Harry Fraud/Action Bronson – Vibrant: Two minutes of smooth R&B, with a verse from Action Bronson comparing himself to old wrestlers and bragging about his latest culinary adventures. This is pretty much throwaway stuff from him now, but I still love that shit.
CMAT ft. John Grant – Where Are Your Kids Tonight: A dramatic indie-pop epic with a hint of Fleetwood Mac.
Special Interest – Disco 1.5: Post-apocalyptic industrial punk
Dream Nails – Good Guy: Modern riot grrrl punk skewering the concept of the ‘good guy’
Seb Lowe – I Fell In Love With a Talking Head: One of the best young storytellers around turns his attention to right-wing rent-a-gobs.
WrongSince81 – Michael!: Folk from North-East England which sounds like a lost 60/70s classic. Bringing the Crosby, Stills & Nash vibes.
Joanna Sternberg – I’ve Got Me: The title track from their recent album, which was a close run second for my album of the week. Their voice may be a bit of an acquired taste, but the raw simplicity of the vocals lines up perfectly with the bluntness of the lyrics, backed with music which sounds like you’ve known it your whole life.
You can check out previous weeks’ best new music roundups at the Best New Music Weekly archive. And you can keep up with the latest updates by following No Frills Reviews on your chosen social media platform.
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