What makes And So I Watch You From Afar special, compared to other post-rock / math-rock bands is their energy, stage presence, and overwhelming sense of euphoria. ‘Heirs’ is the fourth full-length album from the Belfast quartet and is, unfortunately, nothing new.
The energy of their live performances does not translate well onto this record, with the positive vibes being watered down by repetition and a sense that we’ve all heard these songs before. The first two tracks ‘Run Home’ and ‘These Secret Kings I Know’ would fit perfectly with the band’s previous record ‘All Hail Bright Futures’. And So I Watch You From Afar have moulded and perfected their sound, identified what tracks they can make, and released a somewhat stagnant portfolio of same-ness.
However, the album does show signs of inspiration. The standout track being ‘Animal Ghosts’, which delivers epic drums and furious fret tapping, creating the danceable, energetic and overwhelmingly uplifting sound that elevates this band above others in this genre. Similarly, ‘Redesigned a Million Times’ creates a catchy pop or indie vibe, with more melodic vocals than other tracks on the record, adding variety to the barrage of sound found elsewhere on the record.
It seems as though And So I Watch You From Afar have found a sound they are happy with and lack the inspiration and clarity to develop this. This sound is driven, energetic, and positive, but in order to really lift the band into new realms, new and innovative material needs to emerge. Unfortunately ‘Heirs’ is unlikely to be the best album that the band could release, but it holds promise for future releases.
ALEX HALL