Somewhat of a demographic switch for the first Memphis signing, The Soundings sees the previous one man band of the multitalented Andy Dragazis become a threesome and shift away from the symphonic downtempo of his first two releases towards this lost Cure album. There has been a noticeable progression to this, as the first Blue States album was almost exclusively chill while Man Mountain moved into more symphonic low-key rock territory. Tahita Bulmer grabbed co-writing credits on five tracks, including the theme to Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later "Season Song" while previously, Nothing Changes Under The Sun was pretty much all Andy. With this spark of recognizable success under his cap, Andy was able to add live guitarist Chris Carr and drummer Jon Chandler, who provided most of Mountain's percussion, to the permanent Blue States line-up for its third LP. Gone now is Tahita's fragility and the choir elegance of old, as Carr has taken over all the vocal responsibilities and turns in a strong Graham Coxon/Robert Smith performance on the majority of the tracks here as opposed to the usual minority. The authentic orchestral '60s soundtrack we'd come to expect is now shaped by a more traditional rock band aesthetic. It's obviously the most upbeat album they've released yet, and despite the more rigidly defined dynamic, it's a far cry from the bog standard "rock" sound the mainstream has accepted as the norm. The Soundings remembers a time when psychedelia didn't just mean getting mangled on drugs and twiddling a sitar but the complete spiritual and creative freedom that first loosened our conceptions of what rock is, what it can do, and what it can be. While no longer as cinematic, I believe this new developmental area of creativity for the Blue States is that much closer to a work of all encompassing catharsis. The Soundings is a necessary step towards that peak.
1. Across The Wire
2. For A Lifetime
3. 10 Shades
4. One Night On Tulane
5. Last Blast
6. Output
7. Final Flight
8. Alright Today
9. Leaning In
10. Sad Song
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