Transmuting is the latest release from Belasco, a fine figure of an album. The London alternative band consist of Tim Brownlow – Guitar and vocals, Duff Battye on bass and Bill Cartledge on drums/ percussion and some extra vocals too.
All thought the artwork does appear to be in the same vein of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida. The cover for Transmuting screams people’s revolution (a brighter Les Miserables) but the album is grounded in the world of alternative with some knods to pop rock, The Gaslight Anthem or Snow Patrol etc. Opening track ‘Move Like Water’ starts with a short, lightly distorted guitar line until the rest of the band crash in, bringing the song to life a few seconds and the drop back for the verse. This track is a great lesson on how to do dynamics well, especially the chorus when vocal effects are used on the line “She moves like water”, bringing more depth to the chorus. ‘Move Like Water’ also has brilliant lyrics in the bridge, “Her eyes, her eyes… the king and queen of compromise” and “The lies, the lies… from vagabonds to Gods own eyes”.
‘Everyone’ sounds like a long lost Smashing Pumpkins song, especially with lines like “It’s not like we were told, it’s not like us” used in the pre-chorus. The rumbling bass starts and runs the show in this track, the guitar used to build the sound in the pre-chorus/chorus, even the solo has minimalist, atmospheric guitar work allowing the skills of Battye to shine on through.
Transmuting has aggressive elements set alongside quieter more thoughtful moments, such as ‘(Blanket)’ and ‘Taken’, the latter being a deep and dark song about a control and survival of character.
Track listing:
- Move Like Water
- Everyone
- Poor Man
- Home
- Taken
- (Blanket)
- Empire
- Who Do You Love
- (Rosa)
- 0pen Up
- What Is It
- Eyes
What’s the final verdict?
Transmuting is great album that could easily sit in the CD player for a long time and not get boring or old. Belasco should be very proud of this album and would translate to the live scene well.
4/5
Jamie
@JamtkK
