Album Review: Here We Go Magic - A Different Ship

Get excited kids! Thom Yorke's favourite band from Glastonbury is heading our way. Before they hit our shores, get on board and grab Here We Go Magic's latest release A Different Ship. Aptly named, the album shows growth from the four-tracked, one tom, one microphone, a synth and an acoustic guitar of their 2009 self-titled release.

The now five-piece group take full advantage of their extended musical scope with lush layered harmonies in Over The Ocean and most other tracks. At times used to good effect, in some places it somewhat dilutes the snuggling velvet texture of Luke Temple's voice that is so captivating on Hard To Be Close. Traversing from sonic exploration on Miracle Of Mary through to steady rock four/four on Made To Be Old and Make Up Your Mind, A Different Ship is a little bit Bright Eyes, a little bit Radiohead.

Their synth fascination demonstrated on Alone But Moving is balanced by accessible indie rock such as How Do I Know, giving the album an overarching identifiable mood without becoming dreary or self indulgent. The overall timbre haunts each track while delivering songwriting gems such as “Not Moving Does Not Mean You Don't Move” and “You Know The Swedish Know Music, But Do They Know Mine?”

A balance of folk and synth tonalities underwrite the album with harmony achieved through contrasts. The track to track jarring such as from the instrumental Intro to the acoustic led folk album highlight of Hard To Be Close, seems a deliberate attempt to showcase their range, but is always tempered with a balancing contrast, seen in the bookend instrumental coda of A Different Ship.