We recieved an email this week, inviting us to review Grimsby band Orphan Boy's forthcoming new album, 'Coastal Tones'. This was an oppurtunity we'd of been stupid to reject, as come the 25th May, you're all in for one heck of a treat.
Opening with the pre-released 'Beats Like Distant Tides', Orphan Boy snarl their way through five minutes of heavy and indie laden rock n'roll. It has a gloomy, grunge tinted shadow that darkens the mood, though contrasts with the euphoria of the chorus perfectly. It sounds a little like a 'To Lose My Life' era White Lies track, but with a bit more indie oompth. 'Sunken Hearts' follows, and in a much more calmer manner as the quartet begin to showcase their much fresher and re-worked sound in emphatic style. It's a slower piece of music, that increases the tempo as it goes on, and still manages to offer that Orphan Boy bite. 'Transpennine' is up next, and it opens the way 'Sunken Hearts' closed, with what appears to sound like tight ukelele strings being plucked. It's a solid track, it's nothing too mind blowing, though it's nothing too disinteresting, it simply makes for good listening.
'On A Nelson Skyline' appears on the track listing next, once again, it's nothing too mind blowing but it's something enjoyable to listen to. It's got grit and character to it, and again it's another solid track, which is never a bad thing. Opening with the sound of the automated Grimsby Town train station announcer, 'From The Provinces' explodes into a perfectly placed mood lifter. It's a constant, high paced track that really gets you going. With a synth pop like, 80's floor-filler in the background, once again Orphan Boy contrast different genres with their customary indie in brilliant style. Following 'From The Provinces' is 'Money To Money', its another one of those Orphan Boy tracks with a much calmer back bone, that manages though to increase its tempo and pace as it goes on. 'Clover' then continues to keep the theme of slow yet building tracks going as the band begin to come to the end of their fourth studio album.
'Bury Your Stars' follows, a track of which upon my first listen sprung The Inbetweeners to my mind, which can only bode well for the Orphans, as all you ever hear on that show is The Libertines or The Cure, which must mean they're doing something right. 'Coastal Tones' is the penultimate track on the album, and it manages not to fail in portraying why its worthy of the title track honour. As has become the theme within this album, it contains that calm spine. Though this is a track full of power, that only builds and builds as it comes to its climax. Closing the album, 'Thirtysomething Love Ballad' opens with lead singer Rob Cross describing modern day Grimsby in a less pleasant manner. Not longer after though, 'Thirtyomething Love Ballad' explodes into something you could quite easily call a ballad, ending Orphan Boy's return to the scene in emphatic fashion.
Orphan Boy have forever been compared to the likes of Oasis and The Smiths, and 'Coastal Tones' is only going to strengthen these comparisons. They're a band of whom haven't yet been rewarded with the credit they deserve, but come the 25th May we feel this is all set to change.
RIFFED's Rating: 8/10
Listen to 'Beats Like Distant Tides' via YouTube: