All Hail Bright Futures
All Hail Bright Futures brings the sunny side of And So I Watch You from Afar firmly forward. The Belfast band still play busily, but heavy guitars more often make room for bright melodies, playful sounds and communal singing. The album radiates enjoyment. It works best when the small ideas also form a clear song, giving that enthusiasm a shape.
Eunoia prepares the way for Big Thinks Do Remarkable, which immediately establishes the approach. Its guitars are active enough to demand attention while remaining easy to recognise. Group vocals make the collective energy bigger still. Like a Mouse then keeps the momentum going through quick turns and an unusually light step.
The broader instrumentation provides some appealing moments. Rats On Rock has an almost tropical rhythm, while strings and brass open a very different space on Trails. The band do not use those sounds to hide their technical side. They give the interplay new possibilities and stop every track from seeking the same kind of impact.
The short forms do not always help. Trails is attractive but barely seems to have begun before it ends. Repeated communal singing can also become too emphatic, particularly on The Stay Golden. The positive mood briefly feels more imposed than natural. A few ideas might have developed more strongly with additional room, rather than moving on quite so quickly.
Young Brave Minds shows how much the band can achieve in a longer structure, giving the record a convincing big finish. All Hail Bright Futures ultimately remains a strong collection that makes intricate guitar playing approachable. Melodies and variety give its enthusiasm enough support to hold up beyond that first cheerful impression. There is substance behind the bright presentation.
