REVIEW : Young Chasers [album] by Circa Waves

[image from: source]

If you haven't yet checked out these rising Liverpool indie rockers, you're missing out. With their explosive 2015 debut album, Young Chasers, Circa Waves have created the toxically youthful guitar-driven indie that this genre has been searching for. With a lyrically fresh take on carefree teenage years, and a familiar musical style that can't help but draw you in, Young Chasers is an album you will be listening to on repeat.

The album gets off to a roaring start with the band's debut single, "Get Away". Capturing the band's signature urgent, almost punk-like attitude, the song sets just the right tone for the album. This leads straight into "T-Shirt Weather", whose sharp and memorable guitar lines, upbeat tempo, and sing-along style make for an instant favourite. At around the halfway mark, the album begins to develop texture by slowing down the tempo to likes of "Lost It" and "Deserve This", but not for long. Circa Waves dust themselves off and pick themselves right back up with the title track, "Young Chasers", followed by huge tunes like "Stuck In My Teeth", "Best Years", and "So Long". This is an album with a very consistent style, but that is still able to differentiate between its songs. The combination of infectious guitar, strong percussion, and lead vocalist Kieran Shudall's The Strokes-esque croon create a fresh face on the cinematic indie rock you've been searching for.

Watch the video for the indie rock hit, "T-Shirt Weather", here.

Circa Waves [Sam Rourke (bass), Kieran Shudall (vocals, 
guitar), Joe Falconer (guitar, vocals), Colin Jones (drums)]. 
[image from: source]

Lyrically, Circa Waves have managed to paint the basic topic of youth with completely new colours. The album captures the urgency all teens feel, when we want to grow up, but save time to indulge in all the typically youthful activities. "T-Shirt Weather" is one of the best examples there is, as Shudall belts about teenage adventures "Singing our lungs out / In the backseat together" and how "It's gonna be okay". Songs like "My Love" feature reality kicks like "I know it's not enough / To stay young" along with "100 Strangers"'s hook "We're all worrying about the same things / The end cannot begin at the start". Meanwhile, the album's mantra is found in songs like "Lost It", where Shudall asks "Am I too young to keep this going?" or on "Stuck In My Teeth" when he repeats "I'm a little too young with not enough time". The dramatic yet relatable lyrics contrast with the bubbling upbeat instrumentals, forming an addictive harmony. 

Watch the video for Circa Waves' newest song, "Fire That Burns", here.

Refreshing with undertones of the familiar, Young Chasers is bound to get you on your feet. Every song this band produces is completely infectious, sure to send them skyrocketing towards the top charts someday. With their sophomore album, Different Creatures on its way on March 10th, someday might be soon. If there's ever been a right time to fall in love with Circa Waves, the time is now. 

Find Young Chasers by Circa Waves on Spotify and Apple Music, and check out their session for Vevo DSCVR above.