Horse Party - Horizons
7/10
Horizons marks Horse Party’s second full length release following 2014’s Cover Your Eyes. Consisting of various releases from over the last 12 months plus one shiny new song, it’s a real treat of garage rock, punk and pop infused songs.
Out of Sight and Receiver grab your attention from the outset. On the former, Ellie Langley’s vocals steer you to the groove of Shannon Hope’s metronomic drums and Seymour Quigley’s expertly wielded guitar. Ellie’s vocals throughout this album are a particular highlight but on the occasions Seymour takes lead, such as on Receiver, it provides a stark contrast, and is yet another string to this band's metaphorical bow.
As the album continues it provides some expertly crafted loud/quiet dynamics and new track For All I Know provides the first chance for a breather.
The early intensity of the album though does not continue throughout. The middle track listing while containing some excellent songs including Paydirt and Money Talks does’t quite live up to the early highs. It is here that the decision to tracklist songs as they appeared on earlier releases perhaps compromises the flow of the album.
As the album comes to a close an absolute joy of a song appears. Howling At The Sun is a stripped back, brooding peach of a song that best demonstrates the light and shade of this band. Featuring atmospheric lead vocals from both Ellie and Seymour alongside some pretty melancholic lyrics, this song is the sound of an assured band comfortable in their own skin.
Minor quibbles aside, this is an excellent and varied collection of songs by a talented band with a great future ahead of them.
7/10
