Solemn Sun – ‘Solemn Sun’

Earlier this year, much-loved folk-punks Jim Lockey and The Solemn Sun decided that they weren’t prepared to simply tread water in the scene that had been so far been their home, and they would “reinvent the band we are and restart our journey again on our own terms”. Now known simply as Solemn Sun, retaining part of their original name is the only nod to their musical past. Gone completely is any evidence of the folk-punk that they built their former career on and in its place is ambitious and atmospheric rock music.

Solemn Sun revealed ‘Josef’ at the same time as their name change, and here on their début EP it remains, as it was then, the perfect calling card for the band. It’s bursting with confidence as they experiment with the shape and form of the solid riff that is the song’s foundation whilst they build upon it with layers of melody and guitar.

‘3010’ adds a layer of subtlety to the mix, as the vocals are given plenty of room to expand over the largely melodic sound scape that Solemn Sun have created. There’s a great ebb and flow to this EP between the heavier moments that make up the core of a number of songs and the almost fragile passages that often bridge the gaps between riffs. ‘Children’ leans more towards the melodic side of their sound, but it is the anthemic ‘Ruin’ in particular that really succeeds in mixing softly sung verses together with a huge chorus and waves of crashing guitar as Solemn Sun quickly perfect what is certain to become their trademark style.

However, there’s much more going on than a simple quiet/loud dynamic. The ambitious ‘I Saw’ combines moments of shimmering melody with a more introspective lyrical tone before trailing off into a sea of white noise. It’s the ever shifting moods and the confidence with which every twist and turn is carried out that makes the EP such a captivating listen.

The decision to completely do away with the style that was serving them so well certainly raised a few eyebrows at the time, but the gamble has definitely paid off. Solemn Sun have produced an EP full of contrasting emotions that sounds completely fresh and original and points to a very bright future.

CHRIS HILSON