Easily one of the most exciting releases this year, Veronica Falls’ self titles debut album is infinitely listenable. It’s roughly polished, overshadowed by an unidentifiable presence and layered with bottomless depth.
With hints of The Wicker Man style folk-appeal vocals in the outset, Found Love in a Graveyard quickly turns into a romance-noir with driving guitar pace. The beginnings of a brilliant trait of Veronica Falls kicks in close to the end of the song with a short change of direction.
The whiplash guitar continues with dark tones on Right Side of My Brain and Roxanne Clifford’s vocals are as lush as ever. The Fountain continues the haunting feel of the album with a surreal air.
There’s a little light in the opening guitar licks on Misery, but as the name implies, this is not the real nature of the song. The ringing guitar notes that run throughout are class and despite the nature of the lyrics, it’s actually quite catchy with hints of The Mamas and Papas. The folk chant at the end seems to confirm the homage to The Wicker Man.
Bad Feeling is instantly foreboding with a surf guitar and Beach Boys whoo. Once again though it’s catchy too with melancholic pop juxtaposition. Stephen continues the random pop fest excellence, but Beachy Bead returns to the dark tones that dominate the majority of the album, albeit with a 60s pop-rock feel.
All Eyes on You Tonight has a great, jagged chord progression hook and psychedelic, Jefferson Airplane vocals. The Box changes it up with the lead of drums, the swirl of intricate guitar riffs and male female harmonies from Clifford and James Hoare.
It’s a duet combination that continues well on Wedding Day. The changing pace of the songs mixes it up giving it more depth and ultimately making it more interesting.
Veronica Falls is one of the slowest tracks on the album, but it’s the perfect prelude to Come On Over. Opening with sublime guitar, bass and tambourine, it’s a song the flies all over, but delivers like it’s always dead on target.
Dark, driving and incredibly catchy, Veronica Falls is in with a shout of being the best album of the year already.
Veronica Falls, Veronica Falls album review: 4.8/5
