Album Review: Runner - Cloud Kingdom

The world-class debut album from Perth outfit Runner, recorded here at Blackbird Studios, is a spectacular arrangement of seemingly infinite layers, beautifully mixed to create a warm and atmospheric sound. Title track Cloud Kingdom is absolutely stunning, featuring sexy riffs and ambient textures, while Roam (Part Two) provides perhaps the most contrasting piece. The entire release is perfectly rounded out by the slight melancholy and high drama of Lotus – the second one. There are a handful of tracks featuring vocals but in true post-rock, shoegaze style, they always take a backseat, placing the top-quality musicianship front and centre.